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3 Top Grease Gun Comparison Chart
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Whether you are completing your annual maintenance on your yard tractor or keeping the industrial machines on the move at your job, you need the best grease gun designed specifically for your use. It should be easy to use and control while offering the ability to use cartridges or bulk grease.
If you are wondering which gun is right for your purposes, we have brought together a buying guide and product review so you will have all the information needed to make the best purchasing decision.
Read on to learn more about this common yet sometimes complicated part of your toolbox.
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- How To Choose The Best Grease Gun?
- How To Load a Grease Gun Properly?
- What’s The Best Lubricant To Use With Grease Guns?
- How To Maintain a Grease Gun?
- Which One Is The Best Grease Gun?
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5 Best Grease Guns Reviewed
- DEWALT DCGG571M1 20V MAX Cordless Grease Gun
- GreaseTek Premium Pistol Grip Grease Gun
- Lumax Heavy Duty Deluxe Pistol Grease Gun
- Lincoln 1162 Air Operated Grease Gun
- Lincoln Lubrication 1844 18 Volt Cordless Grease Gun
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How To Choose The Best Grease Gun?
A shade tree mechanic simply does not need the same grease gun that a commercial truck service technician does. Let’s learn which one is meant for your project and what you should be spending on your best grease gun.
1. Types Of Grease Gun
Not every grease gun is the best grease gun for every task you want to tackle. The pricing widely varies and you will find ones with rigid dispensing nozzles and others with a flexible connector.
Some take cartridges and other require loading from a bulk barrel. Consider if you need the gun for everyday use or just for a quick job at home before deciding on your purchase.
2. Manual Lever
This gun is an economical option for the homeowner that needs a grease gun for a single application every once in a while.
It operates by moving a lever on top of the gun to push the grease through the nozzle. It comes with a fixed nozzle and can be awkward to use as it takes two hands to operate the lever.
3. Manual Pistol Grip
This is a step up over the manual lever. You can hold the gun with one hand and operate the pump by repeatedly pulling the trigger with a finger to dispense the grease.
It typically comes with a flexible nozzle that your other hand can hold in place while dispensing the grease. It will cost a few dollars more than the lever but is likely the best grease gun type for the DiYer.
4. Pneumatic
The pneumatic grease gun is powered by an air compressor which requires access to electricity and you are limited in movement by the length of the cords and hoses.
However, you simply pull the trigger and the gun dispenses the grease at a set pressure. Most of these guns can also be adjusted to determine how much grease in pressed into the joint, which can prevent overfilling.
The price jumps up significantly but is the grease gun option for a commercial shop as it will never run out of pressure.
5. Cordless-Battery Powered
For the busy homeowner or small shop, a battery-operated cordless grease gun is the best grease gun for consistent performance.
The low-power battery provides enough pressure with a simple pull of the trigger to dispense multiple cartridges while you focus on keeping the flexible nozzle in place. It is by far the most expensive grease gun. Some models even include an LED light so you can see the work area better.
5 Best Grease Gun Reviews
Here’s a list of the best grease guns we found on the market:
1. DEWALT DCGG571M1 20V MAX Cordless Gun
Now that you are working in a busy shop or are a traveling technician, you might want the DEWALT 20v MAX Cordless Grease Gun as the solution for your grease gun.
You are spending 10-times more compared to the manual pistol grip, but you get some serious performance in return.
The MAX battery system is modular and can be used with your other 20v DEWALT tools. When fully charged this one can pump through 16 cartridges without pausing, saving you a pile of time.
A 42-inch long whip is included which makes it super simple to reach those hard-to-see fittings. Best of all, DEWALT tools are actually built in America, so you are supporting your local economy.
Why wouldn’t you want the DEWALT MAX? Priced at well over $200, this is not a casual investment for a single weekend project. If you are carrying the gun around, the battery pack does add significant weight.
Finally, you will want to unload this gun between uses, so be prepared for some daily maintenance. In the end, it definitely pays you back in time and performance.
PROS:
- Uses a modular battery system
- Large capacity
- Extra-long hose
- Made in the U.S.A.
CONS:
- High price
- heavy
- Not intended for casual use
2. GreaseTek Premium Pistol Grip Gun
Now, GreaseTek gives you a couple extra perks on their basic pistol grip grease gun that makes it the grease gun for the active weekend warrior.
You don’t spend any more compared to other pistol grips, but theirs comes with both a rigid and an 18-inch flexible whip.
Sometimes it is just easier to use a rigid connection when filling bearings while sitting in an awkward position. Like the others, you can load up using bulk or cartridges.
Yes, it is likely to leak when stored without cleaning it first, but remember that you spent less than $20 to get the job done.
That said, if you have even a single big job to get done, it takes a lot of effort to pump through just a single cartridge. Each pull of the grip dispenses one ounce-there are fourteen in cartridge. If your machine requires multiple cartridges, expect to get a sore hand.
If you want a longer hose, you will have to buy an adapter kit. Basically, this gun does the very minimum as a grease gun, and sometimes that is exactly what you need.
PROS:
- Inexpensive price
- Performs as expected
- Includes flexible and rigid filler
CONS:
- Short 18-inch hose
- Cannot be stored under pressure
3. Lumax Heavy Duty Deluxe Pistol Grease Gun
If you are looking for an inexpensive option for your home garage, the Lumax Pistol Grease Gun is the best for your occasional needs.
