Grease Gun Storage Help - Leaks

[YoshiMoshi3]

I have a generic Amazon brand grease gun. Something that looks similar to this one.

T handle with level at the bottom, as well as an air relief valve at the top. Takes me a very long time to finish a tube, and I often store it with a tube still in it. I've been getting leaks from the grease gun, appears to be from the bottom of the grease gun and from the nozzle at the end of the tube. It's kind of hard to tell where it's coming from exactly. Does anybody have any tips on how to store a grease gun to keep it from leaking? I've heard to store it vertically as well as horizontally (not sure which is best to prevent leaks). I've also heard to depressurize it while in storage. Not sure if this helps or not, but I pull the lever and extend the t-handle as much as can while it's in storage. Still some leaks. Thanks for any help with this.

 

[Gozo]

Depressurize it. I keep mine in a big ziplock plastic bag. Still leaks a bit, but doesn’t make a mess on everything else. Haven’t used it in awhile as the vehicles don’t have Zerk fittings. Everything’s gone to “permanently” lubricated (routine replacement) these days.

 

[jptbay]

Keep it in a 5 gallon pail, hanging by the handle with the tube inside the pail.

 

[YoshiMoshi3]

Depressurize it. I keep mine in a big ziplock plastic bag. Still leaks a bit, but doesn’t make a mess on everything else. Haven’t used it in awhile as the vehicles don’t have Zerk fittings. Everything’s gone to “permanently” lubricated (rerouting replacement) these days.

Thank you. Just to clarify, depressurizing it you mean extending the T handle out away from the grease gun as much as you can?

Keep it in a 5 gallon pail, hanging by the handle with the tube inside the pail.

I like this idea

 

[4xdog]

I store our family’s old gun (small cartridge style) with pressure off in a plastic bag. The bag is often kept in my oil drain pan

 

[flippin]

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/how-do-you-store-your-grease-guns.357900/

 

[Old Man Roger]

Keep mine in a plastic bag.

 

[Beauregard]

Keep it in a 5 gallon pail, hanging by the handle with the tube inside the pail.

Farmers and ranchers have been doing it this was for about 100 years. We always throw about an inch of floor-dry in the bottom of the bucket. It works well.

 

[johninct]

Don't depressurize it. I store my old grease gun (1980's) upside down in a cardboard box and get no leaks

 

[jblnut]

I built a couple holders years back out of a chunk of 4” PVC pipe with a chunk of 1-1/2” PVC pipe hose clamped to the side. Gun goes in the large side, hose/nozzle goes in the small side. I put a screw cap deal at the bottom of them both so I could take it apart and clean them but I haven’t done that in over 10yrs and have run hundreds and hundreds of tubes through the guns in that time. Compact and you can mount it to something out of the way.

 

[zmotorsports]

I used several different flavors of grease and therefore have multiple grease guns in my shop. I have tried a few different storage methods with varying degrees of success. The cheapest was a 5-gallon bucket with the assorted grease guns hanging on the lip around the perimeter. However, I didn't care for the appearance of such a rudimentary storage system. I have purchased multiple brands and styles of manual grease guns and I don't think one exists that doesn't leak to some degree. It's just the nature of the beast as the lubricant separates from the thickener, especially in warmer climates, shops, etc.

When I built my new shop I used the top drawer in one of my toolboxes under the workbench. I laid out absorbent pads to catch the lubricant that I knew would escape the confines of the grease gun. While it did provide an out of sight storage solution, by laying them down they leaked less while in storage but as soon as I picked one up and held it vertical it leaked like a seive and dripped everywhere on my floor that required cleanup. That storage idea quickly went out the window and I came up with another plan.

I fabricated a hanging system made from PVC pipe. It holds the grease gun vertical and while it allows the lubricant to drip, at least when I go to use it the drips have for the most part already left the grease gun and I don't have droplets of lubricant all across my floor.

Here is a picture of my hanging system.


Loaded with grease guns.



The coupler end goes into a smaller piece of PVC pipe and both the coupler end and the main body has removable caps. The caps are not glued on but rather a snug but slip fit. This allows me to once a year or so remove the caps, clean them in the solvent tank and reinstall.

This has worked well for me for about 5 years or so now when I first constructed it.

 

[RAS61]

A plastic storage tub would be good for shelf storage, they come in all kind of sizes and the lid would prevent other things from falling in and getting greasy

 

[Oldsmobile]

Grease guns are invariably leaky and messy. Mine live in a plastic drawer to keep all the mess in one place. Works pretty well for me.

 

[danielbuck]

I've been fortunate I guess, my Lincoln grease guns have never leaked. I do depressurize them though, and hang them up right.

 

[jmarkwolf]

Keep it in a 5 gallon pail, hanging by the handle with the tube inside the pail.

I do this, but hang it in the shop rubbish can.

 

[Dave455]

To be honest, it’s not the storage, but the (probably Chinese) grease gun.

Simply ditch it, and get a Wanner (Swiss). Yes, they’re costly new, but you can probably find a used one relatively inexpensively.


I have two, one of which is about 60 years old, and neither leak!

 

[dnschmidt]

I have a grease gun that I use for my paint shaker that I store in a Ziplock. None of my cars have Zerk fittings so I wonder what people do with grease guns as I wonder why Milwaukee, DeWalt and Makita sell cordless grease guns as I have no idea what anybody (except somebody that owns a John Deere tractor) would do with one.

 

[woody 73]

ask a question get an answer...

Tips & Tricks 101 How to store your grease guns.

