Sizing
After casting, I snap the gas checks on and spray WD-40 across the bullets in prep to run them through the Lee sizer. The WD-40 will dissipate, I do not remove it.
Lubing
With all the bullets sized and gas checks seated, I then move to lubing. I keep my Alox in a small crock pot and use that pot to not only heat the lube but store it after use. I turn the pot on about 30 minutes before I start the lubing. The Alox is "cut" with odorless mineral spirits to achieve a consistency that will allow me to lube the bullet with one dip. I want it thick enough to drip of the bullet but not flow off the bullet. Normally, I dip and see no more than three drops fall off back into the pot. When it is like this it is perfect.
Use the mineral spirits to cut the lube if it is too thick and let it "cook" a bit on high if it is too thin. I use a paint stick to stir the pot. Once dipped, the bullets are dipped in the Alox and set on cookie sheets to dry.
Notice that I'm using a small channellock plier, picking the bullets up in this manner might seem time consuming but it is extremely quick and I rarely drop a bullet. Bullets are placed on cookie sheet with only a small amount of liquid Alox collecting at the base.
Drying time, in my conditioned reloading room takes about 2 hours. Because of the mineral spirit vapor, I leave them on a bench in my garage to dry. The drying time varies with humidity, it can take from 4 hours to overnight.
With the bullets dry, I remove them from the cookie sheets with a paint scraper and run them back through the bullet sizing die. All dried Alox left on the tray is placed back into the pot. While sizing, excess lube flakes off the bullets into a bucket below the press and that material is returned to the crock pot as well.
Finally, if the bullets are going into storage for any length of time, I dust them with mica to prevent them from sticking together. Some casters use corn starch. Any lube that has dried on the cookie sheet is returned to the crock pot for the next use!
I have timed my bullet lubing sessions, keeping a record of all the steps involved in what has been outlined above, and less time per bullet is consumed dipping than that in using a traditional lubesizer. Needless to say, work in an area with plenty of ventilation. This is something that you would not want to do inside your home!
I buy my bulk lube from White Label Lube but you can check out this method on a much smaller scale to see if it suits you. Try using a small bowl, like the bowl that store bought Jello-O comes in. Fill it will heated alox, heating the Lee bottle in sink full of hot water. Using this method alone will minimize the volume of lube used and keep the nose of your bullets Alox free.
