Monotype Mould Oil?

[Dan Jones]

As original supplies of Monotype oil begin to dwindle, what are you using for casting? I have an open can of unidentified oil that works well (green can on the left in the picture) from a Monotype shop and an unopened can of #1 Mould Oil. I looked around for a readily available oil that has a high "smoke point" and tried avocado oil. Not good, at operating temperature it ran like water and created a mess. Castor oil? Also, I don't want to breathe engine oil or anything with unnecessary additives. What are your experiences?

[Keri Szafir]

Mould oil and mould oil No. 1 is not the same; the former is thick, dark and used for casting type, and the latter is for lead&rule. I use castor oil instead of No 1. with one caveat: the mould has to be lubricated with machine oil afterwards, otherwise it sticks.
Engine oil is good for lubricating the machine itself; gearbox oil should be even better (it's lighter, so more suitable for precise mechanisms such as jaw tongs, paper tower etc.).

Take a look at http://alembicpress.co.uk/Typecaster/Oils.htm - maybe you can find a proper replacement.