Lube and cleaner recipes
 

Howdy fellers,
I've read numerous posts on this forum discussing the merits and downfalls of various lubes and cleaning solutions.
I'm still new to the joys of muzzleloading and am eager to try variations of the tried and true storebought stuff.

So here's the thing, everyone that has a special recipe that works well for you, let's hear it.
Be concise and give the complete recipes and maybe, just maybe, we can get a compilation of these that work for you pinned to the top or something for others to enjoy and benefit from.
It really sucks trying to wade through all the past stuff trying to find Cayugad's recipe for moosemilk for example( which by the way I still can't find [:@]).
Don't worry that someone has posted something similar, maybe your's has an ingrediant or cooking step that others don't. So, lets hear them, from the complicated to the simplest recipes.
I eagerly await your input.:)

RE: Lube and cleaner recipes
 

Liquid Moosemilk[/b]
[ul][*]
3 ounces NAPA auto parts #765-1526 Soluble Cutting and Grinding Oil[/b][/align][*]
2 ounces Murphy's Oil soap[/b][/align][*]
1 ounce Witch Hazel[/b][/align][*]
8 ounces of 91% Isopropyl Alcohol[/b][/align][*]
16 ounces water[/b][/align][/ul]
this liquid patch lube is an excellent lube for patched roundball. I like to soak the strip of cloth and dry it on window screen. If you like more oil in your mix, simply increase the amount of cutting oil. Some like a lot of oil while others like very little. This is the mix I use.[/b]

[hr]
[/b]
[/b]
The following lubes are not mine, I make no claim to them but do use them. The liquid moosemilk and solid lube recipe are borrowed from a fellow named "Stumpkiller" off another forum. I tried them and liked the way they work, and have stuck with them until I find something I like better.[/b]
[/b]
Liquid Lube - Moose Milk[/b]
[/b]
[/b]
8 ounces of isopropyl alcohol
3 ounces of Castor Oil
4 ounces of Witch Hazel
16 ounces of tap water
1 ounce of Murphy’s Oil Soap

(make sure you mix the ingredients in the exact order they are listed)



[/b]
[/b]
Solid Lube Formula[/b]

2 ounces of Bees Wax
8 ounces of Castor Oil
1 ounce Murphy’s Oil Soap

Using a double boiler system, melt the bees wax. While keeping the wax liquid, heat the Castor oil with the double boiler also. Then mix the two together. Stir them together and while doing this a scum will form. You need to scrap the scum off the liquid. Once the scum is scraped off the mix, then add the Murphy’s Oil Soap and stir fast while it is melted. This will make a nice frothy appearance and very smooth. Pour the mix into containers and it will set up in a couple hours.

This mix will not break down in heat and is still usable in cold weather. It makes a great conical lube.

[hr]


Junior lube is a trademark lube I believe. The creator has a web site where he sells the lube for those that do not want the bother of making it. I have never used it but perhaps this week will make some up and try it out.

HOW TO MAKE JUNIOR LUBE[/b][/ul]
· exactly 3 fluid ozs of melted lard
· exactly 400 grs of solid beeswax [/b]
· exactly 100 grs of Alox solid bullet lube.[/b]

needed to keep the total volume of this new (and marvelous) Junior Lube to about 4 fluid ozs so it would fit in a medicine bottle [/b]
ought to use exactly 3 fluid ozs of liquid lard and the equivalent of about 1 fluid oz of liquid beeswax [/b]
should keep using exactly 100 grs of Alox bullet lube for consistency and because it's expensive. [/b][/ul]

[hr]


CLEANING SOLUTIONS

M.A.P. - is a mixture of;
20% Murphy's Oil Soap
40% Isopropyl Alcohol
40% Hydrogen Peroxide

The thing to remember anytime you use a solution with Hydrogen Peroxide is, it causes flash rusting in the barrel. It is a strong cleaner. You need to oil the bore ASAP after using it. I personally when I use it, then swab the barrel with a patch of something like Rusty Duck Black Off, just to remove the MAP. Then I oil the bore.

Swabbing Solution - 50/50 mix of isopropyl alcohol and car windshield washer fluid. It works great as a bore swab solution and a basic cleaning solution.

