" Let the Liquid Lube Games Begin ! ! "

[Ben]

I hope that this Lundmark Liquid Wax will work as well as the Johnson's One Step Liquid Wax has worked in BLL ?

I still have 8 unopened cans of the Johnson's Liquid Wax left in my stash.

For me personally, I doubt that I'll live long enough to use the 8 cans that I have of the Johnson's Liquid Wax . However, I am curious to see if there is a viable alternative to the Johnson's Liquid Wax. I continue to read that the Johnson's One Step Liquid Wax is becoming unobtainable and that the Johnson's company does not intend to make the wax any longer.

Considering the Johnson's Liquid Wax may now go the way of the Passenger Pigeon , I'm hoping that shooters could continue making BLL if this combination shows merit ? ? Hopefully with a bit of experimentation on my behalf, I'll know soon if there is hope ? ?

Ben

 

[Brad]

Will be interesting to see how it does. Lots of work to look at different mix ratios and such.

 

[Ben]

Will be interesting to see how it does. Lots of work to look at different mix ratios and such.

My exact thoughts on the subject also Brad !

The mixing ratio that I and everyone else uses right now with the Johnson's One step liquid wax and the Lee Liquid alox most likely will not work with these new components.

Both containers, when I shake them ( I have yet to open either ) seem to be thicker than what I'm accustomed to. I guess a good solvent is in order 1st to remedy the viscosity issue.

I've got to start somewhere with this concept.
I may make up a small batch with the following :

40% Lundmark Liquid wax
40% White Label, X Lox
20% Mineral Spirits

" Stay Tuned " for progress reports in the next few days .............................The mad scientist is at it again

Ben

 

[Brad]

Would a 30/30/40 mix with the 40% being mineral spirits allow for a thinner coat and more rapid drying? Maybe even 35/35/30.
I dunno, will be interesting to see what you end up with. The Johnson's was so liquid it was the wax and thinner in one.
Much will depend on how thick the new wax is.

 

[Ben]

Brad,

All true ...........

This new combination has got to flow like Coke out of a bottle to work like the original BLL. Your suggestion of the 35/35/30 may be the direction I need to head in 1st.

Ben

 

[Ben]

When I get the viscosity correct and the mixing ratios correct, I hope to get results like this. When the BLL is done correctly, it is near invisible :

 

[fiver]

the higher mineral spirits amount won't hurt anything.
when I made my last batch of 45/45 lube I cut the xlox in half with MS, cooked down the JPW and mixed.
I also added some other stuff to the mix.
but the final step is to add more mineral spirits.
it helps the lube dry faster, especially if applied hot to hot boolits.

heat helps chemical reactions.

 

[freebullet]

Very interesting.

 

[35 shooter]

I wonder about using the same 60/40 mix of the wax and alox as the original BLL and then just keep adding ms till the whole mix flows like the original BLL.

Probably won't be that simple on second thought.

 

[Ben]

If there is a way to make this work, I plan on finding it out.

 

[35 shooter]

Ben,

I believe you will too. BLL is too good to just let fade away. I really do think the lundmark wax seems to be one of the best alternatives to try.

I hope it turns out to be the answer right off the bat. I'll be pulling for you for sure!!

 

[Ben]

Thanks Buddy,

Ben

 

[KHornet]

This is a watch and see proposition!
Paul

 

[62chevy]

This is a watch and see proposition!
Paul

I'm with KHornet on this one.

 

[Ben]

Here are some H & G # 46 cast bullets that have been sized to .452" , lubed with Ben's Red and then coated in the " New " alternate BLL that I made a few days ago with the Lundmark liquid wax.

As per this formula :

To be honest, I can't tell much ( if any ) difference in :

• The drying time of the Liquid coating.
• The hardness of the coating once dry ( I let these dry 24 hrs. ) vs. the old style with Johnson's One step.

What does all this mean at this point in time, possibly not a single thing ? ?

The real test for these will be at the range. I also want to test the lube on some SAECO #315 plain base .30 cal. cast bullets with no Ben's Red on them. The bullets would get a single coat of this " Alternate BLL " and would be 100% dependent on this new lube for lubrication properties as the bullet travels down the bore of my .30 cal. rifle barrels. I figure that might be a good test of the lube's properties ? If the new liquid lube shoots well and leaves the bore clean with some of my " Pet Plain Base .30 cal. Loads ", we may begin to be able to draw some early conclusions about the usefulness of the lube.

Maybe some of the rest of you will make a small batch and try with your favorite cast bullets. It may take thousands of rounds by me and a lot of other shooters before we can draw any real firm conclusions about this new lube.

I figure it is early, VERY EARLY in the conclusions and assumptions dept.

Ben

 

[Brother_Love]

Will the johnsons paste wax work?

 

[Ben]

Not in the original Bll recipe.

 

[Brother_Love]

Ben, Just to clear this up for me, you lube and size with Ben' Red and after that comes the coating of the new lube. I guess I need to make a batch of BR too if that is the case.
Thanks, Malcolm

 

[Ben]

Just to clear this up for me, you lube and size with Ben' Red and after that comes the coating of the new lube

Yes ! !

Quite a few of us here on the forum do the same exact thing.

Ben

 

[Ben]

Malcolm :

Here is the recipe for Ben's Red,

50% beeswax
30% Red, Tacky Lucas High Temp Grease
10% Johnson's Paste Wax
5% Dexron II or Dexron III Trans. Fluid
5% STP Oil Treatment

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO MIX THESE INGREDIENTS TOGETHER INSIDE YOUR HOME !

Here is the Lucas Red and Tacky about to be melted :

Once all the components above are melted and mixed together, they were poured into a silicon baking pan.

When the lube reached room temp., I moved the silicon baking pan to the deep freezer for 1 hour.

The Ben's Red lube ingots came out of the mold with no problems at all :

Here are links that should answer any questions shooters might have about making Ben's Red. *My comments & experiences and those who have experienced problems ( and the advice to correct their problems ) are included in the links below *:

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...light=bens+red

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...light=bens+red

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...light=bens+red

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...light=bens+red


Thanks,
Ben