The Top 3 Best Grease Gun Products For Your Garage
Which company manufactures the best grease gun? Who produces the best cordless grease gun? Is grease better than oil?
Having the best grease gun in your tool box is one way to increase your productivity in your garage.
Most people overlook the importance of having a grease gun in their garage. These are the same people who usually just let professionals do all the lubrication work for them rather than do the work themselves. That or they just lubricate parts of their car straight out of the oil can.
It’s ok if you let pros do the job for you or you just do touch-up lubrication with an oil can but what if you want to do more? This is where getting the best grease gun becomes a sensible investment.
So we’ve collected the top 3 best grease gun products for your garage. We’ve focused our list on professional level gear because even though they might be more expensive, that investment will eventually pay off the more accustomed you are to using it.
You do get what you paid for with these three and you’ll be glad you spent those extra dollars to get the best grease gun product rather than skimping just to save a little.
What Is A Grease Gun?
So, what is a grease gun? A grease gun is a tool that helps you lubricate the moving parts of your vehicle. There are different types of grease guns. For DIYers, there are affordable hand-pump models. For professionals, a pneumatic or battery-powered grease gun is more preferable.
Do You Need A Grease Gun?
Before we move on to the list, let’s determine one thing: Do you really need a grease gun? Are you better off with a manual grease gun or will the tasks you’re planning to do justify springing for an expensive piece of specialized equipment?
Grease fittings used to be common on automobiles until maintenance-free parts became the standard for automakers. So, if you have a modern car, you might not need a grease gun in your garage.
Now, if you have some farm equipment or a lawnmower, you will need to grease those every now and then as part of their preventive maintenance. If you have an older vehicle, if they’re still sporting stock parts, you’ll find a need to use a grease gun too. Ball joints, tie rod ends, and sway bar links definitely need greasing.
Another auto segment that heavily relies on the services of the best grease gun are off-road machines.
Without proper lubrication, the moving parts in these vehicles will wear out prematurely. Without any grease, the parts will stick together, produce a lot of friction, and you won’t be able to operate them properly. The damage resulting from this could end up costly and irreparable.
How Do You Use A Grease Gun?
The best grease gun offers a simple, straight-forward operation.
Basically, the best grease gun has a lever to pump grease from the barrel to the hose or tube. Once the lever is pulled, the air-release nipple allows air to escape. The spring then provides the necessary pressure to the plunger which then does the same to the grease cartridge.
Grease then flows through the pump head. This results in the grease flowing onto the fitting you wish to lubricate.
For convenience, grease comes in paper or plastic cartridges preloaded for loading into the barrel.
To lubricate a fitting properly, you need to clean it thoroughly before applying a new layer of fresh grease. By using a rag, you can wipe off the old grease before fitting the grease gun coupler. You’ll know it’s properly attached when you hear a click.
From there, all you have to do is pump the grease into the fitting until you see a little seepage or if the seal shows signs of bulging. After that, just wipe off the excess grease and you’re done.
Types Of Grease Guns
As already mentioned, there are different types of grease guns available. They can be operated by hand, by using air, or with electricity. Each one has its pros and cons. Grease is also loaded into the device through different means. You can choose to use a suction fill, by bulk, or by using preloaded cartridges.
Manual Grease Gun
For some people, the best grease gun is a manual. There are two types of manual grease guns. There’s the lever type and the pistol grip type. The pistol grip type is the preferred variant because you can operate it with one hand.
Another difference between the two manual grease guns is the amount of grease output per pump. The lever type manual grease gun releases 1.28 grams of grease as opposed to the pistol type manual grease gun which only releases 0.86 grams per pump.
Despite this, completion of a job usually takes the same amount of time due to the ease of operation between the two. This is the best grease gun to practice with because it is affordable and it prepares you for upgrading to pneumatic or electric grease guns.
Pneumatic Grease Gun
Pneumatic grease guns use a pistol grip type making it one of the easiest grease guns to operate for DIYers and professionals alike. In fact, one would argue that this is the most preferred type of grease gun because it is convenient to sue and efficient in its delivery of grease.
A pneumatic grease gun uses compressed air to displace grease per pump. The added power of compressed air provides a deeper lubrication.
The only downside to this type of grease gun is the need for an air compressor or compressed air canisters to provide the necessary pressure to release the grease onto the parts you want to lubricate. If you hook it up to an air compressor, your movements will be limited and you will have to roll the added equipment around.
Battery-Powered Grease Gun
Battery-powered grease guns are the most convenient of the lot especially if you have the cordless variety. This provides you freedom to move around like with a hand-pump model and the power to drive grease further like that of a pneumatic grease gun.
Battery-powered grease guns operate on a low-voltage charge and lasts a long time before needing a recharge. Understandably, battery-powered grease guns are also the most expensive type of grease guns.
Now Here’s Our Top Three
We’ve discussed grease guns at length. Now it’s time to get to the top three in our list. We went through over two dozen grease guns in the market before shaving it down to these trio. What we focused on primarily is the tool’s ability to perform what it’s supposed to do. The next thing we judged is the build quality and lastly, the extra features.
You can’t go wrong with these three. But that shouldn’t stop you from doing further research and finding the one that really works for you.
#1: DEWALT DCGG571M1 – best grease gun
Let’s start with the best grease gun in the market today. After all, the DeWalt brand is known all over the world for producing high-quality equipment that will perform as specified. They also back their products up with inclusive warranties showing that they fully support the equipment they produce.
This tool delivers 10,000 MAX PSI pressure and pushes out 5 ounces of grease per minute. There’s a 42” flexible hose for easy access and a variable speed trigger for precise control of the grease flow. To keep the grease flowing, there’s an innovative pump filter screen that prevents dust and other contaminants from clogging the pump mechanism up.