Isopropyl Alcohol - works as a swabbing solution when you experience problems with hangfires and misfires and also as a basic cleaner to remove oils and grim from the barrel. You can purchase large bottles of 71% solution at Wal Mart for around $1.00 and it works great.

Soap and Water - all too often we over look the most simple of cleaners and still to this day one of the most effective to remove black powder fowling. I like Dawn dish soap and water. Another is a cap full of liquid Spic & Span and a gallon of water.

RE: Lube and cleaner recipes
 

For lubeing the gun I use synthic gun oil [the mechanism and the barrel clean with alk before shooting.
For conicals beeswax=1/3, tallow 1/3, alllox bullet lube 1/3.
as for sabots they say to use noting but I like to wipe them off with monofiliment lube, I put a little on a rag and just run it over them lightly befor I load or if for hunting before I put them in the quick loader. Lee

RE: Lube and cleaner recipes
 

Wow, thanks for your wisdom Cayugad.I think it easier to just buy rusty duck or alcohol and Windshield Washer fluid. Why are these better than what you can buy? Chap Gleason

RE: Lube and cleaner recipes
 

I remember reading a post about a week ago concerning a neutrogena soap mixture as a lube. Can't find it now. Anyone remember that?
Anyone got it?
Lee, when you're talking tallow, do you just mean lard? Or something else?

RE: Lube and cleaner recipes
 

Rusty Duck Black Off is some good stuff. I bought out all Wal Mart had this season. I only got eight bottles, but it should last me a while. No, these other things are not better. They are cheaper probably, but not better. Actually my favorite store brand cleaners besides Rusty Duckare Butch's Black Powder Bore Shine and Birchwood Casey #77. They really work good.

RE: Lube and cleaner recipes
 

For cleaning between shots, I just run a couple of damp patches sprayed with rubbing alcohol...

A solution I used when I shot competition alot was rubbing alcohol, Murphy's Oil Soap and Hydrogen Peroxide...equal parts of each, don't store in a glass bottle, as it will build up pressure and bust it...I quit using after awhile because I heard (somewhere on the net) that the peroxide might promote rust...

For a lube, I just use SnoSeal for my patches.

RE: Lube and cleaner recipes
 

TC#13 borecleaner between shots and @ the end of the day only in my inlines.

TC bore butter on my patches, though I haven't shot round ball in yrs., Natural lube on thehornady pa pellets. Also put on a dry patch and run thorough the bore @ the end of the season.

boiling hot water w/soap and for BP in my TC Hawken @ the end of the day.

I never tried alcohol but I will try it w/blue windshield fluid. I need something cheap and good. The snoseal is pretty neat too. Never thought of it. I believe it has lots of bees wax too.. Never tried Crisco but when i started out I lived in FL and 90 degree+ days would not have worked out...TC bore butter turned liquid @ times..
SHills

RE: Lube and cleaner recipes
 

Exactly the reason I wanted to get others recipes. I'm using BB right now on my patches and have tried it for a REAL bullet lube, but just the heat from my fingers seems to dissolve it, can't imagine when the weather turns warm.
Seems to work great as a patch lube, if a bit on the messy side while working it in.
I made some of the moose milk last night and have already seen how much easier of a patch lube it will be. I wet down 2 strips of ticking and left them to dry, checked them this morning and when you rub it between your fingers, you can feel the oil. But not wet enough to be a problem. Also went to the store and got 1/2 dozen little spritzer bottles and filled one with it for my shooting bag.
I also picked up a jar of SnoSeal, and a jar of Campdry Beeswax waterproofer. Has anyone tried the Campdry stuff? It says the ingredients are beeswax and lanolin. After rubbing a little on a patch, though, it may be just as messy as BB.
I also made some of the hard lube you posted, Cayugad, and have already converted. After casting about 50 of the 320 gr REAL bullets, I lubed them with that stuff after they had cooled and, man what a difference from the BB. I like this stuff. The only problem here is finding the castor oil. I hit 2 grocery stores and 2 drugstores before I found some. Bought all 4 bottles.:D
That was enough to make one batch of moosemilk and one batch of the hard lube.
The beeswax was easier to find tthan the castor oil, lol.

