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Beeswax and Olive Oil

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back in the early days of black powder shooting, I think that we all used just plain old CRISCO , straight up, and by GOD, it worked and still does today. if it ain't broke don't try and fix it! stop trying to REINVENT THE WHEEL!!
 
back in the early days of black powder shooting, I think that we all used just plain old CRISCO , straight up, and by GOD, it worked and still does today. if it ain't broke don't try and fix it! stop trying to REINVENT THE WHEEL!!

Not me, I tried Crisco later on and was greatly disappointed. Beeswax concoctions are period correct, Crisco is a modern cooking invention. So, in reality using Crisco, is "trying to reinvent the wheel".
 
The Crisco along with olive oil is used to adjust the stiffness of the lube, if Crisco is not your thing you could use un-salted lard or bear grease if you have it. Both of those would of been historically correct, I use the Crisco because it is handy and all ready in the pantry.
 
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Good a place as any for a story. A newly immigrated family to the US goes to the grocery store. They are amazed and over whelmed at the vast selection. Not being able to read English, they finally spot cans showing fried chicken and cherry pie on the labels. They buy them only to get home to open two cans of Crisco.
 
back in the early days of black powder shooting, I think that we all used just plain old CRISCO , straight up, and by GOD, it worked and still does today. if it ain't broke don't try and fix it! stop trying to REINVENT THE WHEEL!!
I used Crisco back in the dark ages (my hair was dark). It was too soft and runny in Missouri summers and too stiff in the winter. While it does work if you can put up with the mess, the mixes using bee's wax make for a better lube.
 
Have any of you ever messed around with those toilet wax rings as a base for your lube? I’ve used them before for minie ball lube.
 
Toilet rings haven't been made from beeswax in years, they are all petroleum and urethane wax now.
 
Hey, go for the good stuff.

Premixed, convenient packaging, slick as it gets and scented to prevent deer from being able to detect human odor.


OK, OK, only kidding. I tried it out as an adjunct in beeswax based bullet lubes and it actually has worked well in some applications including percussion revolvers. Despite the all pervasive scent. 😜

So try out whatever you have 'cause it might just work. I've still got the better part of a gallon bucket of industrial lanolin in the lube making supplies so I tend to include some when building a batch. Shopping around now for some affordable raw beeswax in Indiana.
 
I use a mix of beeswax and Ballistol. A local shooter used to mix it up. Still have 2 jars of it. One day I'll have to figure out the proportions myself.
 
The biggest thing to remember is that both oil and wax are flammable, you do not want either to reach its smoke point when heating or you could have one hell of a fire on your hands.
I melt my lube outside for safety and mess control just in case. Don't use one of your good cooking pans.
If it catches fire, just cover it with a pan lid and smother it out. I have melted beeswax on the stove for years in a canned chicken can with no problems.
 
speaking of fire, if you put crisco in a can, jar or cup and add a wick it makes a great candle that will last for days
 

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