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Way oil ISO vs SAE

ShawnR

ShawnR

Ultra Member
Premium Member
What are you using for way oil? Up until now, I have just been using a general purpose oil (ie what ever I had in the can) but reading through the manual on the new lathe, (soo, being extra nerdy right now!) it specifies a Vactra no 2 way oil or equivalent. That oil is an ISO 68 oil. KBC list oils by SAE numbers, I think, if I understand correctly. KBC just has a number, not a standard association but I believe in Canada, oils are all SAE?
Most of what I have read gives me the idea that ISO 68 is SAE 20

https://www.kbctools.ca/CatSearch/915/industrial-oils

But then this chart says it could be 20...or 80 depending on auto or gear? Why does viscosity number be determined by end use? Should it not be just the viscosity and end user decides if it will work? How can an ISO 68 be either SAE 20 or 80? :mad:

https://petroleumservicecompany.com/comparative-viscosity-chart/

so I am leaning towards an SAE 20 oil as a start. Way oil is not something I am going to find at the local oil store so should I order some "Way oil" or, I would think, any 20 weight oil will work, especially for how much time my lathe will be used, ie home shop, not industrial. Is that reasonable or what does everyone else do? Maybe this should be a poll....:rolleyes:
 
Shawn I am using the way oil listed in the kbc tools link the viscosity charts are confusing for sure.
As far as I know the way oil is for the ways and sliding surfaces cause it sticks to them , and the 80w gear oil is used in the gearboxes and for lubricating ball points that need to be lubricated there is a lot of different opinions for sure.
I have been happy with what I have done I definitely "feel" things sticky and reminds me to re apply if I forget.
 
Asking what is the best oil is a bit like asking which is the best political party. You will likely get several very strong opinions. But just like with politics, it's good to get a spectrum of the views out there then you can form your own too.

Like you, I use whatever is in the can (which almost is always sae 30w). I believe any oil is better than no oil and I oil and wipe alot. And I don't scrimp on the oil because its cheap and so am I.

If I came across small quantities of "way oil" at reasonable prices I probably would buy some but that hasn't happened in the last 10 years I've been fiddling around so it's 30w for me.
 
I was happy to find only 1 gallon available at kbc no where else could I find less than 5 gallons for me that was a waste 1 gallon, well probably last me many years.
 
I would say you are right on...an ISO 68 would be equivalent to KBC 20 wt. But a quick email to PM would confirm that. If it were me, I would use the recommended type of oil in my brand new lathe, for two reasons, peace of mind and potential warranty claims down the road. You never want to give a manufacture a reason to deny a claim. So for 30 bucks, a gallon of KBC 20 wt way oil would last you a while.
 
I use the KBC 20 wt way oil on my lathe and mill. For horizontal slide ways 20 is recomended in my lathe manual. You can still get Mobil Vactra but only in 5 gallon pails so KBC is the best option for me.
 
This is a great topic in my opinion mostly because I agree the subject can be extremely confusing and the correct lubricants hard to find in small hobbyist quantities. I've studied the subject up and down and still I am uncertain if I am using the correct stuff. I bought a lot of my oils from the Commercial-Oil company located conveniently near me here in Hamilton ON. They have among other things a Lubriko Way oil in ISO 68 to 320 and they have no problem selling the stuff in 4 litre quantities.

https://www.commercialoil.ca/products/view/72
 
I use grade 46 hydraulic oil on the advice of a machinist at the local machine shop.
Hydraulic oil is also good for lightly loaded spur gears as well. I use power saw chain
oil on the teeth of the open gears on the headstock as it has amazing staying power
but I use hydraulic oil on the shafts and bushing surfaces of the gears.
 
I use thick oil on the ways - it has tendency to stick well. Since you are not exactly moving things fast there is no need for a thinner oil. Through I bet on CNCs they go thin.
 
Do a search on 'oil' in the forum. Lost of info posted on way oil & gearbox oil. I posted a viscosity cross reference chart here which is available on the net, but as usual, there are other factors to consider. Always consider that oil viscosity varies with temperature. FWIW I use 2 oils: KBC way oil for lathe (slide ways, injector oilers which feed lead screws & other sliding surfaces) & same for mill one shot distribution system to ways & screws. And hydraulic oil for gear boxes & generally any surface that needs a coat.

https://canadianhobbymetalworkers.c...et-iso-15-or-even-iso-10-oil.1803/#post-18425
 
I would go with what your manual says. ISO 68 (or SAE equivalent) for your headstock/apron and ISO 68 (or equivalent) for your way oil as well. Shell has both - they are called “TONNA“ for the way oil and “TELLUS” for the gear boxes.

Whatever you do - do not cheap out on your lubricants. Yes, any oil is better than no oil. But the correct oil is superior to “any oil” and will give you years of hassle free service and the machine will be in top shape with minimal to no wear when it comes time to sell.
 
If you Google the brand that KBC carries, that company's website has literature cross referencing their oils to the other standards
 
Beyond just simple viscosity issues what bothers me is the additives. You have some manufacturers claiming their oils are the greatest because of their additives and yet I see machinists livid because they say the additives in these oils are destroying their machines. Both phosphorus and sulpher additives are commonly used and many gear oils are so called EP oils which contain additives that are probably bad for your machine.
 
Way oil has better 'stiction' properties, which allows them to stick to the ways even when the carriage is running over it. Heavy oil works partially to do the same thing. I use ISO 68 'tonna' from shell for my ways. My aprons get the same oil, but any 68wt hydraulic oil can do for the gears. On my 14" it is 68 wt hydraulic oil for everything, except for a pump full of way oil for the veeways and flatways.

I agree with @RobinHood - there's no need to cheap out on way oil. If you are in Calgary, I can get you some of mine. A 5 gal bucket cost me 80$ last time I bought it. That will do you for the rest of your machining career. You might split one with a nearby machinist friend.
 
Another vote for Commercial Oil in the Hammer (or is it Stoney Creek)....they guy there really knows his stuff and lot of it is essentially his house brand which is nice and inexpensive. For example I bought a pail of honing oil, its performed beautifully...... I think he was $100 while Sunnen was $350.

Hydraulic oil is readily available (crappy tire) and is great stuff. its essentially a very pure mineral oil with minimal additives except for antioxidants and any foaming stuff...both of which you want. I used in gearboxes, bearings etc.

Preference for way oils is way oil, and iso 68 is a good all round choice. What makes it way oil, afaik, is the tackifiers that are added. Makes it cling a bit like chain oil so hopefully stay in place longer, especially on vertical or upside surfaces

Don't have any way oil? Slather it up with hydraulic oil. Way lubrication is an un-demanding application, low temp, low pressure and low speed....most important thing is let the thin wedge of oil get created so there's not metal on metal contact which any oil of the right viscosity will do
 
One thing to add, @Mcgyver is that automatic transmission oil (ATF) is out. One lathe I bought was using ATF instead of way oil. It took a lot of time and skill to fix the badly damaged paint job. ATF and paint - not a great mix... BTW the ways were lubricated, and are fine.

Sometimes it is vital to think of secondary considerations. Never use any oil with sulfated HP additives. It will destroy any of your bronze fittings in remarkably short time.
 
I will see if the local Shell dealers can get their Way oil or order in.

Thanks for all of the comments. Seems to be a popular topic

Cheers,
 
Good to see this topic revived. I still have about 3 gallons of Shell Tonna ISO68 free to a good home - bring your own container. PM to arrange a pickup time. Located in NW Calgary.
 
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