Grease Guns 2018

[jahn]

I have a mini and standard, cheap guns that are a PIA and have to pry out catridges. Therefore I am ready for new ones.

This is for DYI, home use, with 2-3 time use per year. Want to spend <$30 for manual and <$60 air powered.

Looking for recommendations, pros/cons:
Mini -
Full size pistol -
Full size lever -
Air powered -

I kind of would like an air to do my trailers and not sure of full/mini for boat winterizations.

 

[stercorarius]

Get one on whatever power tool battery platform you run.

Sent from my S61 using Tapatalk

 

[Mgdoug3]

I have a Milwaukee and one I bought from Rural King. The best thing I have even done was buy a Lock-N-Lube tip for the Milwaukee. It locks onto the zerk and makes greasing much easier and less messy. I would recommend it for any grease gun.

 

[CR888]

A HD (heavy duty) lever style grease gun will roughly put out 10,000 psi of pressure. A little gun may put 1-3000psi which is totally fine depending on what you need it for. So some parameters of what your using it to grease may help you choose the right gun style/size.

 

[jahn]

My basic needs are outboard motor and trailers, non heavy duty. I do not want a battery one due to my platform is the old 18v dewalt.

 

[OHMS LAW]

Having used both air and battery on heavy trucks I must say even tho the air hose gets in the way, it’s much better than the cordless battery type. Nothing worse than getting under a truck and start from
Front to back and have the battery take a dump. At least with an air grease gun you will run out of grease before power. Depending on your compressor set up of course.
And if you don’t have an air compressor then battery it is.

 

[DGersic]

I picked up the air powered grease gun at HF last time I was there. It works ok, but doesn’t seem to build much pressure. It did my ball joints ok, but wouldn’t push grease in to the U joints on the driveshafts. Had to go back to my manual gun for those. Since I wanted it primarily for the U joints, that was disappointing.


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[ihateminimumwage]

Best manual grease gun I've used is the Alemite 555. Bought the Carquest branded one through Cripe. They have a few options (just request actual shipping cost before paying, they just show an estimate so it's always cheaper). Took the place of a full size lever and mini pistol style.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Carquest-3...-Pistol-Grease-Gun-Alemite-555E-/401607655095

I'd take the Milwaukee plunge if I was still doing trucks or equipment regularly.

 

[Grant Gunderson]

Best manual grease gun I've used is the Alemite.

I'd take the Milwaukee plunge if I was still doing trucks or equipment regularly.

I’d second this. Just make sure it’s the made in usa version. Big difference between that and the import line.

 

[velillen01]

I know its a tad over your price point but I have liked my Lincoln Lubrication 1134 HD gun. Its ~$40 but has worked just fine for the 5+ years ive had it now. Just a home DIYer but its done u-joints, ball joints, ect just fine.

I wil add that whatever you do get....a Lock-N-Lube tip is a nice upgrade. Makes getting the tip on and off super quick and easy. Really nice when the zerk is in a awkward angle

 

[L.Cheapo]

I’d second this. Just make sure it’s the made in usa version. Big difference between that and the import line.

Good luck finding a new USA made grease gun. I tried a while back and came up empty handed. I went with an Australian made MacNaught, and am very happy with it. Everything else seemed to be made in India or China.

 

[Pasha]

I know its a tad over your price point but I have liked my Lincoln Lubrication 1134 HD gun. Its ~$40 but has worked just fine for the 5+ years ive had it now. Just a home DIYer but its done u-joints, ball joints, ect just fine.

Was going to recommend the same thing. It's a great manual grease gun.

 

[Professional Tool User]

It depends on how much greasing you need to do. If you are just greasing a few grease ******* every now and then, a cartidge hand pump one will be fine. If you are doing a lot of greasing but find that hooking up to an air system is more of a hassle than it's worth (mobile mechanic), the cordless ones like the Milwaukee are the way to go. If you're going to be working at a heavy equipment or truck shop, the grease gun is usually one of the ones where the gun itself is built into the lid and the grease is held in a drum that you wheel around.

 

[manwithtools]

I have a Milwaukee and one I bought from Rural King. The best thing I have even done was buy a Lock-N-Lube tip for the Milwaukee. It locks onto the zerk and makes greasing much easier and less messy. I would recommend it for any grease gun.

 

[bsaint]

I love mine I just got this year. Its the Lock N Load from Legacy and has a high volume pump low pressure pump and a high pressure low volume pump.

 

[Retlaw 66]

Best manual grease gun I've used is the Alemite 555. Bought the Carquest branded one through Cripe.....

