Expired patch lube.

[.36Rooster]

Made up some patch lube last fall. Using the recipe:

Castor Oil 4 oz.
Murphy's Oil Soap 1 oz.
Witch Hazel 4 oz.
Isopropyl Alcohol (91%) 8 oz. Water (non-chlorinated) 16 oz.

Dip patching in this twice and let it dry between. Makes a semi-dry patch material that's easy to carry & use.


It worked pretty good. And still had a quart left this week. Been wetting pillow ticking all week, drying it and wetting it again. No grease...Bone dry every time it dries.

Finally bought more ingredients and mixed up some more, and it worked like a charm after 2 dips and dries.

Evidently my old mix went bad. Not sure which ingredient it was...likely the castor oil..

I won't make up a half gallon at a time anymore. Seems like it will end up getting wasted.

 

[mooman76]

What went bad about it? My guess is the alcohol evaporated out.

 

[.36Rooster]

It smells like strong gin. Lol. For that reason I would probably have to say its not the alcohol. Airtight container to keep it from evaporating and it burns the cuts on my hands. The problem was that there was no goo! The goo comes from the murphy's Oil soap and the castor oil. The alcohol just keeps it from freezing in cold weather and is gentler on your barrel than straight water; and i dont know what the witch hazel does. However, both of those are thin liquids that dont contribute in any way to the goo in the patch. The fresh mix leaves a goo like vaseline, like it should. The old mix only leaves it bone dry so that's why im thinking it had to be the caster or the soap...you see what I mean?

From there, I really dont see the murphy's soap going bad, so I suspect it was the oil, since its a natural organic material that comes from beavers. Its more fragile in nature. Next time I buy a bottle I will note the expiration date on the bottle. I'll bet it doesn't last past a year.

 

[Flintlock]

I buy a bottle of olive oil, can use it for everything and it's a greatr patch lube and can be used on the external gun as well.

 

[.36Rooster]

I have thought about using olive oil but haven't toyed around with it much. I have read some period documents that referenced a lot of "sweet oil," being imported during that time as patch lube and gun oil; and thay "sweet oil was simply what they called olive oil in those days. I wouldnt mind giving it a try, to be honest.

 

[necchi]

Or you could just get the system,, and not worry anymore.
https://blackpowderrifleaccuracy.com/
https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/dutch-schultz-accuracy-method.47239/

 

[jdw276]

I have thought about using olive oil but haven't toyed around with it much. I have read some period documents that referenced a lot of "sweet oil," being imported during that time as patch lube and gun oil; and thay "sweet oil was simply what they called olive oil in those days. I wouldnt mind giving it a try, to be honest.

I thought, read or heard sweet oil was whale oil and could even be used in lanterns?

 

[.36Rooster]

I could have read wrong or read the wrong info as well. But i do recall reading about olive oil being used. Its possible that they mentioned whale oil in the same source, and i may have took it away wrong. This was several years ago. So i really dont know, myself.

 

[jdw276]

I could have read wrong or read the wrong info as well. But i do recall reading about olive oil being used. Its possible that they mentioned whale oil in the same source, and i may have took it away wrong. This was several years ago. So i really dont know, myself.

Do not do a google search for sweet oil. Must be a modern thing, it will clean the wax outta your ears! Yea, i carry a small container of olive oil in my shooting box myself for lube.

 

[Flintlock]

Sweet oil has always been olive oil, and no harmful chemicals if used around young children aas well as dogs and other critters. Many times I've seen dogs scarf down egg smelling patches after they've been fired.
After 10,000 years or so it's still a very useful oil, cuts fouling a well or better than many lubes. Always in the camp kitchen.

 

[Art Caputo]

Between the wide range of the different chemicals/compounds in your mixture, it’s more then likely they are complexing and forming different compounds displaying different characteristics over time. This is extremely difficult to predict. This is the issue with concoctions……..Bore Butter being a prime example.

 

[stank]

I mix olive oil and beeswax 50/50. I made up 4 large coffee cans of it years ago. Still have most of it left. Lol. I use it on my guns. Patches. Carbon steel knives. Leather. Everything.

 

[Whughett]

Do not do a google search for sweet oil. Must be a modern thing, it will clean the wax outta your ears! Yea, i carry a small container of olive oil in my shooting box myself for lube.

Adding the phrase “natural” produced one ad saying sweet oil is “derived” from olive oil with no other explanation. Derived would indicate some other process added.

 

[Billy Boy]

It smells like strong gin. Lol. For that reason I would probably have to say its not the alcohol. Airtight container to keep it from evaporating and it burns the cuts on my hands. The problem was that there was no goo! The goo comes from the murphy's Oil soap and the castor oil. The alcohol just keeps it from freezing in cold weather and is gentler on your barrel than straight water; and i dont know what the witch hazel does. However, both of those are thin liquids that dont contribute in any way to the goo in the patch. The fresh mix leaves a goo like vaseline, like it should. The old mix only leaves it bone dry so that's why im thinking it had to be the caster or the soap...you see what I mean?

From there, I really dont see the murphy's soap going bad, so I suspect it was the oil, since its a natural organic material that comes from beavers. Its more fragile in nature. Next time I buy a bottle I will note the expiration date on the bottle. I'll bet it doesn't last past a year.

My impression is the alcohol is a carrier that allows the oil to penetrate the fabric, then it evaporates leaving an effective and relatively greaseless patch.

 

[Black Powder Guy]

.36Rooster that lube sounds like one of the two that Stumpkiller listed years ago. He is one of our moderators here. You might let him know about the problem. Brian

 

[.36Rooster]

I believe it is his; because I had originally pulled it from this site. Overall Im quite pleased with it as a lube, actually. It has worked great.

 

[Pete G]

From there, I really dont see the murphy's soap going bad, so I suspect it was the oil, since its a natural organic material that comes from beavers.

Caster oil comes from the castor bean...

 

[Crow-Feather]

Castoreum is a substance collected from the glands of Canadian, European, and Siberian beavers. Castoreum is sometimes used for anxiety, insomnia, menstrual cramps, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. In foods and beverages, castoreum extract is used as a flavoring agent.

 

[Caterpillar Hunter]

Yes, Pete G. is correct. Castor oil used as a patch lube comes from the castor bean plant, not a beaver.

 

[.36Rooster]

Lol. Castoreum, castor oil. Here i've been thinking they were the same thing my whole life. Never really had reason to question it. Of course, never really had reason to use castor oil either, until i started making patch lube. I've just always put 2 and 2 together and thought castor oil is what's been keeping beavers so valuable even though the fur are constantly going down .