Most efficent way to remove lube?

[glock24]

My usual prep for new Lapua brass consists of full-length sizing (S-type), and case mouth chamfering. I know prepping fired-brass involves a bit more, but let's keep this example simple.

After I'm done prepping, I'm left with a light, sticky, and sometimes greasy residue on the cases from the lube I'm using. I use Hornady One-Shot for no particular reason.

I'd like to get the lube off the outside of the cases, and out of the inside of the necks before I load the cases. I'm reluctant to tumble them out of fear of denting case mouths. I also seem to get media stuck in my flash holes.

I've been resorting to soaking the brass in either lacquer thinner or naphtha. This of course requires the cases to dry at least overnight before loading them. I'm also not a big fan of the VOCs.

Has anyone discovered a better way? Am I making things unnecessarily hard on myself?

Thanks

 

[clmayfield]

Re: Most efficent way to remove lube?

I use a little bowl of isopropyl alcohol, some Q-tips, and a yellow microfiber cloth (from Costco). I gently run the case with a wetted Q-tip and wipe down with the microfiber cloth. 1 Q-tip (both sides) will do about 20 cases.

It takes a while, but it does the job really well. The alcohol evaporates pretty readily. By avoiding dunking the case, I don't have to wait very long before I start priming and charging.

 

[ChrisGarrett]

Re: Most efficent way to remove lube?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: glock24</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My usual prep for new Lapua brass consists of full-length sizing (S-type), and case mouth chamfering. I know prepping fired-brass involves a bit more, but let's keep this example simple.

After I'm done prepping, I'm left with a light, sticky, and sometimes greasy residue on the cases from the lube I'm using. I use Hornady One-Shot for no particular reason.

I'd like to get the lube off the outside of the cases, and out of the inside of the necks before I load the cases. I'm reluctant to tumble them out of fear of denting case mouths. I also seem to get media stuck in my flash holes.

I've been resorting to soaking the brass in either lacquer thinner or naphtha. This of course requires the cases to dry at least overnight before loading them. I'm also not a big fan of the VOCs.

Has anyone discovered a better way? Am I making things unnecessarily hard on myself?

Thanks </div></div>

Dude, most people tumble lube off. It's standard operating procedure.

This being said, I generally use two lubes: RCBS Case Lube II, which is water soluable and Redding Imperial sizing wax, which coincidently enough, is a wax.

For small batches, I'll use a damp shop towel and wipe the RCBS stuff off. For the Imperial wax, I'll use a dry cotton t-shirt.

I don't like to tumble lube off using corn, or walnut, because I find it loads the media up quickly and it has to be replaced often.

For the bigger batches, I have used Hornady One Shot and some Dillon spray on lube. I usually will tumble this lube off and bite the proverbial bullet.

You won't dent in case mouths by tumbling the lube off. As for media stuck in the flash holes, this happens. Put them in a plastic box, upside down and use a finishing nail to punch out any media. It might take you 60 seconds if you're slow at it.

Heck, you can just load the stuff up (One Shot is inert) and then tumble the loaded rounds to a clean and shiney state.

Chris

PS: Most of us don't bother sizing NEW Lapua brass. It's so well made that you can just load it up, fire form it and then do your case prep after it's been formed to your particular chamber.

 

[Tripwire]

Re: Most efficent way to remove lube?

15 minutes in a tumbler...

Poke the flasholes out with a long skinny allen wrench.

Anything else is just too damn much fuss and bother.......

 

[fw707]

Re: Most efficent way to remove lube?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tripwire</div><div class="ubbcode-body">15 minutes in a tumbler...

Poke the flasholes out with a long skinny allen wrench.

Anything else is just too damn much fuss and bother....... </div></div>

Yep.
I use Imperial sizing lube on the cases and the Imperial graphite dry lube on the necks. Tumbling gets rid of it pretty quick.

 

[CanPopper]

Re: Most efficent way to remove lube?

Dawn, Lemi Shine and ultrasonic cleaner. One to two cycles removes all the lube.

Then dry overnight in Sinclair wooden blocks

 

[427Cobra]

Re: Most efficent way to remove lube?

I only use Imperial with rifle ammo, after sizing I simply wipe it off with a clean clothe

 

[TexasShadow]

Re: Most efficent way to remove lube?

