if you are getting a difference between the tubes then there is either not enough lube in a tube, or too much of an earlier different weight lube. a q-tip will remove enough of the old lube so you aren't inadvertantly mixing weights. i don't think it is too anal to have a repeatable setup.

i like to follow the instructions from speed merchant. (i find in general that anything Bruce Carbone suggests for pancars is worth considering)