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Old 01-08-2017, 05:06 PM
otisrush otisrush is offline
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Default Imperial Lube Products (Wax, Neck Lube)

I want to (and will be) giving Imperial Sizing Wax a try. I've read too many positive things about it to not give it a try.

My question is about the Imperial Neck Lube products. To set context - I am doing FL sizing. What I was thinking I would do (because there is a YouTube video from the company showing this) is use the wax on the body - and the dry neck lube on the neck/mouth.

What I can't figure out is whether one needs BOTH the neck lube and the application media. Is the application just an optional way of applying the neck lube? Or is OK to just dip the neck into the neck lube itself?

I'd have thought this would be clear someplace online - but if it's out there I can't find it.

Thanks.

OR
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Old 01-08-2017, 05:15 PM
JHB51 JHB51 is offline
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The neck media is made of tiney ceramic balls with a little bit of powder lube mixed in. Dip the dry case neck in the media and when you lift the case out the media stayes in the container and deposites a small amount of lube on the case. To make a long answer short it makes lubing the neck easier and neater.
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Old 01-08-2017, 06:57 PM
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Originally Posted by JHB51 View Post
The neck media is made of tiney ceramic balls with a little bit of powder lube mixed in. Dip the dry case neck in the media and when you lift the case out the media stayes in the container and deposites a small amount of lube on the case. To make a long answer short it makes lubing the neck easier and neater.
So Imperial neck lube must be similar to the powdered mica I use for inside necks?

I also like the sizing wax for the body of the case. It takes very little and doesn't migrate much. Hornady Unique works similarly and I like it also.
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Last edited by ageingstudent; 01-08-2017 at 06:58 PM. Reason: Typo
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Old 01-08-2017, 07:20 PM
Ivan the Butcher Ivan the Butcher is offline
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[QUOTE=ageingstudent;139407232]So Imperial neck lube must be similar to the powdered mica I use for inside necks?

Yes, different product, same purpose!

If your necks are sized with a collet, you don't need (or probably want) neck lube . Same goes for the old Hornady carbide neck expanders. I have one on a 223 FL/SB die for the last 35 years. And all my Long Range ammo is loaded with collet sizer dies. However I have had the Imperial neck lube tin for about 18 years and use when sizing the neck down in diameter or expanding up. I have sized 284 Winchester and 6.5x284 Norma into 6x284, and needed to lube necks The Imperial system is a little less messy than mica (I still have a "cylinder" of Lyman's Mica). My RCBS prep center has a designated area for neck lubing. It is a small circular depression for mica or coated balls. I just put the small tin on the bench with two sided tape so I don't knock it over the edge!

Ivan
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Old 01-09-2017, 01:11 PM
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I put some Imperial Sizing Wax on my thumb and index fingers and apply a small amount on each case. Every few cases I drag my finger across the case mouth and that applied enough lube so as not to cause a problem. Remember, a little goes a long way with Imperial Sizing Wax. I'm sure you will like it...
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Old 01-09-2017, 01:35 PM
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I've never found the Imperial powdered neck lube to be very effective and it's messy. It does have minimal lubricating usefulness, but slightly greasing the top of a case neck (so that a little is pushed inside when sizing and decapping) using the Imperial sizing die wax works much better. The greasiness is easily removed by tumbling the brass.
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Old 01-09-2017, 08:43 PM
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I put some Imperial Sizing Wax on my thumb and index fingers and apply a small amount on each case. Every few cases I drag my finger across the case mouth and that applied enough lube so as not to cause a problem. Remember, a little goes a long way with Imperial Sizing Wax. I'm sure you will like it...
I follow this exact same method and as above it works perfect for me. If it's available for your sizer add a carbide button to make it that much easier. Caution though as wax is a product that a little goes a long way and too much can cause problems. Last, be sure to clean the residue from the die body upon completion of sizing. You don't want dried residue next time you size cases.
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Old 01-10-2017, 02:11 AM
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Fingertip smeared lightly in Imperial case lube. Case placed between lubed fingertip and thumb and lube evenly applied. Stay away from neck and shoulder. Dip neck in the black imperial powder and tap case on base as removed from powder. Size case. Use paper towel to clean case and neck. Proceed onward. Yeah it takes awhile, but it works.
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Old 01-10-2017, 06:43 AM
bigedp51 bigedp51 is offline
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If you wet tumble with SS media it scrubs the carbon out of the inside of the case neck. Applying the dry powdered graphite that is nothing more than a fine powdered carbon re-coats the case neck.

And I watched a YouTube video showing the application of Imperial Sizing Wax with their fingers to the outside of the case and then using a Q-Tip to apply it inside the neck.

So it depends on how you clean the inside of your case necks. I'm forming Lake City 7.62 case to .243 and using Hornady Unique like above using a Q-tip to apply Hornady Unique to the inside of the neck. I then clean the inside of the neck with a case brush.

If just neck sizing I use the dry powdered case neck lube (main reason for dry neck lube) and sometimes after wet tumbling to replace the carbon inside the neck. Some competitive shooters say that wet tumbling effects bullet grip because the bullet bonds to the case neck.

Last edited by bigedp51; 01-10-2017 at 06:56 AM.
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Old 01-10-2017, 08:43 AM
Rick H. Rick H. is offline
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Must be a bunch of benchrest shooters on this thread. Some of you sure go a long way to lube a case. Must have a lot of time on your hands.

Rick
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Old 01-10-2017, 10:00 AM
Pisgah Pisgah is offline
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Imperial Wax is great stuff, no doubt about it. But it is no better, and a whole lot more expensive, than products like Johnson's Paste Wax or Briwax. Pick up a light smear on thumb and one finger, lightly lube exterior of case, about every 3 cases lightly swipe a finger over the case mouth. This latter step is all you need for inside case neck lubrication.
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Old 01-10-2017, 11:06 AM
Ballistic147 Ballistic147 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ArchAngelCD View Post
I put some Imperial Sizing Wax on my thumb and index fingers and apply a small amount on each case. Every few cases I drag my finger across the case mouth and that applied enough lube so as not to cause a problem. Remember, a little goes a long way with Imperial Sizing Wax. I'm sure you will like it...
This is the same way I do it although before I begin I pull the expander ball out and "prime" it with the Imperial wax. Never had any issues at all and I'm a newbie. Done probably 3k 223 cases this way so far.
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Old 01-10-2017, 03:17 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ArchAngelCD View Post
I put some Imperial Sizing Wax on my thumb and index fingers and apply a small amount on each case. Every few cases I drag my finger across the case mouth and that applied enough lube so as not to cause a problem. Remember, a little goes a long way with Imperial Sizing Wax. I'm sure you will like it...
This is what I do . Has always worked perfectly for me .I keep a clean rag handy to wipe any excess off the case after loading but you really don't have to.

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