lathe maintenance???

[DanC]

got a craftsman 101 (atlas 618??) couple of weeks ago and have been slowly bringing it back to life (it is freaking filthy!!) What do you guys use for oil / grease when servicing these?? My manual is obviously from a differnt time and recommends things like whale oil, tincure of mercury, eye of newt, etc. and other things that a guy doesnt just to the hardware store and pick up anymore...thanks

 

[Uncle Buck]

Check out Yahoo, there are several groups over ther dedicated to old Craftsman/ Atlas stuff. Additionally you may be able to get help from www.homeshopsupply.com those guys do alot of stuff with some of the older small sears stuff. Hope that helps. UB

 

[kartracer55]

the practical machinest board is your best bet for this. Its safe to assume SOMEBODY on there has the same lathe as you.


www.practicalmachinest.com

 

[Uncle Buck]

Not to mention, www.homeshopmachinist.net and the chaski message board

 

[chad s]

I have owned an Atlas 618 and a good friend of mine still has his that he bought new. Depending on what you need to do, they can be great, or drive you nuts. I'm just curiouse, what do you plan to use it for?

As far as maintinance, you want 2 lubricants, spindle oil, and way oil, the first one being the most important. You MUST keep the oil cup on the back of the headstock full or you will ruin the berings. It may be a good idea to run some tests to see how the berings are. If you have a dial indicator, I can elaborate on how to set up some tests.

The way oil goes on the ways, every sliding surface. Spindle oil can be used, but way oil is much thicker and will stock around longer, and work much smoother. www.use-enco.com is a good place to get supplies, I use Mobil lubricants. Make sure when cleaning it up that you dont use any harsh abrasives on the ways. You will put wear on them and affect the machines accuracy.

 

[mike944]

I used to have one too. Sold it to a friend, when i upgraded to a 13" south bend.

The headstock bearings are adjustable if they're loose by removing shims, but they're plain bearings (bushings) so having oil in them is critical, particularly if you're running at higher speeds.

I'm not so sure modern spindle oil is going to be good for your spindle though. Modern spindles are all ball-bearing, and require a rather thin oil, which is what "spindle oil" is. Your plain bearings probably want a slightly thicker oil. What lubricant does the manual reccomend for the spindle? Do some research online and see if you can figure out a viscosity conversion for a modern oil from the owner's manual reccomended oil. I think i used to use 5w30 motor oil. I'm not saying that's the correct oil either, but i used it because i had some extra laying around, and it seemed to work fine.

I think ANY modern oil is going to be 100 times better than the oil that was available when that thing was manufactured, so pretty much anything (with an appropriate viscosity) should work fine.
________
CBF600

 

[Uncle Buck]

Mike is right thick, but not too thick is better, but visit the sites mentioned above, machine shop stuff is not a sideline to wrenchin for those boys, it's the whole game!

 

[DanC]

I haved used the lathe to make some parts for my motorcyle and have couple more ideas in mind, things like pegs, risers, etc... nothing so far that has to be too precise.
Thanks for the links, I'll do some research there. Isnt the headstock on this lathe supposed to have timken bearings, wouldn't those be roller bearings? Thanks for the help!

 

[Uncle Buck]

IF that model is timken equipped, yes you do have roller bearings. Additionally, if you have a roller bearing spindle equipped lathe that would make Atlas the manufacturer for sears.

 

[jpelosi2002]

Just as a quick note; Chain and bar oil for chainsaws is the same EXACT thing as way oil and costs 1/3 as much. I got that info from a chemist friend who works for an un-named lubricant company.
Jim

 

[wilbilt]

Just as a quick note; Chain and bar oil for chainsaws is the same EXACT thing as way oil and costs 1/3 as much. I got that info from a chemist friend who works for an un-named lubricant company.
Jim

That may or may not be true, I won't debate the issue.

If you want to see a bunch of guys get riled up very quickly, make that same statement in the practicalmachinist.com forum...

 

[G1K]

That may or may not be true, I won't debate the issue.

If you want to see a bunch of guys get riled up very quickly, make that same statement in the practicalmachinist.com forum...

Right from the front page of general new

http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/showthread.php?t=166247

R

 

[wilbilt]

Right from the front page of general new

http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/showthread.php?t=166247

R

I haven't visited there in quite a while, but I remember the "bar oil" threads were always pretty lively. Some poor guy would mention bar oil, and those guys would be on him like a pack of wild dogs.

 

[LoneGunman]

LOL yeah, I cringed when I saw a newbie post both of the oils are the same.

 

[jpelosi2002]

Well this newbie happens to have a Masters in Mechanical Engineering and over 10 years job experience, as well as extensive machine shop training..... had to pay for college somehow. I also have a personal proto-type machine shop in my garage that gets used almost every nite. Excuse me if my post count is not as high as some others around here. I fail to see what that has to do with me posting VALUABLE information instead of "Hey, look at my new Gearwrench set."
Back on topic, my chemist friend works for the a very large petroleum corporation that I met because I designed the machine that fills both the Bar and Chain Oil and the Way Oil. The samples for design were the same and I was told that they are both the same oil, different packaging. So now maybe my e-***** has grown an inch around here, but I could really care less. My intent is not to be a know it all, but it is to give good information when I have it and to learn from those who know better than me.
Jim

 

[dxdexter]

Well this newbie happens to have a Masters in Mechanical Engineering and over 10 years job experience, as well as extensive machine shop training..... had to pay for college somehow. I also have a personal proto-type machine shop in my garage that gets used almost every nite. Excuse me if my post count is not as high as some others around here. I fail to see what that has to do with me posting VALUABLE information instead of "Hey, look at my new Gearwrench set."
Back on topic, my chemist friend works for the a very large petroleum corporation that I met because I designed the machine that fills both the Bar and Chain Oil and the Way Oil. The samples for design were the same and I was told that they are both the same oil, different packaging.
Jim

Welcome aboard.

