Question about store bought pre lubed lead bullets

joec · May 10, 2012, 11:37:07 AM

Ok after asking a while back about some 45 Colt cast bullets that where lubed buy the manufacture. I emailed them to ask about the lube they used and how it would work with black powder. Well the verified what I was told here they didn't recommend it. So now I have some SPG and want to relube these bullets so how does one remove the lube from the bullets to relube? I know how to pan lube but saw something a while back but not sure where any help would be appreciated?

Crow Choker · May 10, 2012, 12:00:38 PM

Never have tired or had to do, but my first thoughts maybe use a hair dyer on high or better yet put em in a pan and set them in an oven on a low setting and MELT it off. I don't know about the hair dryer bit though. Used one once upon a time for a project, overused it to the extent it burned the heating elements somehow. Bad thing was that the Mrs. had just bought it 2-3 months prior and 'wasnot' happy with me.

Had to go along with her on a shopping trip and buy another.

Springfield Slim · May 10, 2012, 12:04:02 PM

Put them on a cookie sheet lined with lots of paper towels and put them in the oven on WARM. The lube runs off, throw away the paper towels. Don't get the oven too hot or you will have flaming paper, just WARM setting will do it. Keep an eye on the oven anyway for safety's sake.

joec · May 10, 2012, 12:06:58 PM

Quote from: Springfield Slim on May 10, 2012, 12:04:02 PM
Put them on a cookie sheet lined with lots of paper towels and put them in the oven on WARM. The lube runs off, throw away the paper towels. Don't get the oven too hot or you will have flaming paper, just WARM setting will do it. Keep an eye on the oven anyway for safety's sake.

Thanks guys and Slim that is what I saw just wasn't sure of the setting. I do have a warm setting on my stove and will do that. Next setting is 170 deg which make me a little nervous about setting paper towels on fire.

August · May 10, 2012, 12:30:00 PM

Be sure to spend some time working up your explanation for your wife!

joec · May 10, 2012, 12:33:37 PM

Quote from: August on May 10, 2012, 12:30:00 PM
Be sure to spend some time working up your explanation for your wife!

She understands, she has been married to me for 48 years.

Lucky R. K. · May 11, 2012, 08:54:09 AM

A friend of mine boils the bullets in water to remove the wax lube.

Lucky

Fairshake · May 11, 2012, 09:28:34 AM

You may put your oven up to 250 with no problems as that is well below the melting point of even plain lead which I doubt you have. Too low of a setting and you will be watching that oven for along time.
The lube should start melting at about 200 degrees or so. If you use too low of a setting it will just ooze down the side of the bullet and still be on it when removed.
I have done this many times as I shoot frontier cartridge class and like my own lube when I'm given some bullets that I did not cast or lube myself.
I shoot only the real thing with wart hog loads and need the correct lube.

Abilene · May 11, 2012, 11:56:27 AM

Lay the bullets on their sides on section of newspaper (works as well as paper towels and cheaper) in oven at about 200 degrees. With bullets on their side the lube is wicked off. Takes five to ten minutes. If you go too long the lube starts smoking and stinking up the kitchen.

joec · May 11, 2012, 12:19:23 PM

Quote from: Abilene on May 11, 2012, 11:56:27 AM
Lay the bullets on their sides on section of newspaper (works as well as paper towels and cheaper) in oven at about 200 degrees. With bullets on their side the lube is wicked off. Takes five to ten minutes. If you go too long the lube starts smoking and stinking up the kitchen.

Not a problem guys I got it off all 500 bullets yesterday in short order. Set the oven at 180 deg on paper towels in two sheet pans. It was done in about 15 minutes and let it just air cool. Now I have to pan lube them with SPG but not a rush at the minutes as I don't get my powder until next week. I did find 2 boxes of brass though that I shot a year ago with pyrodex and hadn't cleaned. I soaked them in soap and water for about 30 minutes then rinsed and cover with vinegar for about 10 minutes and rinsed again. Shoved them in the over too at the same time to dry then tumbled with walnut and Franklin arsenal brass polish. In about 4 hours I had brand new looking brass which surprised me since it looked pretty bad when I found it.

Driftwood Johnson · May 11, 2012, 04:19:00 PM

Howdy

I used to do the oven thing at 200 degrees for years when I was still pan lubing bullets.

joec · May 11, 2012, 06:17:49 PM

Quote from: Driftwood Johnson on May 11, 2012, 04:19:00 PM
Howdy

I used to do the oven thing at 200 degrees for years when I was still pan lubing bullets.

Well paper ignites at 451 F and lead melts about 621 F so figure anything below 300 F would be safe in most cases. I'm lucky in that I bought an induction stove with a convection oven a couple of years ago. I have since gotten rid of my double boilers as no longer necessary since it lowest settings are even lower than a typical double boiler would be to much higher than even gas or electric home stoves. Use a cheap saucier pan to melt the lube. My only problem now is finding a means of cutting the bullet loose before the lube totally cools. I have someone going to give me some old 45-70 brass and will make a punch out of that and see how it works for my 45 colt rounds which are .452. I have the lee lube/sizer however I've never tried it with SPG before only the Alox.

Driftwood Johnson · May 12, 2012, 07:28:08 PM

When I used to pan lube I never cut the bullets out of the bullet cake. I used to throw the pan into the fridge for a little while to allow the lube to set up a little bit harder, and then I would poke all the bullets out. You have to experiment a bit to get the temperature just right, it varies with the lube you use. I used to use a mix of about 50/50 Crisco/Beeswax. When the lube was hard enough, I would poke the bullets out from the back, not the pointy end. The lube stayed in the lube grooves.

Wolfgang · May 13, 2012, 06:05:38 AM

Quote from: Driftwood Johnson on May 12, 2012, 07:28:08 PM
When I used to pan lube I never cut the bullets out of the bullet cake. I used to throw the pan into the fridge for a little while to allow the lube to set up a little bit harder, and then I would poke all the bullets out. You have to experiment a bit to get the temperature just right, it varies with the lube you use. I used to use a mix of about 50/50 Crisco/Beeswax. When the lube was hard enough, I would poke the bullets out from the back, not the pointy end. The lube stayed in the lube grooves.

Driftwood, . . that is a gud un.

I only did pan lubing once and it was a mess experience. But if'n I enver need to do some agin, . . I'll remember yur tip. Thanks.

cpt dan blodgett · May 16, 2012, 11:05:02 AM

Make sure you leave plenty of space between the bullets. Think there is a post on the dark art site where a guy uses a block to hold the bullets, puts pan over block turns whole shebang over removes the block. Looks like about 1/2 inch between bullets pours in lube, lets cool pushes out bullets. Puts new bullets in holes heats up and lets cool remove replace repeat.

I was not smart enough to leave space on my last attempt lube broke out of grooves. Just hand lubed as I was only doing about 100. will drill a block with holes on 3/4 to 1 inch centers one day.