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.22-5-40
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Green stain in lube?
Feb 23rd, 2011 at 12:49pm
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Hello, I have a strange one...many years ago, I was shooting in a league with cast in a .30-40 Krag.  The lubed bullets, after some months, would show green stain in lube around gas-check.  I noticed same green stain in old Lyman 45 with brass seal.  On some ctgs. left loaded for years, same green at case mouth..but brass not damaged..not pitting, or copper-colored discolaration.  The lube I was, and still use is 40% pure Besswax, 35% Synthetic Spermaceti wax..(from Charley Dell), 15% Anhydrous Lanolin, 10% Castor oil.
Now, when this green stuff was going on...My basement was not being protected 100% by de-humidifier..older model, that would freeze up, so humidity was higher.  For the past several years, I have non-freeze type and humidity levels quite low year around...I have not seen the green since.  Could this have been from the Anhydrous Lanolin..Re-hydrating?  I can't think of anything else in mix that would do it.  Also, with the Syn. Spermaciti..no matter how litttle I add...bulllets sparkle..like crystals in lube..Kind of pretty!  Accuracy fairy dust?  Does anyone else use this Syn. Spermaciti?  Where can you buy it now?  Thanks guys!
  
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fallingblock
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Re: Green stain in lube?
Reply #1 - Feb 23rd, 2011 at 2:28pm
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The green is from the copper in the brass. 
Cheers,
Laurie
  

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Laurie
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John Boy
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Re: Green stain in lube?
Reply #2 - Feb 23rd, 2011 at 8:19pm
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.22-5-40 (Thuer breath) ... believe we covered your issue in this thread on The Open Range
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PS: You never did identify the wax that you call  - Synthetic Spermaceti  Wink
« Last Edit: Feb 23rd, 2011 at 8:30pm by »  
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40_Rod
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Re: Green stain in lube?
Reply #3 - Feb 24th, 2011 at 7:51am
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If it came from Charlie Dell it is most probably Synthaceti 116.

40 Rod
  
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John Boy
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Re: Green stain in lube?
Reply #4 - Feb 24th, 2011 at 1:10pm
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40 Rod - what is Spermaceti 116?  Since whale oil and Spermaceti have been banned, the closest double hydro carbon chain waxes available that emulate the wax are jojoba and meadowfoam waxes 
  
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40_Rod
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Re: Green stain in lube?
Reply #5 - Feb 25th, 2011 at 9:05am
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John Boy
Try Googling the product. It is a synthetic product that I believe was made for the cosmetics industry. Both Charlie and Dean Popma used it in their lube formulas. As for jojoba oil it may look close in a chemical formula but the copy writer who made up the fib that it is a good substitute for sperm oil never used real sperm oil.

40 Rod
  
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John in PA
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Re: Green stain in lube?
Reply #6 - Feb 28th, 2011 at 2:12pm
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I believe the green color is verdigris, an oxidized form of copper. some element in the lube is breaking down into fatty acids which are attacking the brass. This color appears when copper alloys are weathered, or exposed to seawater, or certain acids.
  

John Wells
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