Lehigh Valley Lube

[Stumpkiller]

Has anyone else noticed a change in Lehigh Valley Lube of late. I just got into my first bottle of post Ox-Yoke LVL and have been getting rust spots when using it as a bore coating between shooting. This NEVER happened before.

The first time is happenstance, the second time is circumstance, the third time is enemy action (Auric Goldfinger). In the past I would wipe the bore well with it after a hot water & soap cleaning and all was dandy. The last three times I have had rust "blooms" along the grooves in my rifle bore the next morning. :curse: They look like little orange dots growing along the rifling, like pin head sized fungus on a tree trunk.

I'm now hitting it with Rem Oil and then wiping in a grease lube to coat them, knocking both out with an alcohol wipe before shooting again. I will be greatly saddned if LVL has been changed. Anyone had similar results or heard of such things with Lehigh Valley?

I am especially concerned as the only other variable is that I am using castor oil with Murphy's Oil for all my shooting lubes, and I wonder if these do not have the staying power as a rust prevention that other oils have. My Renegade has been getting nothing but Moose Snot for eight months, but it has not been shot much, either. :hmm:

 

[Griz]

I have noticed a change in color from my last bottle to the one I just opened. it seems a lot lighter in color but still smells the same. I only use LVL for patch lube, I clean with T/C #13, then dry and apply a coating of Sheath and I never found any rust. :results:But I do think they changed the formula. Did you notice how many times it has changed makers, I have seen 3 different makers names on the back of the bottles I have used over the years. Hmmmm, makes you wonder.

 

[shunka]

Yes, Gentlemen and Ladies, I fear that another fine product has bit the dust. First it was Master Young's Wakhan Bay products (chemical disposal issues) and now Lehigh Valley Lube. I heard from the original maker a few years ago, that the formula was going to be changed, and I bought all I could find. I fear that when it is gone, that's it.

I have decided that when my last bottle of Lehigh Valley becomes a dead soldier, I will convert entirely to animal grease.

I am saving a large can of Turkey Greese from our Thankgsgiving bird, and if I am fortunate enough to nail waterfowl, that greese will go into the pot as well (I like to skin ducks and geese, instead of plucking. It is quicker and allows me to scrap off that layer of rich yellow fat under the skin).

If I can get ahold of another organic Pig that fat will go into a special pot of it's own! I must say, Babe was most tasty ..

best regards
Shunka

 

[pepperbelly]

You want pig? Come to Texas!
Our farms, ranches and hunting land is getting overrun with feral pigs. Most land owners will let you hunt them even if they don't allow deer hunting. They love people wanting to hunt pigs.
By the way, they taste good- ribs!
Jim

 

[sse]

StumpK - Do you think its worth writing or emailing them to see if they come clean on any formula change?? Who knows, if you tell them your experience they might change it back. :m2c:

Regards, sse

 

[RussB]

I think that's a good idea.
Sometimes those in charge of such matters never know they may NOW have a product that is actually inferior, until it is too late, and the product picks up a bad name, and the company goes under.

LVL has always been a top grade lube IMHO. However, from what Stumpy is saying, I will be checking it even closer to see if I find any rust...and if I do, I won't be using it any longer.

Russ

 

[shunka]

StumpK - Do you think its worth writing or emailing them to see if they come clean on any formula change?? Who knows, if you tell them your experience they might change it back.

One can always make the attempt, and hope for the best.

When Lehigh Valley Lube was produced, bottled and sold under the original owner, I expect you would have gotten a personal reply, with thanks, and an attempt to accomodate the request in question.

However, with the change of ownership it became apparent that "corporate" will be calling the shots, and whatever turns a profit will be the way of the future ... :-(

best
shunka

 

Do you use anything like WD40 - a water displacing lubricant? I've used nothing but WD40 or Amsoil MP for years and never got rusting.
: Yeah- I've heard all the scare stories about WD40, ruining a barrel, leaving a vrnish, etc, etc - but havne't seen any detrimental effects (or varnish) myself. It works for me - "IN THE MANNER I USE IT". Amsoil MP is even better at displacing water.

 

[Stumpkiller]

I only use WD-40 if the gun has gotten wet while hunting. Guess I'll have to start spritzing the barrel after a cleaning bath, too.

WD-40 is the best stuff since sliced bread for marine diesel engines. I buy it in gallon cans a use a hand squirt-pump. I just hate to use anything "commercial" in my muzleloaders.

WWJD - What Would Jedediah Do?

(Jedediah Strong Smith was born a few miles away from here).

 

[elmonk]

Shunka,

The original formula, from the original producers, gave a solids content of 8% with a plus or minus 0.1% variation and a pH of 8.0.
From the present supplier the solids content dropped down by about 2% and the pH jumped up to 11.5 to 12.0.

I am sitting on 10 bottles of the "new" stuff that was claimed to be some of the original.

The new stuff with the very high pH plays hell with boiled oil or oil-based varnish stock finishes.

 

[PaulN/KS]

Dutch Shultz(sp) speaks well of WD-40 in one of his "missives" at his website.Some of our club members spoke well of Lehigh lube when it first came out.Too bad it has changed for the worse.

 

[shunka]

Thanks Dutch Bill!

that confirms the bad news... :-(
Perhaps if we do some digging, we might be able to find the name or the original feller...

best regards
shunka

 

[riverrat43]

What makers names are ya'll finding on the backs of the bottles? The five I have left all have Ox Yoke Originals Mfg on them. They were bought last year.

 

[elmonk]

Shunka,

The two who first produced the lube were regulars at Dixon's Gunamker's Fair. Tom DeCare and a man known as Les. Which is why it was Lestom Labs.

After the product was turned over to Ox-Yoke I saw both at the following Gunmaker's Fair. Then no more of them.

Tom wanted to get into selling various patching materials. He gave me a bunch of different fabrics that had come out of Germany. Fabrics where the thickness and weave were exceptionally uniform

Les tried selling pre-lubed patches.

There is much about this that I can't say on the web.