How To Choose A Grease Gun – Buying Guide for the Best Grease Guns

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‍Greasing is a crucial step when working with metal. Grease helps you to lubricate your metalworking tools so that they slide against each other faster, easier and smoother. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced DIY enthusiast, chances are you’ve probably come across the term “grease gun” and wondered what it is and if it’s something you should invest in. Because there are so many different models available on the market, choosing the right grease gun can be difficult for beginners and even for more experienced DIY enthusiasts who want to find the best grease gun for their needs at a given moment. Fortunately, we have highlighted some key factors to consider when buying a grease gun, as well as greasy alternatives if you aren’t convinced by the greasing options presented below.

What is a Grease Gun?

A grease gun is a machine that uses syringe-like components to dispense a liquid through a small nozzle. The nozzle is typically attached to a metal rod that will draw metal parts inside a chamber and then spin the rod to dispense the lubrication through the nozzle. The type of lubrication you can apply with a grease gun depends on the type of grease you want to apply. Typically, you can use oil, grease and even silicone grease. Oil lubricates metal parts so that they slide against each other more easily and smoothly. However if you apply oil on a metal part that has just been cleaned, it can easily leave the part oxidised and stained. Grease is a more versatile type of lubricant. It is less prone to oxidation and stain-causing properties, but it can also be washed off easily with water. Silicone grease is a type of lubricant that can be used either on metal parts or on plastic parts. Since silicone oil is not as prone to oxidation as oils are, it can be used on both plastic and metal parts without causing any damage to them.

Types of Grease Guns

• Handheld – These are the most common types of grease guns. They are mainly operated by hand and can be handheld or placed on a workbench. Handheld grease guns are portable, light-weight and easy to store. However, they are also the most expensive types of grease guns.
• Fixed-Base – These types of grease guns are mostly used in industrial settings. They usually have a large base and a small handheld nozzle attached to it. This enables the user to move around freely while applying grease to multiple parts without getting their hands dirty. Fixed-base grease guns are more expensive than handheld types and are best suited for heavy-duty applications.
• Rotary – These types of grease guns have a motor as their base. These types of grease guns are best suited for applications that require frequent lubrication or greasing. Rotary grease guns are also more expensive than the other grease gun types.

How to Choose a Grease Gun

Choosing a grease gun is a crucial step in the process of greasing. It is important to consider a few key factors when picking a grease gun.

• Capacity – The first thing you need to consider when choosing a grease gun is its capacity. You need to decide how much grease you will be dispensing from the gun. Some grease guns come with a small bag that you can fill with grease, while other models allow you to fill them up from a bottle.
• Power – A common misconception among DIY enthusiasts is that a powerful grease gun is more effective. However, the truth is, a powerful grease gun is more likely to cause damage to parts, require frequent maintenance and also cost more. A powerful grease gun is best suited for industrial applications and not for home use.
• Noise – While it might be tempting to choose a grease gun that has the loudest nozzle, the truth is, you don’t need a loud grease gun if you are only dispensing a small amount of lubrication. A quiet grease gun is more effective than a loud one.
• Ease of Cleaning – The last factor to consider when picking a grease gun is how easy it is to clean. A grease gun that isn’t easy to clean can get messy and create a mess in your workspace. You can easily clean a grease gun with warm soapy water.

Important factors to consider when buying a grease gun

• Power – Grease guns come with different power ratings. Always pick a grease gun with the lowest possible power rating. A powerful grease gun is best suited for industrial settings and not for home use. A powerful grease gun is also more expensive and consumes more electricity, making it more expensive to run than a low-powered grease gun.
• Noise – One of the most important factors to consider when buying a grease gun is how noisy it is. A grease gun that is too noisy is more likely to create distractions in your workspace and also consume more electricity, making it more expensive to run than a quieter grease gun.
• Ease of cleaning – The last factor to consider when buying a grease gun is how easy it is to clean. A grease gun that isn’t easy to clean is more likely to create a mess in your workspace and also consume more electricity, making it more expensive to run than a clean grease gun.

Conclusion

Grease guns are essential machines that are used to dispense lubricants on metal parts. Depending on your needs and the type of grease gun you decide to buy, you can choose from handheld and fixed-base models, rotary and electric models. Choosing the best grease gun for your needs requires you to go through a few steps, including finding the best grease gun for the price, capacity, noise, ease of cleaning, and power ratings. These factors will help you choose the best grease gun for your needs. So, when picking up your next grease gun, keep these factors in mind for the best greasing experience.