RE: Lube and cleaner recipes
 

Found this one on the web:

The following formula is from one of Paul A. Matthews’ book, How-To’s for the Black Powder Cartridge Rifle Shooter. He says it gives excellent results. Paul says “It will not melt in the sun, yet continues to give good performance when freezing temperatures are in the single digits. It is very soft and sticky and has a bad habit of sticking to your fingers instead of the bullet when you seat the bullet in the cartridge case. It also turns dark with exposure, but this in no way impairs its effectiveness. For my money, despite these few minor faults, it is one superb bullet lubricant for use in the black powder cartridge rifle.” This lubricant works great in a lubrisizer. It is not suitable for pan lubing. Probably the simplest way to make the lube is to mix an 8-ounce batch in a microwave oven.
Basic recipe:
Yellow beeswax 2 parts (ounces avdp.)
Pure neatsfoot oil 1 part (fluid ounces)
Murphy’s Oil Soap 1 part (fluid ounces)
1. Fully melt 4 ounces of beeswax in a Pyrex measuring cup.
2. Thoroughly stir in 2 fluid ounces of pure neatsfoot oil until there are no lumps. Do not use neatsfoot compound.
3. Add 2 fluid ounces of Murphy’s Oil Soap and continue to stir until all lumps are gone.
4. Pour into container and allow to harden.
5. For 8 lbs. of lubricant use 4 lbs. of beeswax, 1 qt. each of Neetsfoot oil and Murphy’s Oil Soap.
Note: You may notice that as soon as the Murphy’s Oil Soap is added, the mixture turns a light cream color. It may also boil up violently when the soap is first added. This is caused by a chemical reaction of caustic soda in the soap, an action known as saponification, which significantly raises the melting point of the mixture and gives it a smooth, soapy texture.

RE: Lube and cleaner recipes
 

Castor Oil is sold at Wal Mart in the Pharmacy section since one common use of it is as a laxative. So if you need more check your pharmacy in town. I am sure they would carry it. People long ago also thought it was a cure all for about anything you could think of. How many of us here were given a tablespoon full of that stuff? [X(]

RE: Lube and cleaner recipes
 

When I lived with my Grandparents in Idaho, ...every night. Blech![:'(]Grandma said it keeps ya regular. Yeah, no kidding.
Wally World is the first place I went since it's closest.
They were out. How do you run out of the most wretched stuff on the planet? Is there that big of a demand? yeesh.
I was wondering if flax seed oil would be a decent substitute since every store seemed to have tons of that.

RE: Lube and cleaner recipes
 

Anyone else?
There must be more homebrew lube guys out there.
Anything work better than you expected?
better than store bought?
Got any secret recipes you'd care to divulge?

RE: Lube and cleaner recipes
 

Hey Mac, I wonder what was going through the sales clerk's mind when you went to the counter with all that castor oil! About 15 years ago I was working at a transmission shop that used vasoline as assembly lube. One time I was elected to run to Pharmor to get some. Boy the looks I got at the checkout standing in line with a case...a little old lady wanted to know where the party was!

RE: Lube and cleaner recipes
 

For cleaning between shots and final gun cleaning at home nothing beats plain old Windex with vinegar. Yes, Windex with vinegar. It is the clear Windex. i put it in a spray bottle. It eats black powder, Pyrodex and Clean Shot fouling very quickly. It dissolves the primer residue on inlines. It works because the acid in the vinegar reacts with the base in the propellant. Sometimes you can see it fizz like putting vinegar in baking soda. Mike Venturino, blackpowder editor, got me onto this. Itworks better than anything else out there. Try it.

After cleaning the bore with Windex and vinegar run an oily patch throughit.

RE: Lube and cleaner recipes
 

I just bought a T/C Scout that is in near perfect condition. BEAUTIFUL gun, I've wanted one for a long time. Being pretty new to BP, I'm reading about all the options for lubing the bore, cleaning, seasoning the bore, etc.. A lot to learn. I want to do this right, and ensure that my new (new to me, that is) Scout is well taken care of. I like the idea of seasoning a bore with Bore Butter. Cayugad's hard lube recipe sounds good too. Will it season the bore, like Bore Butter does? Or, is this whole "seasoning" idea over-rated?

RE: Lube and cleaner recipes
 

Anybody wanna see a brag picture of my new Scout? I feel like a kid at Christmas. This is a great site by the way.

