LMS recommends Mobil 1 for lubricating mini-mills. I picked up a bottle of
5W-30 and have been using it. I noticed that the oil does not stay on the
dovetails very long and tends to pool on the bench.

In my simple mind I thought: Higher viscosity is needed, something like 20W
or so. That is where I got confused: I looked up the figures for Vactra 2
(being the industry standard for ways etc.). Its kinematic viscosity at 40
deg C is 68 cSt (ISO68). When I looked at the 5W-30 the viscosity was almost
exactly the same. I thought this might be an error on the Mobil page but no,
a similar result came up for 5W-20. To puzzle me further, the 10W-30 is
somewhat thinner at this temp.

The tables at my disposal suggest that the 5W oils should be under 20 cSt at
40.

Before all this I bought a bottle of 15W-50 which was on sale locally.
According to the tables it should be somewhere near 45 cSt but according to
the Mobil product sheet the 40 deg C viscosity is a whopping 131 cSt - about
half way between Vactra 2 and Vactra 4.

What am I missing here? Is this comparison at all valid?

--
Michael Koblic
Campbell River, BC

Wouldn't it be easier to compare viscosities of single grade oils, also not
sure why you would use a motor oil to lubricate non-combusting machinery,
you're getting a ton of additives along with some viscosity ranges suited to
temperature extremes that seem to me anyway, inappropriate to lubricate
machinery.

"Michael Koblic" wrote in message
...
LMS recommends Mobil 1 for lubricating mini-mills. I picked up a bottle of
5W-30 and have been using it. I noticed that the oil does not stay on the
dovetails very long and tends to pool on the bench.

In my simple mind I thought: Higher viscosity is needed, something like
20W or so. That is where I got confused: I looked up the figures for
Vactra 2 (being the industry standard for ways etc.). Its kinematic
viscosity at 40 deg C is 68 cSt (ISO68). When I looked at the 5W-30 the
viscosity was almost exactly the same. I thought this might be an error on
the Mobil page but no, a similar result came up for 5W-20. To puzzle me
further, the 10W-30 is somewhat thinner at this temp.

The tables at my disposal suggest that the 5W oils should be under 20 cSt
at 40.

Before all this I bought a bottle of 15W-50 which was on sale locally.
According to the tables it should be somewhere near 45 cSt but according
to the Mobil product sheet the 40 deg C viscosity is a whopping 131 cSt -
about half way between Vactra 2 and Vactra 4.

What am I missing here? Is this comparison at all valid?

--
Michael Koblic
Campbell River, BC

Michael Koblic wrote:
LMS recommends Mobil 1 for lubricating mini-mills. I picked up a bottle
of 5W-30 and have been using it. I noticed that the oil does not stay on
the dovetails very long and tends to pool on the bench.

In my simple mind I thought: Higher viscosity is needed, something like
20W or so. That is where I got confused: I looked up the figures for
Vactra 2 (being the industry standard for ways etc.). Its kinematic
viscosity at 40 deg C is 68 cSt (ISO68). When I looked at the 5W-30 the
viscosity was almost exactly the same. I thought this might be an error
on the Mobil page but no, a similar result came up for 5W-20. To puzzle
me further, the 10W-30 is somewhat thinner at this temp.

The tables at my disposal suggest that the 5W oils should be under 20
cSt at 40.

Before all this I bought a bottle of 15W-50 which was on sale locally.
According to the tables it should be somewhere near 45 cSt but according
to the Mobil product sheet the 40 deg C viscosity is a whopping 131 cSt
- about half way between Vactra 2 and Vactra 4.

What am I missing here? Is this comparison at all valid?



Automotive detergent oil will screw up the felt wicks that are used in
many machines. It will make them stiff and move the oil. Also the
detergent oil will tend to carry the grit in suspension rather than
letting it settle out.

The Vactra way oils have an additive to make the oil adhere to the ways,
the same function as the additive in chainsaw bar oil. Vactra 2 is what
is mostly used on ways.


John

john wrote:
Michael Koblic wrote:
LMS recommends Mobil 1 for lubricating mini-mills. I picked up a
bottle of 5W-30 and have been using it. I noticed that the oil does
not stay on the dovetails very long and tends to pool on the bench.

In my simple mind I thought: Higher viscosity is needed, something
like 20W or so. That is where I got confused: I looked up the
figures for Vactra 2 (being the industry standard for ways etc.).
Its kinematic viscosity at 40 deg C is 68 cSt (ISO68). When I looked
at the 5W-30 the viscosity was almost exactly the same. I thought
this might be an error on the Mobil page but no, a similar result
came up for 5W-20. To puzzle me further, the 10W-30 is somewhat
thinner at this temp. The tables at my disposal suggest that the 5W oils
should be under 20
cSt at 40.

Before all this I bought a bottle of 15W-50 which was on sale
locally. According to the tables it should be somewhere near 45 cSt
but according to the Mobil product sheet the 40 deg C viscosity is a
whopping 131 cSt - about half way between Vactra 2 and Vactra 4.

What am I missing here? Is this comparison at all valid?



Automotive detergent oil will screw up the felt wicks that are used in
many machines. It will make them stiff and move the oil. Also the
detergent oil will tend to carry the grit in suspension rather than
letting it settle out.

The Vactra way oils have an additive to make the oil adhere to the
ways, the same function as the additive in chainsaw bar oil. Vactra
2 is what is mostly used on ways.