You can tumble for about 20 min or get some 70% alcohol dampen a clean rag and roll the cases over the rag.Then roll cases over a dry rag and its done.Takes all the greasy residue off.You can knock out 100 cases in a few minutes.

 

[DamnDave]

Re: Most efficent way to remove lube?

I just throw mine in the tumbler for 20-30 minutes.

 

[njlohmann]

Re: Most efficent way to remove lube?

I use Hornady One-Shot also and I have always just tumbled the sized cases while I set up for priming and charging.(not right next to each other of course) It works well for me.

 

[Deisel]

Re: Most efficent way to remove lube?

I do the same as 427Cobra, Imperial just wipes right off with a cloth rag.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: Most efficent way to remove lube?

It depends on the lube. I use RCBS Water Soluble Lube, which appears to be a lot like concentrated liquid dish detergent. I dampen my fingertips with it and give each case a light swirl with it as I insert it into the press. Once all the cases are resized, I take a soft cotton diaper lightly dampened in isoalky, and wipe each case clean. Very quick, repetitive, mindless physical exercise that I can carry out without much attention while watching TV.

 

[Rob01]

Re: Most efficent way to remove lube?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: AlliedArmory</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I just throw mine in the tumbler for 20-30 minutes.</div></div>

Same here. I just check the flash holes for media but out of hundreds there is usually only about 5 or 6 with anything in there.

Wiping off is easy with 20 or 30 cases but I usually do about 400-600 at a time and the tubmler is a much easier option to get the One Shot off.

 

[Notso]

Re: Most efficent way to remove lube?

I only usually do 50-100 rifle cases at a time. I use imperial wax and I don't use the neck expansion ball when I decap the primers, so no issues with lube in the case mouth. I used to tumble after sizing, but I find it quicker to just wipe them off with a cloth or paper towel, because by the time I load the tumbler, tumble, unload the tumbler and then clean out the flash holes, I can wipe them really quickly.

 

[roggom]

Re: Most efficent way to remove lube?

After shooting, I tumble with course walnut bird bedding media, then deprime, lube size, then tumble again with fine walnut reptile bedding. The fine media does not get stuck in the flash holes. Can be had at PETCO for super cheap.

 

[MALLARD]

Re: Most efficent way to remove lube?

i didnt really think there is a "good" way to get that crap off

 

[Leaddog]

Re: Most efficent way to remove lube?

I use Imperial Sizing Wax. A cloth rag with 91 or 99% Isoprophyl Alcohol takes it all off fast.

 

[spot69221]

Re: Most efficent way to remove lube?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Rob01</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: AlliedArmory</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I just throw mine in the tumbler for 20-30 minutes.</div></div>

Same here. I just check the flash holes for media but out of hundreds there is usually only about 5 or 6 with anything in there.

Wiping off is easy with 20 or 30 cases but I usually do about 400-600 at a time and the tubmler is a much easier option to get the One Shot off.</div></div>

+1

 

[vossman]

Re: Most efficent way to remove lube?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Leaddog</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I use Imperial Sizing Wax. A cloth rag with 91 or 99% Isoprophyl Alcohol takes it all off fast. </div></div>

Can you just leave the wax in the neck or is there even wax in the neck?

 

[jwoolf]

Re: Most efficent way to remove lube?

you should not be getting lube on the inside of the case necks to size them but, regardless of that, tumbling them will not hurt the necks after they're sized.

Hell, I'm anal about it.

For ( new to me brass ) tumble them first then... I FL size them... then, I collet size the head of the case ( for magnum cases ), I then check the headspace for my rifle, I tumble them and, before I load them, I turn the necks then collet size the necks then, I trim the length, debur the flash holes and, finally, I can load them.

It all depends on what you're trying to achieve but, getting the brass right is a huge part to making your rifle do what it's supposed to that the factory just can't do for you.

In any case, just tumble the cases after you're done lubing and sizing and, you're fine.

At little tip though is get some 0000 steel wool and, you can swipe that over your fired case necks and reduce your initial tumble time by a WHOLE lot.

 

[Thud]

Re: Most efficent way to remove lube?

I do the following;
after case or neck sizing with either lub or spray put brass in a small bowl of Acetone(do outside low boiling point solvent) with rubber glove on swish brass around for a few turns in the acetone.
Remove place on rag dry out in a few minutes put in tumbler for about 20 - 30 mins. Done shoot do again.