You have all seen it before you store your grease tools only to come back in a day or two and see leaking oil all over the place. This simple shop tip only requires a new/ or used paint bucket and two minutes of your time. You can if you want put a paper in the bottom of the bucket as it will...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[BlindViper]

I have a grease gun that I use for my paint shaker that I store in a Ziplock. None of my cars have Zerk fittings so I wonder what people do with grease guns as I wonder why Milwaukee, DeWalt and Makita sell cordless grease guns as I have no idea what anybody (except somebody that owns a John Deere tractor) would do with one.

agricultural and heavy equipment use them still

 

[Dave455]

I have a grease gun that I use for my paint shaker that I store in a Ziplock. None of my cars have Zerk fittings so I wonder what people do with grease guns as I wonder why Milwaukee, DeWalt and Makita sell cordless grease guns as I have no idea what anybody (except somebody that owns a John Deere tractor) would do with one.

They are common on older cars, and a few lurk around on newer vehicles than you would think - sometimes just a couple, so you think nothing needs greasing, then find the steering seized!

If you work on tractors, or any sort of agricultural equipment they are a must, but I’m guessing the most common use for this forums members is on heavy plant - certainly for the cordless guns.

Personally I need mine for some of my machine tools, and of course I need my baby Tecalemit gun for the 2BA grease ******* found on many classic British bikes!

 

[Old Man Roger]

A lot of moog parts come with zerk fittings.

 

[danielbuck]

I have a grease gun that I use for my paint shaker that I store in a Ziplock. None of my cars have Zerk fittings so I wonder what people do with grease guns as I wonder why Milwaukee, DeWalt and Makita sell cordless grease guns as I have no idea what anybody (except somebody that owns a John Deere tractor) would do with one.

clearly you don't own older vehicles. . Each one of my old jeeps probably have 16 or more grease points.

 

[unslow1]

I keep my grease guns in a 5 GL bucket.

Most replacement chassis parts and u-joints have grease zerks.

 

[Nutria]

I've used a bucket, and that's been fine. But I did recently spring for a couple of these, which have been a bit of an upgrade:

Pardon Our Interruption

 

[finn]

Anything that digs in the dirt will have zerks.

You can buy grease gun wall clamps at any farm store or Menards for a few dollars. They screw into the wall and have an over center spring to clamp the gun. Cut the side off a quart plastic oil can and screw it into the wall horizontally several inches under the hanging gun to catch drips. Use a cool looking or vintage oil bottle to make it artsy.

 

[fourjeepin]

I built this in 2012, soon after discovering GJ. It works great for me.

 

[richfinn]

They make cheap plastic tubes with end caps for fishing tackle/motorcycle couriers in various adjustable lengths and diameters

 

[MarkH]

If the gun is used alot Metal tub, in the shop or service vehicle. We were doing this before there were any plastic tubs. If not used wrap it in plastic either a bag or cellophane sheet. We expect them to cause a mess.

 

[Mikes61]

I slide an old sock over mine and store it in my toolbox. When it gets too bad I put a new sock on.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I have a PVC pipe one I made years ago... probably a decade or more. I stuff a blue paper towel in the bottom to absorb leakage.


I thought all grease guns leaked... much like Harley's leaking oil or CH53's smoking.

If a Harley doesn't leak, it's out of oil, if a CH53 doesn't smoke, don't get on it, it's out of hydraulic fluid.

If your grease gun doesn't leak, you need a new tube.

 

[LB-1911]

I have a PVC pipe one I made years ago... probably a decade or more. I stuff a blue paper towel in the bottom to absorb leakage.

• Mar 26, 2010

Grease gun holder

I've always thought about a different way to store my grease gun, they're such an odd shape and tend to leak a little over time. I finally decided to go ahead and make one. I've thought about a simple design and basic construction. I've seen them on Ebay and similar things made for Pitpal type...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[IRQVET]

My $30 dollar Amazon grease gun holder with built in drip collection. Bottom tray just slides in and out for easy cleaning.

 

[demarpaint]

Depressurize it. I keep mine in a big ziplock plastic bag. Still leaks a bit, but doesn’t make a mess on everything else. Haven’t used it in awhile as the vehicles don’t have Zerk fittings. Everything’s gone to “permanently” lubricated (rerouting replacement) these days.

Same here. I use mine about twice a year now.

 

[Wamsutta]

The 20 pound bag of ice at Costco. Those are good bags with thick plastic.

 

[Keokie]

Well, I got tired of it years ago, and just started storing my grease guns in my garage refrigerator. It keeps the grease from getting thin enough to run out...

 

[Sumboodie]

Keep it in a 5 gallon pail, hanging by the handle with the tube inside the pail.

That's what I do with mine. Have 3 or 4 plus 2 M18 ones. Go through a fair bit though on all the equipment. Easily use 2-3 tubes on the bigger stuff.

 

[Joemctag]

Keep it in a 5 gallon pail, hanging by the handle with the tube inside the pail.

What I do. And hold the tubes too. I’ve got newspaper in mine, around the grease, in between and on top so dirt and dust don’t get in.

 

[Retired dozer fixer]

If the OP complains about how their grease gun drips they probably don’t like getting their hands dirty either

 

[Terra Nova]

x2 on the PVC mount. This is my solution.

 

[Terra Nova]

If the OP complains about how their grease gun drips they probably don’t like getting their hands dirty either

So not wanting grease & oil dripping on stuff in your shop means you don't like getting his hands dirty? That's quite the leap there buddy...