| Hi
Grease dosnt really do a machine any good in the long run. It has a nasty habbit of holding onto swarf and general crud from machining.
The ways should have a good quality slie way oil and if the machine has a gearbox that should use the rated oil that the makers list.
Slide way oil clings to the ways giving good lubrication and also reducing stiction.
One thing i will mention is lead screw use. most small machines use the lead screw for both thread cutting and power feed. what can happen in time is the screw wears at the head stock end and not the tail stock end. The result can be seen on long thread cuts as a thread that opens out. Keep the lead screws for thread cutting and use the saddle wheel to make your long cuts.
Most of the model maker lathes beds I have seen are worn at the headstock end. this is partly due to most of teh work being atthat end of the bed but also to the model maker cleaning off swarf after every cut and not re oiling the bed.
An old guy once said to me "Oil is cheap cast iron is not" and its true, keep the oil flowing and keep the machine working.
On clean up try to avoid using an air line to blow swarf off, it just forces the stuff under the slides. Use a sash brush and a clean cloth.
kevin |