HI need some advice and help. I just ran out of some old Black Lyman Lube. Stuff worked OK but lots of smoke so I decided to try some Thompson Red. The stuff requires a heater and I have a Lyman heater under my RCBS Lubricator. Well I had a real mess on my hands as I suspect I got the lube to warm and well it was a disaster.

I have not had any experience in dealing with lubes that require heating and I am not even sure I need to go that route. Can any of you guys give me your experience on the type of lube I should be using for the pistol rounds I primarily load for. Also any tips on using the Lyman heater and lubes that require the external heat source. Much obliged.

I don't know if you have ever tried Lee's liquid alox, but it is easy to apply and works very well for me. It does away with the lubra-sizer.

It's applied by putting a few drops on bullets placed in a plastic container like a merical whip container then just swirled around till the bullets are coated. Set the bullets on a piece of wax paper or tin foil to dry for a few hours and load.

I've had no leading problems with my a 44 mag, 357 mag and a 41 mag loaded as hot as i dared.

I strongly agree w/ Bob on the liquid alox, but, sometimes I need to "size" so I naturally turned to the Lee alox formula. No problems whatsoever,and no heater. Velocities have not exceeded 2100fps tho. BTW that "mica" like from midway sprinkled in the box of ready to go cast bullets, keeps the lube off you and no bullets sticking together either. Marty

I've only used Lyman Orange Magic and Beartooth's lube. Both need some heat, although I think Thompson needs more than they do. Stick a thermometer down into the lube chamber and turn on the heat. Keep trying the sizer handle (not the lube screw) until it frees up. Note the temperature. Now unplug your heater and start sizing. You should be good for quite a few bullets before you need to heat the sizer up again. Admittedly, this is manual control.

Orange Magic likes 100°-105°F and Beartooth likes 115°-120°F. This give good flow without too much leakage. Some fellows have mounted thermostats on their sizers or rheostats on the heater cord. I use the old clothing iron method. The sizer is bolted to the front of a 3/16" X 5" X 12" aluminum plate with the iron behind. Thermostatic control for $5 worth of scrap aluminum plate. Just barely on is hot enough for Orange Magic, but use 1/2 heat for 10 minutes for warm up. YMMV.

Bye
Jack

As rule, I try to not size bullets that fall from the mold at a useable size...if they come out .358 or .359, they get lubed and loaded without sizing. As a general rul. being .001" over size is a lot less of a "sain" than being .001" too small.

For the ones that do get sized, have tended to saty away from the heated lubes...just don't care for that process, if it can't flow at normal temp., then I avoid that lube.

The standard Lyman non-alox lube (much like the old balck stuff you mention) is still being made. The ones with hiogh Alox content would work, but you really don't need it for the calibers you list....still, better too good than not good enough.

Do use a good bit of Thompson's Bullet lube (T/C bullet lube). They make the stuff than needs a heater ...but also make versions that do not need to be heated. For handguns, thier "Bear Lube cold" does not require a heater. Are Alox-free lubes, so won't be the best for high pressure rifle loads, but they've worked with handguns quite well for me.
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Bullet lubes smoke...but they smoke a good bit less if you take the time to be sure the bullet base is clean and lube free befor loading. A towel scrap taped to the bench, slightly moisened with a solvent...just rub the bullet base accross the twoel before loading. Cuts doen the smake a noticible amount.

I overheated my sizer the first time I used it and I did have a mess.

If you're sizing with heat and getting lube on the bases, wipe it off as soon as it's out of the sizer with ribbonstone's method. It easily comes off a warm bullet.

Bye
Jack

I use nothing but hard wax lubes, and love them. I have used Lyman Orange, and it worked well, but I now use Magma Engineerings hard wax lube. It gives me great results, and is much less expensive.

Mostly, I use Star sizers, and have no problem with over heating. I too have a Lyman Heater base. Let it heat up for 30 to 40 minutes, then start sizing. If you just keep sizing, I never have a problem with over heating. If you stop, unplug the heater till your ready to go then start over.

I also have a Lyman 45, and had no problems with that either.

I want to thank evryone who has replied. Great stuff. I have a couple of sticks of Lyman Orange that wiull require heating so I will get a thermometer as suggested. In the end I think I will go back to an allox based lube that reuires no heat. I get no leading in my .38spl/.357/9MM and only the first half inch in my .45acp which most guys report they experience in that caliber. I knew there had to be a secret to how to handle the darn stuff, not the brightest bulb on the tree when it comes to figuring these things out on my own. Thanks again to all who replied.

Stay Safe

Bob