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

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Harold_V
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Re: Lubricants to use on the moving parts of a lathe????

Post by Harold_V »

Way oil has the proper additives to provide for proper sliding. Slip/stick is a concern, and is assumedly addressed with way oils. It should not be confused with oils with other uses intended.

That said, ANY oil is better than no oil. I also agree, fully, with the concept of wiping and oiling a machine before use. Wiping at the end of the day does no harm, but also little good, as dust is an issue and should be removed by wiping before placing a machine tool in operation. If the machine is used daily, it need not be oiled until the next day, when it is wiped down to remove dust. It's also a good idea to pause for wiping and oiling for prolonged operations. That's assuming the tool has exposed ways. There are many machine tools that do not require way wiping, as they are completely covered and oiled automatically.

While there are other way oils, Vactra 2 is quite popular and is generally recommended.

Something to ponder. If the color of oil on the ways of a machine has changed (darkened), it is well past time to wipe and oil. Darkening is a sign of wear, and wear is the very thing that will degrade the quality of a machine tool.

H
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liveaboard
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Re: Lubricants to use on the moving parts of a lathe????

Post by liveaboard »

No such thing as way oil here in Portugal, and if there's a specialist lubricant shop within 200 miles I've yet to find it.

I was able to find way oil on ebay though; I have no doubt that will work for you too.
John Hasler
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Re: Lubricants to use on the moving parts of a lathe????

Post by John Hasler »

livaboard writes:
> No such thing as way oil here in Portugal, and if there's a specialist lubricant shop within 200 miles I've yet to find it.

Try chain saw oil.
jouesdeveaux
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Re: Lubricants to use on the moving parts of a lathe????

Post by jouesdeveaux »

Try Ballistol.
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liveaboard
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Re: Lubricants to use on the moving parts of a lathe????

Post by liveaboard »

Never heard of Ballistol; chain saw oil is for chain saws...

After the strong recommendations here, I ordered some way oil from the UK, and I'm a convert.

I asked a nearby machinist, old Portuguese fella, and he'd never heard of way oil either, he's been using motor oil his whole life. I gave him some of my way oil to try, but haven't heard what he thinks of it.
I can only ask him when his son is around to translate.
No one else speaks English.
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