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  1. #1
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    Default Lathe lubrication

    I have just done a complete clean out of my recently aquired lathe (Hafco AL-900A) and have a couple of questions about lubrication which isn't covered in much detail in the manual.

    Should I use oil or grease on the compound, cross and longitudinal feed rods where they pass through brass nuts?

    Also what to use on the gear teeth in the main gearbox.

    I have heard mention of lathe bed oil, and would like to get a brand name for it and know where to purchase it.

  2. #2
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    Dont use grease,use an oil 46/68 hydraulic.
    Use chainsaw bar oil or motor bike chain lube on your geartrain.

  3. #3
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    Default

    I was going to say that!!

    Lathe bed oil and chainsaw bar lube contain 'tacifiers' to make it stick.... I think the bar lube is a little more viscous than the lathe bed oil, and can be thinned a touch with your hydraulic oil to make it flow just a tad better. If it's too sticky it will collect more swarf and particles which will turn it into a very effective grinding paste......

  4. #4
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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    Guy Lautard's bedside machinist readers have a simple recipe for lathe gears. I thought I already posted the recipe here but I cannot seem to find it using the search. Does anyone remember this?

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by iron bark View Post
    I have heard mention of lathe bed oil, and would like to get a brand name for it and know where to purchase it.
    "Mobil Vactra 2" is a common slideway oil, but other times I've seen this question asked, knowledgeable posters have commented that it's only sold in 20 litre drums. (I may have the size wrong). It may also be rather expensive.

    I get to top up the CNC centres at work with it, so a little bit can find its way home to my toy lathe & mill. I suspect the boss orders it from Cedray.

    Cheers,
    Andrew

  6. #6
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    Default Vactra 2 info

    Product info:

    Mobil Vactra™ Oil Numbered Series

    Someone else's research thread:

    Mobil Lubricants explained - Research

    Post 10 has an Aussie's recommendation.

    Cheers,
    Andrew

  7. #7
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    Ueee is offline Blacksmith, Cabinetmaker, Machinist, Messmaker
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    Hi,
    I use Castrol Hyspin (hydraulic) as a general bearing oil (most of my machines have plain bearings) and i use castrol Magna http://www.castrol.com/castrol/secti...tentId=7053913 for my ways. I only use castrol as there is a local castrol distributor that sells to the GP as well. For gears i just use either thick Diff oil or chain bar lube, depending on which can is closer.....i think the chain bar lube sticks better though.
    1915 17"x50" LeBlond heavy duty Lathe, 24" Queen city shaper, 1970's G Vernier FV.3.TO Universal Mill, 1958 Blohm HFS 6 surface grinder, 1942 Rivett 715 Lathe, 14"x40" Antrac Lathe, Startrite H225 Bandsaw, 1949 Hercus Camelback Drill press, 1947 Holbrook C10 Lathe.

  8. #8
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    I expected a big response to this thread as everyone seems to have their own ideas on which way to go with lubrication on lathes.

    I just use 20 -50 SAE car engine oil on the ways, mainly because I subscribe to the thinner is better theory in that it will flush away the grit and cuttings better than using thicker oil.

    One interesting thing I've noticed is that lube doesn't seem to adhere to aluminium gears very well. I have two in my gear train, as well as one brass, several cast iron, and one steel, and the alloy gear just never seems to let the lube stick to it like the rest. But then again you can run aluminium gears dry apparently.

    The one specialist lube I use is some Loctite special lithium grease (767) for slow moving gears/shafts which I use on the lead screw because it is fully covered.

    This is really magic stuff, but I wouldn't recommend using it on an uncovered lead screw as it makes a filthy mess if you get it anywhere it shouldn't be.

    Basically once it's lubed, this stuff just stays there and I probably would only add a bit maybe once a year. Also no signs of wear discoloration in it whatsoever.

    Rob

  9. #9
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    Default Not Vactra #2 oil!

    The old manuals called for the application of Mobil Vactra #2 oil to slideways. Some time in the recent past the printing industry (a huge consumer of these lubricants, asked for and got a reduction in tacifiers. The old, original Vactra #2 oil is now sold as Vacuoline 1409. Sadly, 20litres seems to be the minimum qty. all is not lost: Shell sells a slideway oil in 68 and 220 weight (220=mill with vertical ways, hence the extra gooiness) i think their brand is "Tonna". Fuchs, has a line of slideway oils, as does Penrite. There are still others.