Thanks! Just made my first visit to the Cripes site and spent $100 on a bunch of stuff, including the grease gun. Here's a 10% off discount code:
RYLEE2016

 

[sberry]

I use manual. In the summer have 1 machine I grease about a dozen times and most everything else is a couple pumps. The Lincoln ones are good and the farm store carrys 2 of them, get the better one. For a home deal that's the ticket, skip the air.
I actually have 4 guns but could get by with 2 for a home use deal. I solid pipe lever and 1 pistol with hose.

 

[nmantas]

With modern technology has anyone managed to make a leak-free design yet. I only have a couple of fittings (bar links) on my two vehicles. My grease tube from 10 years ago is still in the gun but I should probably replace it because the thinner oils come out of all crevices during storage leaving the grease too thick. Be nice if the grease was better sealed for us DIYers that take for ever to use a tube.

 

[stercorarius]

Yeah if you don't want to go cordless Lincoln makes solid units. One thing I would be aware of though is that guns with button style bleeders are the way to go if you go through a couple tubes at once, but they weep more grease out so if you go through maybe two tubes a year the screw bleeds make less of a mess.

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[plinker]

Lincoln 1162 for air powered, very fast, easy priming, more durable overall then the Milwaukee M12 I have, not cordless though.

No real preference for a hand grease gun, To me they're all about them same quality, Lincoln or Alemite being a bit better.

 

[JiminAZ]

I have a pair of Alemite units - one with the flex hose and volume/pressure adjustable lever (555E). The second one has a fixed tube and is set up for high pressure (model 500). Also have a couple of the little no-name grease guns that use 3 oz cartridges for outboard motor swivel pin lube.

If you have a couple different greases in service you'll want duplicate guns. I label them with the product name installed.

I find that I use the 555E the most. The flex hose is convenient and usually I set it on the volume setting as I'm topping up bearing buddies or filling a bearing cavity/spindle.

The Alemites are now made in China. The ones I bought are China and have performed just fine. The 555E on Amazon for $58 is pricey though (I paid less a few years back). I hate it when companies want to charge first world prices for third world sourcing.

 

[bwringer]

With modern technology has anyone managed to make a leak-free design yet. I only have a couple of fittings (bar links) on my two vehicles. My grease tube from 10 years ago is still in the gun but I should probably replace it because the thinner oils come out of all crevices during storage leaving the grease too thick. Be nice if the grease was better sealed for us DIYers that take for ever to use a tube.

Exactly what I was wondering -- if someone makes a grease gun that doesn't drool all over the goddamn place I'd be VERY VERY interested.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I have a mini and standard, cheap guns that are a PIA and have to pry out catridges. Therefore I am ready for new ones.

This is for DYI, home use, with 2-3 time use per year. Want to spend <$30 for manual and <$60 air powered.

Looking for recommendations, pros/cons:
Mini -
Full size pistol -
Full size lever -
Air powered -

I kind of would like an air to do my trailers and not sure of full/mini for boat winterizations.

Buy disposable gloves and have SEVERAL paper/cloth rags handy. For your needs anything more than a GOOD mini (not easy to find) or a GOOD full size pistol. Yes, they are cartridges and changing them is messy. Make sure you have a hose attachment. For boat trailers that have spring loaded bearing caps with zerks, the mini is perfect.

Lever action are only required for heavy equipment that use grease pressure for adjusting things like tracks. Air or battery powered are only useful for vehicles that have a large number of grease points.

If my vehicles actually HAD more grease point, I might invest in a locking grease fitting coupler.

 

[dsgreen3]

Here is one that wont leak.

 

[scubadoober]

I have a John Deere pistol grip that I bought when I worked at a dealership. It has never leaked but I am only on my second tube of HD waterproof grease. I think it is a rebranded lincoln. Served me well.

 

[bwringer]

Here is one that wont leak.

NOPE. Proprietary grease cartridges with almost no US distribution.

Great idea, though.

 

[Locker537]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002NYDZ8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

As other's have said, this is the one I purchased last May based on recommendations here. Only the second gun I have ever owned but it works well, flexible hose is way better than a fixed nozzle for car suspension work, and the fitting locks nicely on the grease fitting.

 

[CR888]

Now onto the important topic, best grease to use.....nah forget that no need for 32 more pages on the great grease debate.

 

[nmantas]

NOPE. Proprietary grease cartridges with almost no US distribution.

Great idea, though.

