Lubricants to use on the moving parts of a lathe????

[AllThumbz]

For those of you who, like me, own a South Bend lathe, I am posting the appropriate lubricants. The letters correspond to the South Bend lubrication chart on Steve Wells' web site:

http://www.wswells.com/partslist/lubric ... t_6503.pdf

These can be purchased from McMaster-Carr.

SUS= original rating per Saybolt viscosity measuring system. Now you will find them rated in ISO or
SAE numbers

A = 100SUS = ISO 22
McMasterr Carr #13595K71= ISO 22 Spindle Oil
or
Mobil Velocite Spindle Oil #10
or
ENCO #505-2002 = Mobil Velocite Spindle Oil #10 = ISO 22
or
MSC #60002136 = Mobil Velocite Spindle Oil #10 = ISO 22

B= 150-240SUS = ISO 32-50 or SAE 10-20
McMaster Carr # 3025K29 = ISO 46 Machine Oil
or
Mobil DTE Hydraulic Oil 25
or
DTE Machine/Turbine Medium Heavy Oil
or
ENCO #505-1208 = Mobil Hydraulic Oil DTE25, ISO46, SAE 20
or
MSC #60002037 = Mobil Hydraulic Oil DTE25, ISO46, SAE 20

C = 250-500SUS = ISO 55-100 or SAE 20-30
McMaster Carr # 3025K34 = ISO 68 machine Oil
or
Mobil Vactra Way Oil #2
or
ENCO #505-1987 = Mobil medium Way Oil, Vactra #2, ISO 68, SAE 20
or
MSC #60002151 = Mobil medium Way Oil, Vactra #2, ISO 68, SAE 20

Commercial part numbers are for 1 gallon containers.

The file is attached as a PDF for those of you who want to post it near the machine.

Best,

Nelson

[jim rozen]

Detergent motor oils.

A big source of controversy. Putting it another way, any lube discussion
winds up with controversy.

I do use mobil one synthetic engine oil in spindle bearings, on both my 10L
southbend, and also on my vintage bench lathe. Why.

Because I'm a pragmatist. Because it works. Works for what you ask.

I've owned three different southbend lathes over the years. Every single
one has had the spindle bearings adjusted per spec, using the correct
southbend procedure. Then when using the specified (actually, the BRANDED)
southbend spindle oil, in each of the three cases, the spindle bearings would
heat, bog, and eventually come to a stop after running for a while at the
highest stock speed.

Draining and flushing the reservoirs with the mobil one, made the problem go away.

1) yes it is detergent oil.

2) do not use this on a machine with recirculating lubrication.

3) the southbend machines are total loss oil systems.

4) drain clean and flush the reservoirs annually if using this oil.

5) I've been using this oil (detergent type motor oil) in the spindle
bearings on the same lathe for the past 20 years. The bearing
clearances have not changed during that time. There seems to be
no adverse effect.

6) end of advise on this matter. Don't like it, don't use it. If you have
the same heating problem in a similar lathe, and folks tell you to " just
slack off the bearing caps a bit at high speed" then your BS detector
should sound off.

I do not use this for way oil. It does a poor job for way oil.

Jim

[Daddyjack]

Jim, I'm curious, what weight Mobile 1 do you use? I've run the old Monarch cone head on non detergent 20wt for 20 years but the bearings do tend to heat up at high RPM. I wonder if Mobile 1 would help. Good discussion. Thanks, Jack

[jim rozen]

I typically use 0W30 mobil one for the spindle bearings.

Jim

[homebrew .357]

Hi all, I`m not shore what this "ways oil " is, but I think it should be like no 68 oil.
Castrol put out "Magnaglide D68" for lathes and such but I could not get this. So Total oils put out there "Ways oil", it`s "Drosera MS68", and this is what I use it`s good and sticky.
But it sounds like as long as you use some oil on your lathe it mite live cheers.357

[spro]

btw, Nelson.. Thanks for putting together that chart !

[Mr Ron]

John Knox, the guru over on the Sheldon web site told me to use high detergent #30 oil on my lathe. Is he correct?

[Harold_V]

John Knox, the guru over on the Sheldon web site told me to use high detergent #30 oil on my lathe. Is he correct?

It would be my advice to follow the manufacturer's recommendations, and I might add that I have never seen automotive high detergent oils recommended (by the builder) for shop equipment.

Harold

[spro]

I don't dispute the information of this thread. Mr. Knox wouldn't be a guru if this wasn't taken out of context. We have learned here that it is a "total loss" type lubrication. I would think this is but a step to flood out impurities and Then the proper non-detergent be used. Heck, folks would use a mix of kerosene in engines for a bit, just to get the gunk out.
There is no reason for this to be any arguement..

[Mr Ron]

John Knox, the guru over on the Sheldon web site told me to use high detergent #30 oil on my lathe. Is he correct?

It would be my advice to follow the manufacturer's recommendations, and I might add that I have never seen automotive high detergent oils recommended (by the builder) for shop equipment.

Harold

My lathe was built in the 1940's and I would think the lubricants of the 40's would see improvement 60+ years later. The lubricants used then may not even be available anymore. I was using a straight 30 weight oil until he told me to use a high detergent oil. John Knox used to work for Sheldon Machine and retired when the company quit business. I did notice one big difference; when I was using straight 30, the bearings would get very warm. After switching, they don't get warm anymore. The bearings are the bronze type or babbit; not sure which.

[banker80]

I bought a Taig hobby lathe in hopes that it will help in repairing old brass locomotives. I have no experience and want to learn. My first ignorant question: What is "way oil" and where do I find it in Austin, TX? Second question: Can I use it while turning parts? Thanks your help.
Mac

[jcarmon]

I'm still pretty new, but I did some experimenting with oil for my ways, and found air tool oil to be the cleanest, and easiest to use. The first and last thing I do when I start and end for the day is wipe down the ways, and re-oil them. The whole machine works easier now than I did when it was covered in the 30w motor oil the manual called for. When I got my Jet 12x36, it looks like it had been buried in the landfill for 30 years. It was still covered in the shipping grease. After restoration, the thin, clear, air tool oil work like a charm.