Lub for ways and prevent rust
#1
Hello guys,

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

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#2
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.
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#3
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.
Wongster
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#4
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.
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#5
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
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#6
It may not be any easier to find but chainsaw bar oil has tackifiers as well.
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Greg
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#7
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.
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#8
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
mfletch, Try to do the best you can and that's good enough
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#9
I use sewing machine oil on the ways and soluble oil 3to1 for cutting
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#10
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.
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