Historic Lubricants

[M. De Land]

Wow, 500 gallons, that seems incredible. Must not have remembered the 60 gallon part correctly.

 

[nhmoose]

When I was a kid we were on vacation along the shoreline off Massachusetts and a sperm whale had washed up. . . so of course we had to go check it out. You can't believe how large their head is..

Or the smell unless it was dead less then a day or so!

 

[Eddie Southgate]

I still have a full can of it squirreled away but will probably never use it for anything.
Got lots of fresh bear grease that probably works just as good.

Want to sell that can ? I am about out and would buy if you want to sell your sperm oil . PM if interested.

Eddie

 

[Stumpkiller]

Which we wouldn't want to know about here, because the forum is opposed to any violation of the Endangered Species Act or the International Whaling Commission.

 

[Billnpatti]

I just rendered some this fall to try out and what I have read about it is that if it is burned while rendered it ruins some of it's good properties for a preservative or patch lube.
I should look clear amber color when fresh from rendering and will set up a cream white when cooled.
It is supposed to separate farther over time to clear oil on top and white grease in the bottom.
All mine is still white grease, last time I checked. I have about 2 gallons in pint jars for making bullet and patch lube.Will try adding some Bee's wax and Murphy's oil soap for black powder cartridge lube and use as is for patch lube.

When rendering bear fat to get oil, it is imperative that you keep the heat as low as possible and still render the fat. The more heat, the longer the fat chains will be and the longer the chains, the thicker the resultant product. The best way to get oil rather than grease is to put the fat into a slow cooker with some water. Slowly render the oil on the lowest setting. The oil to grease ratio will be better yielding the most oil and the least grease. Once you have the oil rendered from the fat, put it into jars and let it sit. The oil will clarify and any suspended fats will settle to the bottom.

 

[M. De Land]

Thanks for the information Bill. I used a crock pot on low heat for about 12hrs total and it seemed to work perfectly as they are about the slowest cooking invention I have ever seen made to operate while your at work during the day.
The fat rendered to a clear amber color and about 8-10 hrs later, the next morning, was a cream white color.

 

[Billnpatti]

It should remain a liquid at room temperature. Even at cooler temperatures it usually will stay in a liquid state. It sounds like you did it the right way and you should have some very nice clarified bear oil. :thumbsup: