Regarding: "Any SAE 10 motor oil would work just fine, right?", the answer is NO.
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Typical "motor oil" (for cars) includes detergents to suspend dirt & particles to be removed by a filter as the oil is pumped around.? I'm not sure about the geometry of the mill, but for lathes, you want any debris to settle into the bottom of the gear box.? It sounds like the V10 just uses grease, so that may not be an issue.
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I have also heard there can be additives in some motor oils that don't play well with the bronze or zinc components used in some machine tools gear boxes.??
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The safest bet is to use hydraulic oil, which doesn't contain much in the way of additives, beyond rust preventatives.? If it's just for exterior sliding surfaces (ways, column, quill), "way" oil is specifically designed for that.? Vactra #2 oil is the classic that has been around for at least 60 or 70 years.? It can be hard to find in small quantities, but large shops use it by the gallon.? You could probably talk them out of a cup worth in trade for a box of donuts.? There are also some vendors that cater to hobbyists that re-package it and sell it in small quantities.
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The one caution about way oil is that it tends to stick, and then slip.? That's fine for things that are moved by lead screws & such.? I have a mill with a round ram, and when you try to rotate it to get it adjusted so the spindle is vertical, it is almost impossible to get it to move in small amounts if you use way oil.? Hydraulic oil works much better for that..??
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Doug White
