Lub for ways and prevent rust

[Wongster]

Hello guys,

A stupid question: can engine oil be used for lubricating ways on my lathe and mill? What about using as cutting oil?



Thanks!

[Vinny]

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.

[Wongster]

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.

[Mayhem]

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.

[TomG]

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

[f350ca]

It may not be any easier to find but chainsaw bar oil has tackifiers as well.

[Roadracer_Al]

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.

[mfletch]

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

[oldskoolron]

I use sewing machine oil on the ways and soluble oil 3to1 for cutting

[Dr Stan]

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.