This is kind of 'off topic'.....

[Robert]

Since getting into cast bullets and hearing about all the different lubes, I got to thinking. Talk about weird stuff to start out in a re-loading room, check this out. I have heard many people say that they use pure Bee's wax and Olive oil...and nothing else added. I got to thinking about that and thought....that would probably make a nice remedy for Chapped Lips. I dabble in candle-making so I have bee's wax, and a low wattage hotplate for keeping wax warm. I went out to the shop last night and melted the wax and added olive oil until it was just the right consistency when cooled in a teaspoon. This 'Soft Lube' is excellent for either bullets OR LIPS. I took it a step further today and went to the Health Food Store and got a small bottle of 'TEA TREE OIL'. I re-melted my mixture and added about 30 drops of the Tea Tree Oil, and it is wonderful. I had a few 'almost empty' Chapstick type thingies, and screwed them back down to the bottom, and filled them up. It takes about a teaspoon to fill these things and they charge 2-3 bucks for them, even more for the really good stuff. This IS really good stuff. I melted about a jigger of wax and about the same amount of olive oil, maybe about 50 cents total, then the spendy part, it was 5 bucks for the Tea Tree oil, and I figure I probably used about 75 cents worth of that. So I am up to a little more than a buck. I ended up with enough of this stuff to fill about 40 of those little tubes. Should be enough to last years.
Just though I would share that one...if you are already making bullet lube...yoursignificant other will love it if you crank out some of this stuff. Just dont use any of your stuff that you use for lead

[L-Roy]

What is TEA TREE OIL?

[Robert]

It is from an herb, I think from Austrailia or something, it has exellent anti-bacterial qualities and is very soothing, etc.  It also has a quality like menthol, but not as harsh.  Gives a sort of mild tingling, refreshing effect, but not quite as toxic tasting as menthol.  Seemed like the right thing to add.
   I just found this article
                     Tea Tree Oil

Origin: Australia

Appearance: Pale to light yellow liquid having a warm spicy odor.

Aromatic Actions: cleansing, cooling, energizing, stimulating, uplifting

Blends With: clary sage, clove, geranium, lavender, lavandin, lemon, marjoram, nutmeg, pine, rosemary, ylang ylang, spice oils

Home Uses: abrasions, abscess, acne, antibacterial, antifungal, antiinfectious, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antiviral, athlete's foot, blisters, boils, bronchitis, candida, catarrh, chlamydia, cold sores, colds, cuts, cuts, dandruff, ear infections, febrifuge, fever, flu, herpes, influenza, insect bites, jock itch, mumps, oily skin, pneumonia, ringworm, shock, sinusitis, sunburns, thrush, tonsillitis, toothaches, vaginal infections, warts, wounds, yeast infections
     
 
How It's Made: The oil comes by steam or water distillation of the leaves.

[daddywpb]

I was reading a post in the muzzleloading forum the other day about bees wax and olive oil. Seems it makes a lube for BP rifles similar to T/C Bore Butter. That stuff's good for everything!