I Don't Know What Kind Of Oil My Lathe Needs. Homach 18x60 Japan Lathe

[gheumann]

I use Mobil Vactra way oil on my lathes. You have to buy a gallon. I'm still on my 1st gallon after several years......

 

[Wreck™Wreck]

I work in a machine shop, we have 5 lathes ranging from an excellent 60's vintage small Hardinge turret to a very large Warner and Swasey turret that will push a 3" spade drill through 6" of 304 stainless in 20 minutes as long as you can keep it in the chuck, also a TOS 24" X 100" manual engine lathe, 2 CNC lathes as well.
All that we ever use is ISO 32 light oil for the gearboxes and hydraulic systems, the way lube is typical sticky light oil which is #68 I believe.

Most of these machines have been running 20-40 hours per week for over 20 years.
Do not fret about your choice of lubrication.

 

[Wobbles]

Just about anything is better than nothing.

+1

Any oil always beats no oil.