I read in the forum about using beeswax and olive oil. How do you get them mixed?
Beeswax and Olive Oil
- Thread starter AugustusDearolph
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Melt the bees wax
Einsiedler
40 Cal.
I use than on occasion for patch lube. I just get me a small tin lidded can of some kind. Put in on a non burnable/scorchable surface, pour in a little olive oil and throw in a few chuncks of beeswax. ( I have a pretty good supply). And then heat it up with my $12.95 heat gun special from Harbor Freight. You can experiment around with consistency. Just the way I do it.
Even works good on felt wads for revolvers. (Cut them out with a punch). Use 5/8" punch for felt shotgun wads in my 20 bore fusils. Punched out of old felt hat. Results may vary!
Monkeying around with all this is a good way to develop your own way of doing things.
Even works good on felt wads for revolvers. (Cut them out with a punch). Use 5/8" punch for felt shotgun wads in my 20 bore fusils. Punched out of old felt hat. Results may vary!
Monkeying around with all this is a good way to develop your own way of doing things.
Thank you all for your suggestions. I'm grateful.
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.
I melt my lube outside for safety and mess control just in case. Don't use one of your good cooking pans.
I bought two pans at the thrift store. I put water in the large one and set the smaller pan with the wax and oil in the water. Bring the water to a boil and the oil mixes with the melted bee's wax. Distribute the mix to you desired containers.
Griz44Mag
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(ESPECIALLY if you are married and ever want a home cooked meal again....)
IMO beeswax is a waste of time. Its a PATCH lube, it doesnt need any wax. Its supposed to stay soft and flexible. If it were a bullet lube, wax it up!
It makes a great lip balm! Only use a small amount of oil though.
Carl in France
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I use a 50% beeswax and 50% olive oil mix for my lubed wads in my revolver.
To save any problems mixing i put it all into a glass bowl and then put that in the microwave on a high seting until all melts down into a uniform mix. Into this i throw my wads. When they stop hising i pour it all through a sieve into a second glass bowl which when cooled is ready to be melted when i need another batch, i just add wax and oil if it is low.
To save any problems mixing i put it all into a glass bowl and then put that in the microwave on a high seting until all melts down into a uniform mix. Into this i throw my wads. When they stop hising i pour it all through a sieve into a second glass bowl which when cooled is ready to be melted when i need another batch, i just add wax and oil if it is low.
Beeswax and olive oil lube is very versatile and has broad applicability. You can adjust it's consistence to meet your needs or preference, something you can't do with other lubes. It's also safe to eat and you know what's in it, something you can't say about most other lubes.
It's a do-it-all and more lube. It's easy to make, the ingredients are easily available. cheap, long lasting, multipurpose, and customizable.
If you are looking for a specific niche to fill you can certainly find a more suitable lube.
It's a do-it-all and more lube. It's easy to make, the ingredients are easily available. cheap, long lasting, multipurpose, and customizable.
If you are looking for a specific niche to fill you can certainly find a more suitable lube.
Aside from knowing a beekeeper, it's available on Amazon as a base for makeup concoctions. It's also available at many crafty type stores. You can also post on the N-SSA board as there are several guys who keep bees and sell the wax to fellow black powder shooters.
Griz44Mag
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Look on line for the local beekeepers association.
Check local farmers markets and talk to the farmers there. If you find one selling local honey - then beeswax is close by.
Let them know you are in the market and they will happily direct you to a local beekeeper.
Many of them keep bees for pollination purposes and some will even admit to discarding the cap wax (beeswax) instead of melting and screening it. When they discover there is a market for it. they will keep it and sell.
appalichian hunter
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Ran into a local bee keeper at a craft show plenty of available wax, as I now have plenty did not purchase any but did get the keepers card, turns out the keeper is only about a mile or so from where I live, also it is rather cheep per pound. So now the business card is in my files for further needs.
What do you use in place of bees wax to hold the lube (oil?) together and on the bullet?
a lube for bullets is a different story. On a patch, wax isnt needed.
One of my guns has a grease hole, beeswax/olive oil lube works best in that hole.
It's the versatility of beeswax/olive oil that makes it such a wonderful lube.
You can lube a patch with it,
You can lube a conical with it.
You can lube a wad with it.
You can grease a revolver cylinder with it.
You can grease cartridges with it.
There are dozens of other uses for it simply by adjusting the ratios.
Are there better patch lubes ? YES, my favorite is spit, but beeswax lube is extremely useful.
