First go at "Emmertta" lube to pan with questions

[JBMauser]

Here are the first half results of my first BP lube and pan lubing
experience.  I built my lube with the Emmert formula.  50, 40, 10.  Beeswax,
Crisco &  olive oil by volume.  

I had the cannuba wax skin from a gouda cheese so I tossed that in for color (came out the color of strawberry
Quick, Nasty stuff my kids had liked Thus Emmertta lube).  I doubt if it added 5%.  I arranged my bullets tightly on half the pan and spread them out on the other end.
Poured and let them cool a bit then put them in the freezer.  This is where
I think I went wrong.  I should have let them cool completely then froze
them.  The bullets that were close could not be pushed out as the cake had
cracked between them and in some cases the lube had pulled away.  Where the bullets had a good amount of lube material around them they pushed through
nicely and looked impressive.  The lube is soft and sticky to the touch but
not runny or sagging.  Does this sound correct?  Do  the lube grouves have to be completely full as the ones I filled cheese grater style have just a tad
less than the good push through as it seems fingers always pull a slight bit
away in handling.  All in all I think these girly pink bullets will shoot.
Now on to the next half of the project.  JB

[Cuts Crooked]

JB,

I've never used the method you describe, for the reasons you give..lube cracks and pulls away from the slugs! I do the "cookie cutter" method, using a fired 45-70 case with the primer pocket drilled out. I let the lube harden at room temps and them cut em free with the shell case using a bllunt nail to push them outta the case, it leaves the grooves completely full that way! :-)

[Ray Newman]

I think your problem is that you froze the bullets & they shrunk up just enough to permit the lube to pull away from the bullet. When you froze the bullets & the lube was the lube brittle?

When I pan lube, I try to have slightly over one  bullet dia. between the bullets. This will preclude the lube from pulling away from the bullet or cracking.

I also pre-heat the bullets w/ a hair dryer prior to pouring in the lube. I let the bullets become warm to the touch, then pour the lube. A warm bullet, like a warm mould, I believe allows the melt to slowly set up in the grease grooves & adhere better.

After pushing out the bullets, all the grease grooves are filled out.

When re-melt the lube for another pour, I use a double boiler to re-melt the lube. Most lube don’t tolerate well the heat of direct flame….

[JBMauser]

The preheating of the bullets is an interesting Idea.  These were 4o5 grain 45 cal bullets.  I would think I could melt the hair dryer before I got all that lead warmed up.  The lube never got brittle.  I think it just shrunk with the rapid temp change.  I did not let it stabilize at room temp before stuffing it into a plastic bag and into the freezer.  JB