Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: New Machine cleanup, what good Way oil?

>
> I couldn't say whether chainsaw oil would have other qualities that
> would make it unsuitable, but I would have thought that there
> would be some common ground - they're both for sliding metal
> components that are exposed to dust and dirt.
>
> -adrian
>

Chainsaw bar oil has sufficient EP (extreme pressure) additives for boundary
lubrication but it also has an adhesion additive which could cause excess
drag during rapid traverse. At cool room temperatures it would cause a
lathe saddle or mill table to be difficult to move.

Lubricating oils generally fall into two classes, those designed for
boundary lubrication and those for hydrodynamic lubrication. Gear oil must
withstand high shearing loads and is thus formulated for boundary
lubrication.

Motor oil is primarily intended for hydrodynamic lubrication. Journal
bearings operating with hydrodynamic lubrication have no metal to metal
contact and will last practically forever - unless you shut the motor off
and lose hydrodynamic lubrication. EP additives are put into motor oils
primarily for start-up purposes where boundary lubrication is all you have.

Way oil should possess EP qualities but generally should not be as thick as
gear oil or chainsaw bar oil. A good substitute for way oil in newer
(tighter) machines is hydraulic fluid. I use this exclusively in my new
equipment. It has sufficient EP additives and will provide better
lubricating qualities than motor oil, which is formulated to work best above
170F.

Chainsaw bar oil might be best for badly worn old turret lathes and such.
Definitely not for CNC machines. One excellent application of bar oil,
however, is for coating machine surfaces to prevent rust. I use it on lathe
ways, chucks and machine tables when humidity is high and I am not using the
machines. It sure likes dust though.

Doug