Best all-around general purpose oil

[Robert Adams]

Stop at a machine shop and see if you can buy some way oil. It's very good oil that has a slight stikyness to it so it will stay on the ways of the machines. It's kind of pricey for what it is but it is available in small gallon size bottles but usually comes in 5 gallon or larger. I think I saw it being sold by the quart once for small hobby lathes.

[Wipedout]

Stop at a machine shop and see if you can buy some way oil. It's very good oil that has a slight stikyness to it so it will stay on the ways of the machines. It's kind of pricey for what it is but it is available in small gallon size bottles but usually comes in 5 gallon or larger. I think I saw it being sold by the quart once for small hobby lathes.

I use this on my lathe

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007UM...UTF8&psc=1

[TDKPE]

I know that 3-in-1 Electric Motor Oil is 20W mineral oil, but are you sure about the standard stuff?

https://files.wd40.com/pdf/sds/3inone/3-...or-oil.pdf

https://files.wd40.com/pdf/sds/3inone/3-...11-20).pdf

[arthropod98]

for general purpose . . . i really like tri-flow . . . doesn't take much either:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CC...UTF8&psc=1

[RayFleck]

I know that 3-in-1 Electric Motor Oil is 20W mineral oil, but are you sure about the standard stuff?

https://files.wd40.com/pdf/sds/3inone/3-...or-oil.pdf

https://files.wd40.com/pdf/sds/3inone/3-...11-20).pdf

OK, i've learned something:  Check the speck sheet.

Thanks!

[adamcherubini]

Go to the pharmacy and buy a gallon or whatever size of pure mineral oil. This is the same as baby oil, but without perfumes etc. I decant that into plastic squeeze bottles. It’s food grade, super cheap, equally good on cutting boards or whet stones or to lubricate anything around the house. Mineral oil is non drying. Keep it simple.

When grease is required, Vaseline is the same stuff just thicker. You really don’t need anything else. Many oils are the same base material (mineral oil) with stuff added, for high temperatures or pressures.

I like WD-40 and buy it by the gallon and decant it into a plant sprayer, but it’s not much more than light kerosene and mineral spirits. It’s an oily solvent.

Superlube, available in Vaseline like consistency and light oil consistency, is an alternative. I use that in my rifles. Could just as easily use mineral oil and Vaseline tho.

[Stove M]

You might try Remington gun oil.

[Timberwolf]

What is a good, general-purpose, all-around oil for use around the house and shop?  Something that can be safely used on nearly everything?

I know there's 3-in-1, but I think I read somewhere it's based on vegetable oil, which gunks up over time.  Is that true?

WD-40 is more of a solvent and water displacer.  You can use it to unstick parts, but as I understand its best use is as a cleaner and rust inhibitor.  I don't think I'd use it alone for hinges, etc.

Tri-Flow seems pretty good.  It's marketed for bikes. 

I know Ballistol is great for guns. Would you hesitate to use it on anything?


What. do YOU use as an all-purpose oil?  

Thanks in advance!

 - Ray

...........................
Dexron automatic transmission fluid works great..if it's good enough for your transmission lubrication, it's good enough!!!!!! Full synthetic engine oil is also very good.....

[daddo]

Stop at a machine shop and see if you can buy some way oil. It's very good oil that has a slight stikyness to it so it will stay on the ways of the machines. It's kind of pricey for what it is but it is available in small gallon size bottles but usually comes in 5 gallon or larger. I think I saw it being sold by the quart once for small hobby lathes.

 I bought 5 gallons of oil for the lathe and milling machine. It isn't way oil but is the XXX required hydraulic type oil for the gear heads. Great oil for many uses.

 I went in and looked in the shop and I have many mixes of oils I made and use to see what works best for certain things.
 Some are; ATF and Motor oil. ATF and gear oil. 5-20w and mineral spirits. 75-85w gear and mineral spirits. Hydraulic and 5-20w oil. ATF and mineral spirits.
  I really have no idea which is the best for certain things yet, but if it has seals and is lubed, I prefer the hydraulic or ATF. Others, for tapping and threading, lathe turning and mill cutting.
 There are a lot of theories. I figure just be consistent with lubing and for the most part it doesn't matter that much unless it is high heat, high speed or gears.

[daddo]

Just FYI.
You do not want to use Vaseline or mineral oil for lubrication on any bearings, bushings, high temperature friction or fast moving parts.

We do use Vaseline when assembling an engine, but it lubes just long enough for the oil to take it's place and dissolve it.

I'm sure they would work fine for squeaks on hinges and other things you can think of.