Making black powder wad lube
Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 8:07 pm
Well as you may remember I made some saponified lube for minie boolits a few weeks back and a fine mess doing so. Today I made another recipe (and another huge mess).
The plan was to make a Mutton Tallow and Beeswax mix.
I needed some mutton tallow to mix with the beeswax. I don't suppose any of you have tried to buy such a thing as mutton tallow or you would be aware that there is NONE to be had.
On to the net to have a look for mutton a week or two ago. The Blackface Sheep company supplies mutton around 5 years old from Dumfries. I contacted them asking if they could supply some mutton fat to render down.
I had a package of some lovely mutton arrive this morning with the fat from two sheep. £40 for it all - ouch.
The fat was minced and put into a slow cooker and after a couple of hours the fat had separated off.
Next step to separate the fat from the dross and water - done with a ladle.
I put around 8oz (1/2 kg in new speak) in a jug and added the same weight of beeswax and popped it into the microwave.
After about 30 seconds a loud bang ensued and the interior of the machine had a coating of wax!!!
I scraped it all together and put it in the jug and tried a lower power setting. It worked. I got 3 1/2 pots of lovely lube which is to be used to soak felt patches with. I'll be selling the lube and patches soon when I have the felt cut and impregnated with the lube.
Having costed it out I know I can undercut the big suppliers.
I will be trying it out in my 44 BP revolver very soon.
The plan was to make a Mutton Tallow and Beeswax mix.
I needed some mutton tallow to mix with the beeswax. I don't suppose any of you have tried to buy such a thing as mutton tallow or you would be aware that there is NONE to be had.
On to the net to have a look for mutton a week or two ago. The Blackface Sheep company supplies mutton around 5 years old from Dumfries. I contacted them asking if they could supply some mutton fat to render down.
I had a package of some lovely mutton arrive this morning with the fat from two sheep. £40 for it all - ouch.
The fat was minced and put into a slow cooker and after a couple of hours the fat had separated off.
Next step to separate the fat from the dross and water - done with a ladle.
I put around 8oz (1/2 kg in new speak) in a jug and added the same weight of beeswax and popped it into the microwave.
After about 30 seconds a loud bang ensued and the interior of the machine had a coating of wax!!!
I scraped it all together and put it in the jug and tried a lower power setting. It worked. I got 3 1/2 pots of lovely lube which is to be used to soak felt patches with. I'll be selling the lube and patches soon when I have the felt cut and impregnated with the lube.
Having costed it out I know I can undercut the big suppliers.
I will be trying it out in my 44 BP revolver very soon.
