Oil for MidSize Lathe

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Rip

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
The Taig manual says to use 10W motor oil for lubrication. So what is the best way to apply the oil to areas where friction is involved? Small oil can or wipe it on with a rag?

Has anyone found a "better" oil product for lubricating this type of lathe from Chris Hightower?
 
ATF or automatic transmission fluid works good. I use a small foam paint brush to get it where it needs to be,without mess or waste,but a rag can be used with a little thought. Tommy D.
 
Cleaning and oiling your lathe---I usually use wd40 to clean my lathe bed ---I remove headstock --tailstock etc till bed is exposed ----then spray some wd on the bedway of the lathe......take a paper towel clean off any grime --dirt etc-----I also clean the underside of the dovetail with wd40 on both sides---then do the carriage rack also --spray it with wd40 then take a paper towel put it over the rack and blow the wd40 out with air into the paper towel------I will also flip the carriage over cleaning that and the gib also----while I am at it clean and check the pinion gear and the eccentric to make sure they are clean-----After that check and clean headstock and tailstock -----After all that is done I will then oil my lathe with 3 in 1 oil , carriage rack and all of the above that I just cleaned with wd40----It may seem like overkill but it works and keeps everything moving nicely. Really only will take you about 15 minutes at the most to get this done.
 
Any oil will work. But from what I've been told engine oil is designed to slip where transmission fluid is designed not to. Makes sense to me.
 
slideway oils have stabilizers in them, like the Moreys or Lucas oil stabilizer. They also have other ep lubricating additives as well. you can make your own brew with any motor oil, 20% stabilizer, and then 20% of something like wyns for oil or STP for oil. It only needs a very light smear to be effective. I use ATF instead of motor oil, but make my own mix now. It does the bearings and slides and any gears, 1 oil for all of the lathes.
If it starts to look black or a change in color, give it all a good clean and relube. Sawdust wood dust is very abrasive, so keeping things clean is the best solution for long life.
Neil
 
I use ATF on all my lathes. I found that it doesn't form the snot bundles when the wood dust hits it. I use an eye dropper to place small amounts on both sides of the carrage and then run it up and down the ways. Make sure to get some on the bottom side of the V's where the gibbs are.
Dave
 
I was told to use a non-detergent oil in my headstock (1960s Taiwanese 10x24 metal lathe). It seemed to make sense so that is what I use, also in the many oil cups. I use a light general-purpose oil for the ways.

Dave
 
Post

I had read this awhile back and would like to share the read and perhaps it may be helpful/useful to others.

I hope this is not perceived as a hijack attempt, I think we all should teach,learn,mentor and be helpful, I've found some really good posts in this neck of the woods.

Here is the link I'd like to share.
http://www.machinerylubrication.com/Read/779/journal-bearing-lubrication

A simple linear bearing can be a pair of flat surfaces designed to allow motion; a drawer and the slides it rests on or the ways on the bed of a lathe.... NO lube= wear.

I use non detergent 30 weight air compressor oil in the spindle cups.

Here is another interesting read about extending equipment life with cleaner oil

and info on lube containment.
http://www.machinerylubrication.com/Read/30155/extending-equipment-life






Rob.M
 
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