RE: Lube and cleaner recipes
 

Gonna try and post two pix.

RE: Lube and cleaner recipes
 

Here's the second pic

RE: Lube and cleaner recipes
 

WOW!!! that is a beautiful rifle. I bet you can't wait to shoot it. As for the lube I make seasoning a bore, I do not believe it will. Also I do not believe in seasoning a bore in the first place. But that's a whole different disagreement which has been hashed over to many times.

Enjoy shooting that rifle and be sure and keep us posted on how well it does.

RE: Lube and cleaner recipes
 

Yup, can't wait. I've been looking back at old posts, & see lots of discussion about Bbutter vs. oiling, etc.. A lot of options.

I bought the Scout for deer hunting; it's got a 1:20 twist rate. In a couple of old posts, there were references to the T/C Shockwave - 250gr. with 90 gr. Goex FFF being a good combination for this gun. Cayugad and Pittsburghunter: I sure would like to know your opinion on this. But, this post is supposed to be about "Lube and Cleaner recipes", so I'll start another post about the Shockwave, and hope you'll join in.

In the meantime, on this post: I do have some questions about making sure I use a cleaner that takes care of all fouling, including plastic. Assuming I'm gonna abandon the Bbutter, and go the petroleum/oil route, what are some good cleaners to use that'll easily take care of plastic and copper fouling?

RE: Lube and cleaner recipes
 

I shoot a lot of plastic out of my inline rifles. Not as much as Sabotloader of course. But in all my shooting I have never really had a build up of plastic, copper, lead, etc.

A good bore solvent is Birchwood Casey Bore Scrubber, Butch's Bore Solvent, or Hoppies. All of them will take the plastic out of the barrel and any other kind of fowling you can think of.

If you go the oil route, just simply swab the barrel with isopropyl alcohol before loading for the first time. Then a couple dry patches. That will remove any oil, or crud in the bore and make the rifle ready for loading. Also pop a cap or two through the nipple to make sure that the fire channel is nice and clean.

RE: Lube and cleaner recipes
 

Thanks for the input. How 'bout some other input from more of ya? Not trying to stir an old pot, but I have to admit, I'd find it a lot more comforting to put my guns away oiled.

RE: Lube and cleaner recipes
 

If I go the "oil" route, will I have to swab in between every shot at the range? With what?

RE: Lube and cleaner recipes
 

That will depend on what your shooting. If shooting conicals you might get a few shots off before needing to swab. When you load, your sense of feel will tell you more if you need to swab then anything else. With sabots I would recommend you swab between shots for the consistency and accuracy the swabbing will add to your range session.

What to swab with is a good question. Talking to some Scout owners they advise that the Scout can be temperamental in terms of igniton, and especially on wet days. For this reason I would only swab with isopropyl alcohol. Alcohol will draw fowling out of the barrel, it will dry on its own or with a few dry follow up patches and alcohol will burn of course.

Swabbing correctly is the key. Dampen, not soak the patch. Work the barrel in short strokes, getting longer as you work down the barrel. Follow with a dry patch. And never push a dry patch down a fowled barrel.

RE: Lube and cleaner recipes
 

When I was at the range on thursday, I was swabbing between shots with the 50/50 and couldn't believe the gunk coming out.
One fella asked why I was doing that after every shot. I showed him a completely black patch, he said, "oh".
After I got home from the range, the cleanup was as enjoyable as the shooting IMO.
I used the Butch's Black powder bore shine and before long, she was squeaky clean. Following up with some RemOil and back in the safe she went. Took it out this evening to check and, no rust, so I must be doing it right.
cayugad, I really like the Moosemilk on the rb patches. The only problem I had was with the ticking. I think mines too thick and I don't have a micrometer to check. Thank goodness the stuff's only $3 a yard. Easily replaceable. I wonder if the red stripe ticking is thinner than the blue?
(from Walmart)

RE: Lube and cleaner recipes
 

mcawful said, "I was swabbing between shots with the 50/50 and couldn't believe the gunk that was coming out."

Now that sounds like the kind of stuff I want to swab with between shots at the range. Mcawful, were you shooting plastic with sabots, conicals, or ball with patch? What is "50/50"?

