Thread: Lathe Spindle Oil

Get a 46 if not a 68.

Hyspin AWH 68 is what was recommended for our school lathes.
It comes up quite a bit cheaper than some of our local competitors.

What stood out was that the swarf left over from manufacture was still in the bottom of the lathes .
We did lose 2 bearings in separate lathes due to bearings failing due to the swarf. If the lathe is a splash feed check the galleries are free of swarf which may be on its way to a bearing.

A good magnet in a plastic bag helps to clear the ferrous swarf.

There was more to come that the drain is not at the lowest point in our lathes ,so if yours is the same you may need to swab it out.



Cheers
Grahame

OK Thanks for the info. I got a quote for $70 / 20L which is reasonable. This leads to the next question - What about slideway oil?

Peter.

Originally Posted by Grahame Collins

Hyspin AWH 68 is what was recommended for our school lathes.
It comes up quite a bit cheaper than some of our local competitors.

What stood out was that the swarf left over from manufacture was still in the bottom of the lathes .
We did lose 2 bearings in separate lathes due to bearings failing due to the swarf. If the lathe is a splash feed check the galleries are free of swarf which may be on its way to a bearing.

A good magnet in a plastic bag helps to clear the ferrous swarf.

There was more to come that the drain is not at the lowest point in our lathes ,so if yours is the same you may need to swab it out.



Cheers
Grahame

For what you are intending use the same oil.

Hi,
I have used chainsaw bar oil which I believe is the same as Mobil Vactra 2 which sticks like zhit to a wet blanket.The problem with the Vactra 2 was, if I remember, was that it came in 20L or more.
While dearer the chain saw bar oil came in 1L containers. I'd be using your drained oil as way oil as its the right price and will suit.

Grahame

I use a good brand compressor oil for the spindle and the apron and gears. Easy to buy in 1L bottle, and it is non detergent ISO oil as it should be. There is also synthetic compressor oil available, but I am not sure the extra price is justified
given the low rpm our lathes do.

For the bedways I also use chainsaw oil. It looks and feels and smells and sticks just like the real thing that only comes in drums. I bet it is the same thing, and easy to get in 4L container from the local Stihl or Husqvarna dealer .

Chris

I'm sure hydraulic oil 68 is perfectly ok for lathe spindle use and in the gearboxes, I have used it for years. When small amounts are needed like for the Myford spindle bearings I often wondered if automatic transmission fluid would do. Considering the job it does in a transmission.

Richard

Guys, I made some enquiries at Mobil and they have a product called Velocite 10 which is a spindle oil, so they claim for machine tools. This is in the same family as the hydraulic oils. I use ISO 68 for my Bobcat but I've been a bit apprehensive about putting it in my lathe and then I learned that 15W-40 Diesel gearbox oil is the recommended substitute for the Bobcat hydraulics. I'm wondering if 15W-40 would do for the lathe spindle too? Oils aint Oils or so I've heard.

The chainsaw bar oil sounds like something to try for the slide ways. I 'll give it a go.

Originally Posted by Shedhog

I'm sure hydraulic oil 68 is perfectly ok for lathe spindle use and in the gearboxes, I have used it for years. When small amounts are needed like for the Myford spindle bearings I often wondered if automatic transmission fluid would do. Considering the job it does in a transmission.

Richard

I the 1970 second edition of the "Text Book of Turning" by Peter Hercus, two of the several recommended lubricants for the lathe were Mobil Vactra Oil Heavy and Shell Vitrea Oil 33. In the 1990 edition of Peter's book, Vactra was still listed and the Vitrea 33 replaced by Vitrea 68.

I spoke to the technical department at Mobil and was told that the current equivalent of Vactra Oil Heavy was Mobil DTE Heavy Medium Premium Circulating Oil ISO VG 68.

In Peter's book, there is no mention of another different oil being used on the ways but in my discussion with Mobil, Vactra 2 ISO VG 68 Machine Tool Way Oil was recommended for that purpose.

I spoke also with Steve Durden at Hercus and he said they used Castrol Hyspin 68 as spindle oil. It was easier for me to obtain Mobil's products so I purchased 20 litres of each, the smallest quantity available. The DTE Is used on the spindles of both my roller bearing and plain bearing lathes and the spindle of my No.O mill.

As per Schaublin's handbook it is used to lubricate everything on and in my No.13 mill including the ways and two gear boxes.

Bob.