    From time to time you hear of people advocating bar oil, motor oil, etc. You have to ask yourself why substitute for a known good oil specified for the application with something else? The received wisdom about modern motor oils is that their detergent additives act to keep contaminants in suspension (where they'll do the most damage on a lathe) i am not a tribologist, so I am unable to speak authoritatively on that, but it seems to make sense, in an internet kind of way. (Ie, a world of conspiracies, factoids, lies, nuggets of truth. You be the judge)

    WRT open gear lubes: there are a variety of opinions. There is such a product as "open gear lube", but I cannot speak to its mojo. Some users favour a formulation with molybdenum disulphide added. Its black and messy and leaves permanent " grease monkey" stains on your shop clothes. Not a problem for me since I still wear my costume from when I danced the lead in "Swan Lake" . Others will want something in which they can dash off to Bunnings without looking too much like the hired help.

    Lathe saddles like two things especially: good way wipers of felt and/or rubber and oil injection inside the saddle as opposed to on the ways. All of the friction occurs under the saddle, so it makes sense to provide for oil injection where it'll do the most good.

    Greg
    It's all part of the service here at The House of Pain™

  10. #10
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    Hi Ironbark,

    This subject always gets a varied and wide response! For the ways on both my mill and lathe I use Waylube 68 by true blue:
    Slideway Lubricants

    I use this brand of waylube purely because I can get 5L of it online and delivered for a very reasonable price. Well I don't intend to purchase anymore anytime soon as I still have 4.5L of the original 5L container!

    For the headstock of my lathe and gearhead of the mill I use ISO 68 hydraulic oil which I usually get at reasonable price from Supercheap Auto. I think I have used ISO 46 at one stage too when the 68 was out of stock.

    The lubricant recommendation in the owners manual of my 12x36 Chinese lathe is Mobile Vactra for the ways and Mobile DTE light for the headstock, neither of which I have ever managed to get in reasonable quantities (reasonable meaning < 20L!)

    Judging by the variance in lubtricants that people use, I think that proper AND regular care and maintenance is far more critical than the actual type of lubrication you use, within reason.

    Cheers,

    Simon

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by Greg Q View Post
    The received wisdom about modern motor oils is that their detergent additives act to keep contaminants in suspension (where they'll do the most damage on a lathe) i am not a tribologist, so I am unable to speak authoritatively on that, but it seems to make sense, in an internet kind of way. (Ie, a world of conspiracies, factoids, lies, nuggets of truth. You be the judge)
    Here is the Fuchs page on slideway oils: http://www.fuchs.com.au/categories.asp?cID=15&c=1417. The Renep K range says:
    Universal slideway oils for the machine tool industry with powerful detergent and dispersant properties. <blah blah blah> RENEP K products keep the surface clean and avoid the formulation of residues.
    The other two ranges do not mention detergents. Why you would want detergents in some way oils and not others I can't imagine, but there seems to be at least one bunch of tribologists that thinks detergents are not a bad thing in this application.

    PS: The suspension theory makes more sense in a headstock, but slideways are total loss.

  12. #12
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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    Quote Originally Posted by Greg Q View Post
    . . . . Its black and messy and leaves permanent " grease monkey" stains on your shop clothes. Not a problem for me since I still wear my costume from when I danced the lead in "Swan Lake" . Others will want something in which they can dash off to Bunnings without looking too much like the hired help. . . .
    You must be the guy I saw in Bunnings last year with the dirty white budgie smugglers and dirty white rubber boots? For a moment I thought I was in Walmart.

  13. #13
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    Default Lathe lubrication

    I recently bought both way oil and spindle oil off eBay in pint containers. I can probably find the seller's name if you're interested.

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by simonl View Post
    Hi Ironbark,


    Judging by the variance in lubtricants that people use, I think that proper AND regular care and maintenance is far more critical than the actual type of lubrication you use, within reason.

    Cheers,

    Simon
    Yes, I think that is the major point.

    I often look at some of the lathes on blogs on the internet and wonder if they are ornaments and if they actually do any work - squeaky clean and no drip tray.

    How the helll can you not have a drip tray?

    I oil my ways one or maybe up to three times a day, depending on what I'm doing - eg grinding means more cleanups/reoiling.

    Then again you see peoples lathes with rust on the ways, my bro-inlaw is a prime example.

    Detergent in oil isn't really an issue. Lathes don't produce carbon or varnish like engines and that is what detergents keep in solution, not metal particles.

    Cheers

    Rob

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by canerodscom View Post
    I recently bought both way oil and spindle oil off eBay in pint containers. I can probably find the seller's name if you're interested.
    It would be great if you were able to find the name and put it on the thread, thanks.

    Thanks to all who have contributed with answers/info.

    Cheers, Ned

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