I don't know.....the starter kit would last me a lifetime for $100. I wonder if you could use a traditional grease gun to fill the cartridges....thinking needle fitting.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FMO6XU/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[retDAC]

While there are other threads about letting air out and such, here are a couple of things I haven't seen mentioned.
Beware the 'pusher seal' (whatever it's called) that has too much clearance. Some of mine have so much clearance I can easily slide a table knife blade between the seal and barrel.
Watch out for a couple that snaps normally over a zerk and holds, but allows grease to flow around the fitting. You might think the tie rod end or whatever simply won't take any more grease but eventually it wears prematurely. This happened to me with a US made coupler.

 

[Grant Gunderson]

Good luck finding a new USA made grease gun. I tried a while back and came up empty handed. I went with an Australian made MacNaught, and am very happy with it. Everything else seemed to be made in India or China.

Mine is an Alemite 1056. It’s still made in America and Amazon sells them for $130 best gun I’ve ever owned and it doesn’t leak!

 

[L.Cheapo]

Mine is an Alemite 1056. It’s still made in America and Amazon sells them for $130 best gun I’ve ever owned and it doesn’t leak!

Do they make a pistol grip version in America? That's what I was looking for and I could not find one.

 

[Grant Gunderson]

Do they make a pistol grip version in America? That's what I was looking for and I could not find one.

I don’t think so. Pretty sure only the 1056 series and up does. There pistal grips are probably pretty well made even if they are Chinese. I had a pistol before but the 1056 and a lock n lube adapter is so good that I see no reason to go back to a pistol grip.

 

[L.Cheapo]

I don’t think so. Pretty sure only the 1056 series and up does. There pistal grips are probably pretty well made even if they are Chinese. I had a pistol before but the 1056 and a lock n lube adapter is so good that I see no reason to go back to a pistol grip.

I have the lock and lube too, but still occasionally need to use a needle fitting, which requires two people, some clever gymnastics, or a pistol grip gun, so I went with the Aussie made unit.

 

[straightcut]

Being this is Garage Journal, you'll probably want a Swiss made Wanner. If mine were lost, I would purchase another Wanner. If you're patient and shop it, you can have one for around $30+/- on eBay - much of the expense is shipping from the UK.

 

[apdxyk]

At last, the fest is on. Thank you, Brother from Arizona. Wanner is a Rolls Royce of grease guns. I also have an Australia made McNaught Flexigun K32 - and it is like an older Mercedes-Benz car, they guarantee parts and hoses for even very old ones. There are couple of US distributors. And I have nothing against my Milton gun, made in India - it is simple, sturdy and reliable for home use.

 

[straightcut]

At last, the fest is on. Thank you, Brother from Arizona. Wanner is a Rolls Royce of grease guns. I also have an Australia made McNaught Flexigun K32 - and it is like an older Mercedes-Benz car, they guarantee parts and hoses for even very old ones. There are couple of US distributors. And I have nothing against my Milton gun, made in India - it is simple, sturdy and reliable for home use.

HaHa! Garage Journal is fun, isn't it?!

Maybe I can't afford a Rolls Royce (Ok, I did own a Silver Shadow for a few years), but at least I can own the Rolls Royce of grease guns!

 

[WittHay]

That Swiss made Wanner looks like quite the grease gun. Have had good luck with Lincoln grease guns and have OTC and JD also. To keep various greases separate. They are all made in India but the OTC comes with a German made hose.

 

[bwringer]

I wonder if anyone makes a sort of condom you could roll on to the end of normal mortal grease guns to contain the drooling.

I mean, my grease gun (unknown brand) works perfectly well except for the all the slobbering out the end. Seems a waste to toss it out, and I hate spending more money on something I don't use all that often.

Sort of like this?
https://www.prankplace.com/candom-can-coozy-p/gg-candom.htm

 

[sberry]

As I mentioned in an earlier post. farm store, generic gun. The cheap version is about 15$ and the better 20 or 22. You can see the difference. I just bought grease on sale there, should have got a couple more cases but,,, I never wore out or had a problem with one until 75 or 100 tubes. This is 10X what a hobby type could ever use. On cars and yard stuff could make it with a tube or 2 a year. Get the pink grease, wheel bearing rated as well as chassis. Yes, there is marginally better grease but not so as one could ever measure it except for brutal conditions and I actually use pink and black bear **** or moly. It seems to stick in where there is more metal to metal and steering where the conditions are nasty, washout is a problem and given a choice I use it there if I got it, dollar more a tube. I use the pink on hi speed, bearings and Ujoints.

On equipment that is in good shape it doesn't take much. Where it uses it is well worn out stuff, disks, farm equipment trying to wring the life out of it. I got 1 piece I compulsively grease and even work out it goes forever on old bearings if I do it often enough. I use more on one piece than all the rest combined.
Most auto, a couple pumps to good steering parts, not much more on Ujoints if they are maintained. A tube of grease goes a long way.