Recommendations for oils and greases for metal lathe maintenance

[yota]

I paste wax my table saw, jointer and wood bandsaw tables. everything else gets Boeshield. not sure why you'd be using paste wax on anything that is regularly subjected to oil.

 

[Eddyde]

WARNING: Some paste waxes are water based and will instantly rust exposed cast iron, make sure it's petroleum based. I made that mistake once. Or just avoid waxes altogether as they can contaminate parts resulting in the dreaded fisheye when finishing.

I have also given up on Boeshield. Once a favorite of mine it failed me a number of times resulting in machines rusting so I'm done with it. It works great until it doesn't. Just seems to evaporate or break down and bam rust. Now I'm treating with STA-BIL Rust Stopper.

What brands of paste wax are water based? I have always used either Johnsons, Bowling Alley, or Minwax brands of paste wax and never had a problem.

 

[coolidge]

What brands of paste wax are water based? I have always used either Johnsons, Bowling Alley, or Minwax brands of paste wax and never had a problem.

You have to read the ingredients as a brand may produce both types. Petroleum based paste wax is easily identified as it smells strongly of petroleum e.g. solvent.

 

[ChazzC]

I paste wax my table saw, jointer and wood bandsaw tables. everything else gets Boeshield. not sure why you'd be using paste wax on anything that is regularly subjected to oil.

Not sure who you ate replying to, but my only bare CI/steel surfaces don’t see oil. While my wood tops that I use paste wax on do occasionally get oil spatter, the wax prevents the oil from soaking in.

 

[Eddyde]

You have to read the ingredients as a brand may produce both types. Petroleum based paste wax is easily identified as it smells strongly of petroleum e.g. solvent.

I was just curious what the brand or product name is, as I never heard of water based paste wax before. All the ones I know are petroleum based. I guess I'll have to keep it in mind if I ever need to buy it again.

 

[coolidge]

I was just curious what the brand or product name is, as I never heard of water based paste wax before. All the ones I know are petroleum based. I guess I'll have to keep it in mind if I ever need to buy it again.

I remember I purchased it at an auto parts store, not even aware they made water based paste wax. I applied the paste wax...came back out to the shop an hour later and was horrified that my brand new table saw was now rusted.

 

[m1kemex]

Lacking specialized oil I always used regular motor oil on the ways of my lathe. Not ideal, but beats running it dry by far...

It's not to be used on gearboxes of any kind. It suspends metal particles and they'll end up in the bearings.

 

[yota]

as the saying goes, any oil is better than no oil.