lathe way oil (fast help)

[Speedygonzales]

1) what do you guys use for your bead on the taig lathe?
can I use 3in1? or whats recommended?

2) the top carriage, what do I use on the screw? lithium grease?

3) what do you use for cutting fluid? (all around purpose ie aluminum, brass, steel etc)

[davereagan]

This page has all you need. The Mobil Vactra #2 should be good for the ways and screws. I use Oakflo DSS800 in my CNC mill and it's great for all materials. I doubt you'd want 5 gallons of concentrate, so you have Trim or Rustlick to choose from. My neighbor made up a spray bottle of Trim E206 for his bridgeport well over a year ago and I unscrewed the sprayer recently and it was not at all rancid, so I'd recommend that. It has good lubricity for all materials. WS-5050 is used by lots of people too, but more money. If you look around, you can find a code for free shipping over $25 and really be doing well.

http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INPDFF?P...LMPA&PMCTLG=01

[Dean W]

Most people will recommend what they feel best about, but plain 10 wt motor oil is fine for the ways and the cross slide lead screw. Something like Zoom oil from the hardware store will do fine too. If you only have 3 in 1 right now, use it.
10 wt is what Taig recommends.

I wouldn't use grease on the screw. It will hold swarf like a magnet.

For most types of brass, no lube is needed.
For aluminum, WD-40 or kerosene.
For steel, most brands of cutting oil will do fine. Tap Magic works well and doesn't stink. You only need a little, what ever you use.
If you keep your tools sharp, you don't need lube for most steels at the rate the Taig lathe can cut.

Dean
http://tinyurl.com/DeansProjects

[Speedygonzales]

thanks everyone.
so I also had sent Taig an email and they responded fast.
they told me transmission oil for the ways,screw and rack/pinnion.

so I went to my local repair garage and the mechanics gave me some new transmission fluid, enough to last me along long time.

ahh Dean your site is great!