Home made patch lube recipes

[Gambia]

Isopropyl alcohol is rubbing alcohol. Not denatured alcohol.

AAAHHHH now it makes sense...Thanks Hawkeye. I was thinkin isoprophyl alcohol like in dry gas you dump in your gas tank. I kept thinking that would really blow up with ignition. Could really mess with the Muzzle velocity and have a nice blue flame to boot....

[riverrat]

Beeswax and Olive oil works great for me too!
I think I tried everything and all the other stuff is just like adding fluff as far as I am concerned.  I got 4 ounces of rendered bear fat so my next batch will be beeswax and bear grease.

[melsdad]

This is what I have been using and found that it works very well so far. I tried a few commercial lubes but I like to make things myself.

Tim I will let you try some patches at the next shoot if you want to.

Castor Oil 3 oz.
Murphy's Oil Soap 1 oz.
Witch Hazel 4 oz.
Isopropyl Alcohol (91%) 8 oz.
Water (non-chlorinated if available) 16 oz.

I dip my patching in this twice and let it dry laid flat on wax paper in between. Makes a semi-dry patch material that's easy to carry & use. If you don't mind carrying a little bottle it's a GREAT liquid lube as is.

I believe the water is used to help mix the oils. you must shake the bottle good before soaking patches because of seperation. The water and alcohol evaporate leaving a slightly oily film on the patches. I bought everything I needed to make a batch at the drugstore.

I placed some patches in the freezer, and they remained flexible.

[david32cal]

for shooting patches i use an equal parts mixer of bear fat,murrphys oil soap and bees wax. for cleaning patches i use an equal parts mixer of Joe's hand cleaner(lanolin),murrphys oil soap and denatured alcohol.

[TomG]

Can you substitute crisco for bear fat?

[david32cal]

dont see why not,i've also made it useing the Trappers mink oil that Windwalker spoke of.for cold weather just increase the amount of fat or oil you use so it does'nt stiffen up to bad.

[Spotted Bull]

I guess living in Texas has its advantages.  It don't freeze down here often enough to worry over such things.  I am gonna start cutting and lubing my own patches, though.

[butterchurn]

Olive oil mixed with bees wax works well, too.  I have a ready source of bees wax so it is easier for me.  Being a hobby beekeeper has advantages.