John

Lucas brand synthetic gear oil stays put , lubes well , and is available
almost everywhere (well , everywhere in the USA) . I use it on leadscrews ,
ways , gears , and countershaft bushings on my mill and lathe both . Kinda
pricey though , about 7-8 bucks a quart .

--
Snag
"90 FLHTCU "Strider"
'39 WLDD "PopCycle"
BS 132/SENS/DOF

Michael,
There are many reasons not to use automotive oils to lube machinery. Don't do it. Vactra 2 68cST for gears, gibs and ways. Vactra
1 32cST for spindles. Viscosity can be measured in several ways. The viscosity tests are not the same and so not comparable, but
SAE oils are for automotive engine use only. Machinery oils are usually rated in Saybolt or the ISO standard.
Steve


"Michael Koblic" wrote in message ...
LMS recommends Mobil 1 for lubricating mini-mills. I picked up a bottle of 5W-30 and have been using it. I noticed that the oil
does not stay on the dovetails very long and tends to pool on the bench.

In my simple mind I thought: Higher viscosity is needed, something like 20W or so. That is where I got confused: I looked up the
figures for Vactra 2 (being the industry standard for ways etc.). Its kinematic viscosity at 40 deg C is 68 cSt (ISO68). When I
looked at the 5W-30 the viscosity was almost exactly the same. I thought this might be an error on the Mobil page but no, a
similar result came up for 5W-20. To puzzle me further, the 10W-30 is somewhat thinner at this temp.

The tables at my disposal suggest that the 5W oils should be under 20 cSt at 40.

Before all this I bought a bottle of 15W-50 which was on sale locally. According to the tables it should be somewhere near 45
cSt but according to the Mobil product sheet the 40 deg C viscosity is a whopping 131 cSt - about half way between Vactra 2 and
Vactra 4.

What am I missing here? Is this comparison at all valid?

--
Michael Koblic
Campbell River, BC

"Michael Koblic" wrote:

What am I missing here? Is this comparison at all valid?

Vactra 1, 2 and 4 have tackifiers that help it stay adhered to the ways.

From what I've been told Vactra 4 is for vertical column machines.

Wes
--
"Additionally as a security officer, I carry a gun to protect
government officials but my life isn't worth protecting at home
in their eyes." Dick Anthony Heller

"Wes" wrote in message
...
"Michael Koblic" wrote:

What am I missing here? Is this comparison at all valid?

Vactra 1, 2 and 4 have tackifiers that help it stay adhered to the ways.

From what I've been told Vactra 4 is for vertical column machines.


Do you happen to know what is the chemical nature of the said tackifiers? It
might help when determining what is the nearest equivalent of Vactra
locally. It is not immediately relevant but might become so in the New year.

--
Michael Koblic,
Campbell River, BC

On Fri, 1 Jan 2010 17:18:31 -0800, "Michael Koblic"
wrote:


"Wes" wrote in message
...
"Michael Koblic" wrote:

What am I missing here? Is this comparison at all valid?

Vactra 1, 2 and 4 have tackifiers that help it stay adhered to the ways.

From what I've been told Vactra 4 is for vertical column machines.


Do you happen to know what is the chemical nature of the said tackifiers? It
might help when determining what is the nearest equivalent of Vactra
locally. It is not immediately relevant but might become so in the New year.


One thinks that molassas is a major component. I spelled about a quarter
ounce of Vactra 2 today..and it took about 5 minutes and a dozen really
good spritzs of WD40 to get it off the area Im going to be painting
tommorow.

Gunner

"I am for doing good to the poor, but I differ in opinion of the
means. I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not
making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of
it. In my youth I travelled much, and I observed in different
countries, that the more public provisions were made for the
poor the less they provided for themselves, and of course became
poorer. And, on the contrary, the less was done for them, the
more they did for themselves, and became richer." -- Benjamin
Franklin, /The Encouragement of Idleness/, 1766

"Michael Koblic" wrote:


"Wes" wrote in message
...
"Michael Koblic" wrote:

What am I missing here? Is this comparison at all valid?

Vactra 1, 2 and 4 have tackifiers that help it stay adhered to the ways.

From what I've been told Vactra 4 is for vertical column machines.


Do you happen to know what is the chemical nature of the said tackifiers? It
might help when determining what is the nearest equivalent of Vactra
locally. It is not immediately relevant but might become so in the New year.


I don't know what the tackifier is. KBCtools.com which has operations in Canada has a
product called EEZ Way oil. Various weights are listed. Calling them might be a good
idea. Sadly, McMaster-Carr doesn't ship to Canada obtaining small amounts of vactra would
be easy.

Wes

"Wes" wrote in message
...

Do you happen to know what is the chemical nature of the said tackifiers?
It
might help when determining what is the nearest equivalent of Vactra
locally. It is not immediately relevant but might become so in the New
year.


I don't know what the tackifier is. KBCtools.com which has operations in
Canada has a
product called EEZ Way oil. Various weights are listed. Calling them
might be a good
idea. Sadly, McMaster-Carr doesn't ship to Canada obtaining small amounts
of vactra would
be easy.


Dealing with the Vancouver branch of KBC tools has its drawbacks. I
generally try to avoid them if I can. There is a local office of Shell
Canada with helpful staff whom I would probably approach if it became
relevant. Or I could use the doughnut method someone suggested in the past
:-)
Either way I thought it would have been useful to know a little more of the
actual science involved. But not essential...

--
Michael Koblic,
Campbell River, BC