One concern most people have is how long the battery will last on a cordless device. You’ll be happy to know that the DeWalt DCGG571M1 can use up to 16 cartridges on a single charge. You’ll most likely be done with your task before the 20 volt battery taps out.
This tool has a glass fiber reinforced plastic shell making it extremely durable. You’d want that for any tool inside your garage. You’ll be pleased that the internal parts of your DeWalt DCGG571M1 is made of die cast magnesium. Total weight is just a smidge under 15 pounds.
To top it all off, there’s an LED light to help you see concealed parts in low light situations.
- DEWALT grease gun can power through clogged grease fittings with a motor that delivers up to 10,000 max PSI
- High-volume pump of the battery grease gun pushes up to 5.0 oz/min high-flow applications.
#2: Milwaukee 2646-22CT Gun – best grease gun
The Milwaukee 2646-22CT Gun is comparable to the DEWALT DCGG571M1 albeit with a higher price tag attached to it. So what justifies this price difference between two similar products that operate in the same manner?
Like the DEWALT DCGG571M1, it also has a 10,000 PSI MAX operating pressure and a 48” flexible hose for easy access into hard to reach areas. It also offers total freedom and mobility with its cordless feature.
Is it the amount of grease it releases? It certainly looks that way with the maximum of 10 ounces of grease released per minute. That’s 5 ounces more than the DEWALT DCGG571M1. Maybe that’s why. You can set this output with the pre-set grease counter dial found on the device.
Another feature it has is the lock on or off trigger that increases the convenience when using it. That means you won’t have to be pressing the trigger for continuous flow. You can prime this tool with the air bleeder valve to ensure a continuous flow.
This tool weighs 18 pounds. You’ll be glad there’s a shoulder strap included in the box.
So, is the price difference justified? It looks like all those extra features makes those extra dollars, worth it. Proper maintenance and storage should make it last a lifetime.
- Industry leading 10,000 PSI max operating pressure
- 48" flexible hose offers greater access to difficult to reach fittings
#3: Lumax LX 1152 Grease Gun – best grease gun
Despite having a shorter hose as the other two in this list, the Lumax LX 1152 Grease Gun more than makes up for that drawback with its overall quality. You also get a grease gun that has a three way loading feature. You can use basic pre-loaded cartridges, suction fill method or the usual bulk fill grease application.
The Lumax LX 1152 has a heavy-duty cast head which can easily handle the 7,000 PSI MAX pressure it produces. To prevent accidental discharges, there’s a follower rod lock to minimize messy spills. This tool has an air bleeder to vent any air pockets so that there’s no trapped air before you fill it with grease.
There’s also an 18” flexible hose that allows it to reach farther into hard to reach places. At this price point you wouldn’t expect much. But the Lumax LX 1152 surprises everyone with its cast alloy, heavy 18 gauge steel barrel construction for durability. Sometimes you do get more than what you paid for.
- Comes With 18" Flex Hose Extension For Hard-To-Reach Fittings.Fit Type: Universal Fit
- Convenience Of One-Hand Operation For Easy Greasing
Safety First
Although the best grease gun products offer a straight-forward operation, you should still ensure care is taken at all times when operating one. Take the time to read the instructions in the manual and only use it as specified. Stop using your grease gun the moment it feels dangerous or is acting unusual.
Always use caution when using your grease gun. It may be advertised as the best grease gun in the market but that does not guarantee a malfunction if it is misused or mishandled. Always check the condition of your grease gun before using it.
When working with chemicals, keep your face away from harm by using protective gear or maintaining a safe distance during operation.
After using your grease gun, clean it thoroughly and keep it stored where dust, water, and other impurities can’t affect the equipment or the grease cartridges.
Last but not least, at all times have safety equipment around to prevent any minor mishaps from escalating into an uncontrollable event.
That’s it! Enjoy using the best grease gun in the market today!
Conclusion
Having the best grease gun in your garage is one of the best investments you can make so you can perform regular preventive maintenance on your vehicles. The three we’ve included in this list are our top choices out of more than two dozen samples. You can base your purchase on this or do your own research.
What’s important is that you should get the best grease gun that’s appropriate for you and your garage.
And if you take care of your equipment, you will enjoy using them for a long time.
Related Questions
How Do I Preserve My Tires?
Tires have a half-life. No matter how much care you put into preserving its condition, it will eventually expire. The main objective here is to ensure it retains its usable condition as long as possible. There are many factors that can contribute to a shortened lifespan.
Tire rubbing, damage from the road, and too much exposure to UV rays are just a few of those factors. So make it a point to get your floor jack out and regularly perform preventive maintenance on your tires. While you’re at it, keep your tires clean by washing them after extended use and applying a layer of tire protectant.
My Car Keeps Dying On Me. What Should I Do?
One sad reality about owning a vehicle si that eventually you’ll run into some problems. It doesn’t matter if you have a truck, an SUV, a luxury car, or a sports car. Sooner or later, these will encounter some issues.
The only way to stave this off is to perform regular preventive maintenance to ensure everything is still in optimal running condition. Your checklist should include your engine, transmission, electrical system, and battery. These are the usual culprits.
Save yourself the trouble and get a Japanese car instead. These last longer and have better systems in place.
How Do I Protect My Car’s Paint?
Protect your car’s paint by washing your car regularly and applying a layer of UV-resistant wax. If you’re not using it, park your car inside your garage or at least use a car cover to keep it out of the sun. after driving it through the rain or snow, wash it and wipe it down. That’s how you protect it from rusting due to exposure to the elements.
If you see any damage to your paint cropping up, like peeling or fading, refer to this article: Complete Guide To Fixing Peeling Car Paint