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+--- Thread: Lub for ways and prevent rust (/thread-3337.html)
Lub for ways and prevent rust - Wongster - 10-01-2016
Hello guys,
A stupid question: can engine oil be used for lubricating ways on my lathe and mill? What about using as cutting oil?
![[Image: 9872DBC5-43F0-4516-82B6-9B4D459DA081_zpsnpptpgcg.jpg]](http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb469/wongstersproduction/Mobile%20Uploads/9872DBC5-43F0-4516-82B6-9B4D459DA081_zpsnpptpgcg.jpg)
Thanks!
RE: Lub for ways and prevent rust - Vinny - 10-02-2016
Engine oill can be used on a lathe but it sucks as a cutting oil. It's not the greatest on the ways but will work. What you want is something thin but sticky for the ways. Stay away from detergent oil.
RE: Lub for ways and prevent rust - Wongster - 10-02-2016
Thanks Vinny. I'll try looking in hardware shops around. A friend of mine tried shipping in way oil from china. For some reasons unknown to him, the shipper refused to ship.
RE: Lub for ways and prevent rust - Mayhem - 10-02-2016
United Oil in Singapore makes Slideway 68, which is a dedicated way oil with tackifiers in it. A friend of mine works for a lubrication specialist here in Perth and they buy a lot of bulk oil in from United.
RE: Lub for ways and prevent rust - TomG - 10-02-2016
As Darren pointed out, way lube is the best option. It's tacky, so it stays in place and won't run off like engine oil.
Tom
RE: Lub for ways and prevent rust - f350ca - 10-02-2016
It may not be any easier to find but chainsaw bar oil has tackifiers as well.
RE: Lub for ways and prevent rust - Roadracer_Al - 10-02-2016
I was about to suggest that, Greg.
As far as cutting oil, for aluminum, use a mix of mineral spirits and light oil in about a 2:1 mix - 2 being the thinner.
For steel, lard or bacon fat works well, although you really must clean up with solvent after every use. Rancid animal fat smells REALLY bad.
RE: Lub for ways and prevent rust - mfletch - 10-02-2016
Well I use EP90 oil only because I've go two gallons of it, use on ways and cutting but I only potter about on the lathe and mill don't use them every day
RE: Lub for ways and prevent rust - oldskoolron - 10-02-2016
I use sewing machine oil on the ways and soluble oil 3to1 for cutting
RE: Lub for ways and prevent rust - Dr Stan - 10-02-2016
plus 1 for bar oil as a good sub for way oil. It's easy to find around here at big box DIY stores, farm & garden stores, automotive parts houses, and more.
As to cutting oil I'm sticking with mineral lard oil mixed 1:1 with diesel fuel. It works great for me on a wide variety of metals and does not contribute to rusting issues. For my surface grinder I've gone with a soluble oil and use a refractometer to keep it at a proper ratio. I'd like to come up with a DIY solution to keep the grinding cutting solution at least half way clean. I added an oil filter to my parts washer pump which helps in that instance. I'm toying with the idea of running the return of the surface grinder coolant through a coffee filter or two. Thinking out loud I wonder if an in-line fuel filter on the supply line would be effective & efficient.