MetalworkingFun Forum

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!

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.