my ways aren't your ways-grease or oil ??

[metalman]

Need lots of input guys,
I bought the used mill and the x and y table are FULL of grease! Makes everything smooth
but what are the long term affects? will my
projects be off? won't the grease collect dirt and shaving metal? At work we use pumps
to force way oil in the slides. Do I need to
tear this down , clean and just use oil??
I dont know if this is true but a guy at work told me if i leave the grease in the machine a year from now i would have to PAY
some one to "SCRAPE THE WAYS" dugh?????
THanks for your input, DUDE, PA, USA.

[Thrud]

There could be two reasons why they greased them:

1) they got bad drugs one day

2) they may be worn out so bad they need grease.

Grease attracts dirt. A water repelling grease like Amsoil's GWR would slough off the coolant without affecting lubrication - this is one advantage.

If it is still accurate, works smooth, and does not require excessive torque to move the table you could stay with the grease. If you do - think seriously about putting way covers on to prevent metal particles from sticking to the grease.

Good luck.

[JIM DEWOLF]

Did you ever see a machine tool with greace nipples? My advice is dismantle both beds, clean it up and use oil. Works every time!
Jim

[BrianH]

And if Vactra #2 isn't thick enough, the machine is probably clapped out....

[SGW]

I'd clean it up, anyway, just on general principles. I think you'll do better with proper way oil, not too heavy. I had an idea once that #40 synthetic oil would be just the thing for preventing wear on my lathe ways. I discovered that it created such a thick oil film the carriage floated around by as much as a couple thousandths of an inch, so accuracy suffered. The grease may be having a similar effect.

[Stepside]

My Bridgeport and several others that I have seen came from the factory with grease fittings. Therefore, I grease it and watch for a chip build-up. I also watch for a swarf/crud build-up on machines that I oil.
My oil of preference is DoAll way lube, unless the factory specifies otherwise.
For greasing the mill I use a white lithium grease the same as I use on my truck. If it is good enough for a 1972Chevrolet "Stepside", it is good enough for a milling machine.

[metal mite]

Guys
Just go easy on that grease gun.
It builds up a lotta pressure.
Used to build "grease Gun fixtures".
Used a grease gun to pressurize an i.d. clampimg ring on milling fixtures.
mite