Lee liquid alox--anybody brew up their own version at home?

Elkins45 · March 2, 2010, 08:12 PM

The title pretty much says it--has anyone managed to concoct a home brewed substitute for the commercial Lee product?

All of the handgun bullets I cast these days are tumble lube designs. Like most handloaders and (especially) bullet casters, I like to experiment and try to save as much as I possibly can. Before I start experimenting I thought I would ask around and see if anyone has made their own.

Google searches have informed me that some folks have tried Johnson's Paste Wax, but reports on the results were varied.

Any thoughts?

jburlingham · March 2, 2010, 08:50 PM

I haven't tried it myself, however I have been told about using a wood floor wax (like the ones used at bowling alleys) in place of the liquid Alox.

Crosshair · March 2, 2010, 08:54 PM

I use a mix of Johnson's paste wax, Vaseline and Alox. The Vaseline keeps the paste wax from flaking off the bullets and keeps things a little sticky. Add a bit of Alox to the mix.

I just keep adding each part until I get lube that "looks right". If I had to guess on actual proportions it would be around 40-60 Vaseline/Paste wax. Add in a few squirts of Alox on top of that. Shake well and dump onto a tray to dry for a day or so with a fan blowing on them.

Fills out the lube grooves great when you put through a Lee sizer and the extra can be scrapped off the sizer and put in the next batch to thicken the mix.

Only downside is it tends to build on the seater plug so you have to constantly adjust your seating die to keep proper OAL.

Stick_man · March 2, 2010, 10:44 PM

never have tried to make my own. There is a competitor out there that sells the exact same stuff for a lot less making it cheaper to buy than to try to make. White Label Lube sells it by the quart for about $11 plus shipping. I believe it is just a one person operation, but he is top notch. He also sells it on eBay (or you can just go there to get a link to his website) under reloading components.

teeroux · March 2, 2010, 11:17 PM

I worked in the oil field for a good while and I have to say there is a definate similarity of liquid alox and some of the coating they used on drill pipe. It looked, felt, even smelt the same there was just a whole lot more covering the pipe.

NuJudge · March 3, 2010, 06:06 PM

The Lee ALOX product is Lubrizol Corporation's Alox 606-55. Lee buys it in quantity and repackages it in tiny bottles, which costs a lot.

Alox 606 is a solid. Melts at 245 degrees centigrade. It is diluted with 45% mineral spirits to make 606-55.

You can buy the same stuff much cheaper in larger amounts:
http://www.lsstuff.com/lube/index.html

Lubrizol does not like Lars calling it "Alox," so he calls it "Xlox."

res45 · March 3, 2010, 08:52 PM

I use this mix and method,works great for all my pistol and rifle cast bullet loads. The two 4 oz. bottles of Alox plus the JPW and MS mix made enough lube to last a life time.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=67654

Elkins45 · March 4, 2010, 10:05 PM

Quote:

I use this mix and method,works great for all my pistol and rifle cast bullet loads. The two 4 oz. bottles of Alox plus the JPW and MS mix made enough lube to last a life time.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=67654

Thanks for the link--just the kind of info I'm looking for.

March 2, 2010, 08:12 PM	#1
Elkins45 Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2010 Posts: 498	Lee liquid alox--anybody brew up their own version at home? The title pretty much says it--has anyone managed to concoct a home brewed substitute for the commercial Lee product? All of the handgun bullets I cast these days are tumble lube designs. Like most handloaders and (especially) bullet casters, I like to experiment and try to save as much as I possibly can. Before I start experimenting I thought I would ask around and see if anyone has made their own. Google searches have informed me that some folks have tried Johnson's Paste Wax, but reports on the results were varied. Any thoughts?

March 2, 2010, 08:54 PM	#3
Crosshair Senior Member Join Date: December 16, 2004 Location: Grand Forks, ND Posts: 5,333	I use a mix of Johnson's paste wax, Vaseline and Alox. The Vaseline keeps the paste wax from flaking off the bullets and keeps things a little sticky. Add a bit of Alox to the mix. I just keep adding each part until I get lube that "looks right". If I had to guess on actual proportions it would be around 40-60 Vaseline/Paste wax. Add in a few squirts of Alox on top of that. Shake well and dump onto a tray to dry for a day or so with a fan blowing on them. Fills out the lube grooves great when you put through a Lee sizer and the extra can be scrapped off the sizer and put in the next batch to thicken the mix. Only downside is it tends to build on the seater plug so you have to constantly adjust your seating die to keep proper OAL. __________________ I don't carry a gun to go looking for trouble, I carry a gun in case trouble finds me.

March 3, 2010, 06:06 PM	#6
NuJudge Member Join Date: October 17, 2005 Location: SE Michigan Posts: 86	Lee Liquid Alox is just Lubrizol Corp's Alox 606-55 The Lee ALOX product is Lubrizol Corporation's Alox 606-55. Lee buys it in quantity and repackages it in tiny bottles, which costs a lot. Alox 606 is a solid. Melts at 245 degrees centigrade. It is diluted with 45% mineral spirits to make 606-55. You can buy the same stuff much cheaper in larger amounts: http://www.lsstuff.com/lube/index.html Lubrizol does not like Lars calling it "Alox," so he calls it "Xlox."

March 3, 2010, 08:52 PM	#7
res45 Senior Member Join Date: September 15, 2007 Location: NC Posts: 753	I use this mix and method,works great for all my pistol and rifle cast bullet loads. The two 4 oz. bottles of Alox plus the JPW and MS mix made enough lube to last a life time. http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=67654 __________________ The Reloaders Network discord Channel https://discord.gg/Nafuzht

March 2, 2010, 08:50 PM	#2
jburlingham Junior Member Join Date: February 27, 2010 Location: Lyme, CT Posts: 2	I haven't tried it myself, however I have been told about using a wood floor wax (like the ones used at bowling alleys) in place of the liquid Alox.

March 2, 2010, 10:44 PM	#4
Stick_man Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2008 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 241	never have tried to make my own. There is a competitor out there that sells the exact same stuff for a lot less making it cheaper to buy than to try to make. White Label Lube sells it by the quart for about $11 plus shipping. I believe it is just a one person operation, but he is top notch. He also sells it on eBay (or you can just go there to get a link to his website) under reloading components.

March 2, 2010, 11:17 PM	#5
teeroux Senior Member Join Date: December 12, 2006 Posts: 1,512	I worked in the oil field for a good while and I have to say there is a definate similarity of liquid alox and some of the coating they used on drill pipe. It looked, felt, even smelt the same there was just a whole lot more covering the pipe.