RE: Lube and cleaner recipes
 

What size ball are you shooting? The red and blue stripe are the same thickness.

RE: Lube and cleaner recipes
 

This is a good read guys. Caygads recipes should be made into a sticky.

RE: Lube and cleaner recipes
 

yes, to all three. The 50/50 solution isone part isopropyl alcohol to one part windshield wiper fluid. I dampened some patches before heading to the range and put them in a sandwich bag, but I quickly ran out. Good thing I brought the whole bottle of the stuff with me along with patches I made from one of my wife's old flannel nightgowns.
She hasn't worn it in years and I hope she doesn'ttry to find it.:eek:

cayugad, the roundballs I was using are .490 by Hornady. Plus the roundballs that I cast myself, also .490. They were both tough with the ticking, but a real joy with the T/C store bought patches. I went through 50 of those easily.
The only difference in the rb I bought and the ones I cast is 2 grains in weight. The Hornady balls are cold swaged and mine are missing about 2 grains of weight from the sprue cut off. Still shot the same. Right on the money at 50 yards.

RE: Lube and cleaner recipes
 

The internet equivalent of this sticky is a web page. I printed the page to PDF (with Cutepdf.com free software) and place it on myweb site, here:

http://www.the-gleasons.com/Lube%20and%20Cleaner%20Recipes.pdf

so you can bookmark this and it won't go away in 1 year like the forum. Hope that helps. Chap Gleason Va

RE: Lube and cleaner recipes
 

Great idea, Chap! I was wondering how we were going to do that. Thanks.

RE: Lube and cleaner recipes
 

As long as Cayugad doesn't mind that I posted it, which I don't think he would (if you want this removed just let me know Cayugad). I hope the PDF is not copyright infringement for www.hunting.net(let me know moderator if you think so). It was not my intent to do that, I was just trying to do the ministry of helps/encouragement. Chap Gleason Va.

RE: Lube and cleaner recipes
 

Alsagr, do you use equal parts of each?

RE: Lube and cleaner recipes
 

http://www.hochmoulds.com/ the Emmert's lube on that page should be a decent BP bullet lube.

RE: Lube and cleaner recipes
 

Alsagr said: "For cleaning between shots and final gun cleaning at home nothing beats plain old Windex with vinegar....It eats black powder....Sometimes you can see it fizz...After cleaning the bore with Windex and vinegar run an oily patch throughit."

Alsagr (or anybody else that knows the answer to this question); like Garminator, I'm curious, are you referring to a "home brew" mixture of Windex and regular old kitchen vinegar? Or are you referring to the Windex that has the brand name "Windex With Vinegar"?

If you're talkin about a home brew, what % is Windex, and what % is kitchen vinegar? Thanks.

RE: Lube and cleaner recipes
 

After reading that post again, I think he's talking about the Windex with vinegar added already. I might try some.

RE: Lube and cleaner recipes
 

Ok.
Bought some of the windex with vinegar and am going to use it tomorrow at the range.

Cayugad, I found a supply of castor oil at a pharmacy here and bought 12 bottles (2 oz). Raised eyebrows at the checkout.:D
I have made 4 batches of the hard lube and poured them into foil mini loaf pans from the grocery store. They are stored in the beer fridge in the garage for future use. One batch of the hard lube fills the mini loaf pan just right.
Have you used this lube to pan lube?
I have a little hotplate in the garage and am going to melt it down to try it.

RE: Lube and cleaner recipes
 

Yes I have pan lubed them with that hard lube. I lined up my conicals and poured the melted lube in until it reached the bottom of the first band on the conical. I just left them sit out as the lube will harden back just fine. Then I picked them up and pushed them through a speed loader tube.

I can't say I was crazy about the mess it makes doing all this. So now I just have an Altoids tin in my possible bag filled with lube. I finger dad out as much as I need and roll the conical in the joint of the finger working it around into the bands. Then just load the thing. Works for me.

Hope you like the lube. When I bought six bottles of the stuff at a Wal mart they seemed kind of curious about what I needed it for. So I told them I drink a little of it every day... smiled and walked off, leaving them with their eyes bugged out.

RE: Lube and cleaner recipes
 

:D :D mixed with Wild Turkey?