Selfmade BP Lube - Help needed

[FuriousFritz]

Howdy 

i got some beeswax so i tried different combinations to make my own soft and sticky lube for C&B revolvers.
First i tried
50% Beeswax and 50% Crisco (an alternative which is available here in Germany)
That was a very very hard lube.
40% Beeswax and 60% Crisco wasn´t even better.
50% Beeswax and 50% canola oil is a bit softer but also hard to scrawl.

Should i go with more canola oil and less Beeswax? Or am I totally wrong?

Regards
Fritz

[Scattered Thumbs]

If you can get your hands on mutton tallow. Try 20% beeswax 80% mutton tallow.

PS. Cow and horse tallow are no good.

[Grapeshot]

Howdy  

i got some beeswax so i tried different combinations to make my own soft and sticky lube for C&B revolvers.
First i tried
50% Beeswax and 50% Crisco (an alternative which is available here in Germany)
That was a very very hard lube.
40% Beeswax and 60% Crisco wasn´t even better.
50% Beeswax and 50% canola oil is a bit softer but also hard to scrawl.

Should i go with more canola oil and less Beeswax? Or am I totally wrong?

Regards
Fritz

Must be some hard bee's wax.  Try this:  50% Bee's Wax, 35% Crisco and 15% Vaseline Petroleum Jelly.  If to hard, add Crisco or canola oil until it matches what you want.

[mehavey]

Simple...  N-SSA summer lube:

3-to-1 Crisco*/Beeswax.


*or whatever passes for it.

[Bunk Stagnerg]

I am not too sure about the statement beef tallow is no good. Kidney fat rendered down makes a nice hard tallow softened with beeswax and Crisco makes a close copy of the three letter initial commercial product.
Since I am in the beef business when we process a calf I have the plant save the kidney fat which is a lot harder that the body fat.
At least that is my experience but YMMV
Yr' Obt' Svt'
Bunk

[Scattered Thumbs]

As you say your mileage may vary. From my own experience it seems to be a matter of moisture. Mutton tallow seems to keep BP residue much softer, allowing for more shots without loss of accuracy and less binding.

Just my humble opinion.

[wildman1]

You are using too much beeswax. Try adding a little beeswax to a lot of Crisco and just add more until you reach the consistency you desire. If you want make it softer add canola oil, if you want to make it stiffer use a little candle wax.  wM1

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Two pages from The Dark Arts.  Over the years there have been many discussions on this topic.

I have made my own mutton tallow from butchershop scraps, but it is available commercially. I mixed it with stubs of Parafin/Beeswax church candles and olive oil to a suitable consistency. I save the SPG for BPCR, and my mix for everything else, including Vundervads made from eggcarton material and my lube. (Almost free!)


http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,4151.0.html

[Jake C]

I personally do about 30% beeswax, 70% mink tallow from Track of the Wolf, maybe with a little bit of olive oil to soften it. It keeps its shape well, even in the heat, but is easy enough to spread.

[Dick Dastardly]

Just so you know.  Crisco has yellow color.  Your guns don't care.  Crisco has fragrence.  Your guns don't smell it.  So, use cheap veggie shortning.  As far as other wax, use some container blend soy wax.  It's the stuff that your restaurant uses in those table candle jars.  The third ingredient, which I will not divulge, is a stiff wax.  You can use Bee's Wax with full confidence.

To make up your own version of PL-II, simply use equal weights of the above.

DD-MDA

[Montana Slim]

Lots of good advice posted...& DD's tip has been well worn by my Mrs. -  Who always buys the store-brand shortening for my endeavors....in other words "generic" crisco.

Making a squeezable or spreadable version for C&B is along lines of 75/35 shortening to beeswax.
You can allow any of these formulas to set-up in a large mixing bowl and then hit it with a potato smasher (old-school) or your wife's mixer (provided she's out shopping or such). Whipping them will make them so light & fluffy, you might get tempted to snack...but save it for the range.

Temps in my bend of the river often run into the low to mid 90's during the summer (& quite humid). For this region & max temp, I find that 100% crisco works well. I use a lot of it & refilling with straight crisco is fast & easy (saves beeswax $$ too). If shooting a .36 I lube every other hole to the top. With a .44, I lube every hole, but just a thin layer worked down into the hole well. Spread it around the circumference of the chamber. It will hold in place (not run) due to surface tension.  You don't want to have the goo run down the side of your barrel..that's just bad form (& embarrassing with ladies present).

Slim