I love threads like the one from the Practical Machinist where someone puts out a point of view and all the "know it alls" jump all over the idea without putting up one ounce of evidence to the contrary. All they can do is post smart *** comments and make fun.While I don't see any evidence either way, I certainly would never know the true answer from that thread full of nonsense.

The same product only different packing has long been used to secure extra money from the unsuspecting consumer. While anecdotal evidence does not make bar oil = way oil; in reality what difference does it make, the home machinist could basically use almost any oil on the ways and have many decades of service from his lathe. I myself use straight 30 motor oil, but will try the bar oil and see how it works.

 

[wilbilt]

Excuse me if my post count is not as high as some others around here. I fail to see what that has to do with me posting VALUABLE information instead of "Hey, look at my new Gearwrench set."
Back on topic, my chemist friend works for the a very large petroleum corporation that I met because I designed the machine that fills both the Bar and Chain Oil and the Way Oil. The samples for design were the same and I was told that they are both the same oil, different packaging. So now maybe my e-***** has grown an inch around here, but I could really care less. My intent is not to be a know it all, but it is to give good information when I have it and to learn from those who know better than me.
Jim

Whoa, Jim.
No offense intended. Your comment reminded me of the scrappings I have seen in that other forum, nothing more.

As for my personal view on the issue...well...let's just say I have a gallon of Bar and Chain oil out in my "shop", but I don't own any Way Oil.

 

[jpelosi2002]

I'm just defending my "newbie" status. Though I just stumbled onto this place I like it alot and plan to contribute a lot of practicle knowledge as well as learn more than a thing or two. I don't enjoy flame wars. It's contrary to everything else that goes on here. Now lets talk about the fun stuff.
Jim

 

[Garywhat]

The owner of Practical machinist is a psycho spoiled rich brat from what I have heard. If you don't kiss his a$$, you don't fit it.

A real d---head.



Gary

 

[back2class]

hey, I have some whale oil sitting around. For real, I do.

 

[ZRX61]

Mike is right thick,

I think that was uncalled for, he seems to be quite smart.. LOL!

 

[doug.j]

I use non-detergent 30w oil.

 

[t. jones]

I just got my new used mill running, owners manual says sae 30 or similar everywhere. It's pretty cold in my " machine shed " so I opted for 5w 30.
Thanx Trevor

 

[JohnFreeman]

Theres a very very active yahoo group for those machines.... you should join, lot's of good info there

John

 

[Iron-Iceberg]

I'm just defending my "newbie" status. Though I just stumbled onto this place I like it alot and plan to contribute a lot of practicle knowledge as well as learn more than a thing or two. I don't enjoy flame wars. It's contrary to everything else that goes on here. Now lets talk about the fun stuff.
Jim

The best way for a newbie to have some fun around here is to start a pvc air line thread. If you think way oil is fun this will be a riot.

 

[mkdive]

I'm just defending my "newbie" status. Though I just stumbled onto this place I like it alot and plan to contribute a lot of practicle knowledge as well as learn more than a thing or two. I don't enjoy flame wars. It's contrary to everything else that goes on here. Now lets talk about the fun stuff.
Jim

Doesn't look like you got around to contributing a lot in the last year?

 

[Steve from Socal]

I know this thread is old as the hills and the guy may not be around but, for all the others around here is my 2 cents worth.

The chain bar oil may be the same as some form of way oil however there are several types and some have properties that are unique to that oil. I know that I wouldn't feel right using an unknown grade of oil in my lathe, late inch metric Monarch 10EE's are still expensive and saving a few dollars on oil that could cause higher than normal wear is just not a real value to me. If you have a clapped out old lathe and use motor oil or chain saw oil that is fine, it likely won't make a bit of difference. However; if you have a nice machine be it a lathe, mill, grinder or what, using the factory recommended lube products will give you no surprises; anything else may give equal or better performance but it could also be detrimental and you won't know it for quite some time in casual use.

I have three machines that each use about 5 gallons of oil, if I save 50% on the cost of oil yearly it would amount to perhaps a hundred dollars. Is it worth it when one gear or shaft is many hundreds to thousands of dollars to replace or a regrind and refit of ways could top 3500.00?

If you have good machinery protect your investment by using the oil specified for you machines. The dollars you save are a false economy.

Steve

 

[Bolster]

At school, the guy who maintains several million dollars worth of machines recommended Vactra #2 way oil to me, but then mentioned that the school actually uses something else...forgot what, and will ask him next time I see him.

Anyhoo, purchased a gallon of Vactra #2 for my mill; don't recall it was expensive enough to fret over, and will probably not use it all in 10 years as I just pump it on by hand.

STEVE, one of these days I'm gonna have to invite myself over to see your machines!