Thread: Worn lathe bed ways

Originally Posted by snapatap

Just run a oilstone over the ways to knock any burrs or high spots off, give the ways a good clean and oil, and give the machine a go. Lathe ways will take a fair bit of punishment before they start making really bad parts.

I had considered doing just that..

Edit: Regarding way oil, what do people recommend? On my step dad's mini-lathe I was just using castrol light machine oil. Am I right in assuming that a decent way oil is a little heavier in consistency?

Originally Posted by Michael G

I can probably help there. Shoot me a PM with your address and I'll send you a piece of felt.

Michael

PM sent. Thanks Michael.

Originally Posted by Flo

I had considered doing just that..

Edit: Regarding way oil, what do people recommend? On my step dad's mini-lathe I was just using castrol light machine oil. Am I right in assuming that a decent way oil is a little heavier in consistency?

iso 68 slideway oil is what i recommend, most lubricant company's sell it. only downside is it is normally only available in 20l drums. 68 hydraulic oil would work but will have to be applied more often as it doesn't have tackifer to make it stick to the way.

Originally Posted by snapatap

iso 68 slideway oil is what i recommend, most lubricant company's sell it. only downside is it is normally only available in 20l drums. 68 hydraulic oil would work but will have to be applied more often as it doesn't have tackifer to make it stick to the way.

Is that specification too heavy for use in a headstock? The reason that I ask is that my machine says to use Shell Oil B09 for lubrication but it doesn't seem to be made anymore. Given that the machine is 70 years old I'm not surprised.

I phoned up Shell once and was told that their Tonna slideway oil was designed for use in machine gear boxes too, so should not hurt. The oil company tech reps are pretty good. If you phoned any of the well known companies up and said your lathe requires____, chances are they know what it is and can tell you what the best replacement would be from their lines.

Michael

Thanks for that Michael. I have used lots of Shell lubricants over the years as they make lots of aviation greases, oils and hydraulic fluids. I'll give them a call..

I notice in one of the chinese machines, 68 was specced for apron and gearbox, 32 for headstock....of course all the drums, other than slideway oils are 46 here! Green Goanna will sell 5 litre bottles of shell hydraulic oils at a price. If you're not fussed, pirtek should do it as well for whatever they rebottle if you want to avoid 20 litre drums.

Not sure how active the regrinding mob are at Mona Vale, which is probably the last place in Sydney now, went by their facility on a Sunday ride a fair while back and they had a kombi and sporting paraphernalia in the front window, which didn't suggest a whole heap of work. Quote for them for a larger lathe was under 1k for the bed a while ago, but that's just the start as has been mentioned. If it's not too flash when the cutting starts - and those ways look pretty dire - might be time to cut the loss.

Hi Hunch..

Yeah all good suggestions..

The ways are pretty bad but I'm going to run a stone over them and tidy them up a bit.. I'd also like to pull the saddle off and have a look at the condition of that..

It'll be a little while before the machine turns material in anger as I have LOTS of cleaning to do on it.. I'm also not in any great rush as it's enjoyable to just tinker..

Flo

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Originally Posted by Michael G

I can probably help there. Shoot me a PM with your address and I'll send you a piece of felt.

Michael

The felt arrived today Michael. Thank you. I really appreciate it!