Priced at under $20, even if you have problems with the tool, you aren’t wasting a ton of money and are able to get your annual greasing done. The pistol grip gives you enough pressure to take care of most wheel bearings.
It can take cartridges or you can load it from a bulk barrel. It only comes with a flexible whip, not a fixed whip.
Now, if you are thinking of using just a little bit of grease and then storing the gun, expect to find grease oozing out of every connection when you want to use it again.
Users comment that grease will leak from the plunger, the cap, the whip, and around every other nozzle and connection.
For a one-off purchase, this is a good choice. For a busy small shop, you will want to invest in something designed for business.
PROS:
- Super low price
- Can load with cartridge, suction, or bulk
- Easy to use a pistol grip
CONS:
- Poor design
- Tends to leak from everywhere
4. Lincoln 1162 Air Operated Grease Gun
If you have even a small air compressor in your shop, the Lincoln air operated grease gun may just be good for you.
It has an adjustable dispenser to provide higher or lower pressure as needed for each job, just like the battery operated version.
With one squeeze of the trigger, it provides a continuous flow of grease in a lightweight gun. You can use cartridges or bulk grease and you will spend about a third of the cost compared to a battery-operated version.
There is a nice clip to snap the whip in place when not using it, which is convenient for storage.
All that said, you do have to buy an air compressor to get this working-which can up your total price. If you are thinking about only using the gun every other day and leave it loaded, it will lose its prime and leak grease out around the fittings and seals.
Check the fittings on your equipment when purchasing the gun, as it may not have the right size included. Expect to purchase an adapter kit to allow it to work on all your engines and heavy equipment.
PROS:
- Easy one-pull operation
- Works with cartridges and bulk
- Good mid-priced upgrade over a manual gun
CONS:
- Requires priming every time after sitting
- Must have an air compressor (not sold with the unit)
5. Lincoln Lubrication 1844 18 Volt Cordless Grease Gun
Lincoln Lubrication has built its reputation on providing quality grease and grease guns to the mechanical world for decades. They used this expertise to create the best cordless grease gun for their clients.
While the nickel-cadmium battery is not as powerful as the DEWALT, it still can run through 10 tubes on a single charge. It is slightly lighter than the DEWALT, too.
Professional truck drivers, service technicians, and mechanics rely on this gun to do its job time after time while reducing the amount of time it takes to get their machinery lubed up and on its way.
One drawback is the quality of the batteries and their ability to recharge after use. Make sure to register your purchase in order to take advantage of the warranty for the battery.
Also, you only receive a 30-inch whip, which offers extra flexibility compared to the standard 18-inch whip found on most other guns.
However, sometimes you want an even longer whip when working with industrial-sized units. Still, the Lincoln proves out to be a great investment for the busy shop or technician.
PROS:
- High or low-pressure output
- Able to run 10 tubes on a charge
- A great choice for professionals
CONS
- Batteries may not charge
- Shorter 30-inch whip
How To Load a Grease Gun Properly?
All grease guns have a plunger at the back that presses the grease through the nozzle. However, the barrels are built to be loaded using clean and simple cartridges or to be loaded from a bulk barrel. If you do not want to maintain a grease barrel, you will want to buy a grease gun that takes cartridges.
1. From a Bulk Barrel
Unscrew the sealing ring with the dispensing nozzle and set aside. This leaves the barrel of the gun open. Insert the gun into the grease and pull back on the plunger. You will slowly suck enough grease out of the big barrel and into the gun.
When the gun is full, wipe down the threads and screw the cap back on. You cannot over pressurize the gun as the grease simply will ooze out around the seals.
2. Changing a Cartridge
Cartridges are convenient and help you maintain a neat shop as you are never left with an open tub or barrel of grease. They can be more expensive, but for the busy small shop, they are a great option.
Unscrew the nozzle end of the gun, pull back on the plunger all the way, and pull out the cartridge. Insert the new cartridge-check for the correct end-screw on the end and give it enough pressure to dispense a little grease to prime it. Wipe down the gun and you are ready to roll.
What’s The Best Lubricant To Use With Grease Guns?
Which lubricant to use with your grease gun largely depends on what you are greasing? Grease comes in a variety of viscosities with a rating of 0 for a nearly liquid grease to 6 for a lubricant that is more like butter. Your grease gun is easiest to use with greases rated at 3 or 4.
First, check which grease you need for your application, then check if your gun is rated to provide enough psi to dispense that thickness of grease. The thinnest greases will just run through the gun and not get injected into the correct place, leaving you with a big mess.
Ultimately, there is no best option. Check that the grease is designed for your purpose and that the best grease gun you purchased will work for that application. The most common types of grease include:
- Multi-purpose lithium grease
- White lithium-for improved visibility when applying
- Moly EP-for use in extreme pressure situations
- High-temperature brake grease
- Marine wheel bearing grease resists breaking down in the water
How To Maintain a Grease Gun?
Since your grease gun operates under pressure, good maintenance is needed to ensure that it does the job each time you reach for it. It doesn’t take much to keep it in top shape, but a little care is needed for optimal performance and life span.
1. Keep It Clean
Since grease clings to everything, it is easy for dirt to contaminate the grease chamber when you fail to maintain your grease gun between uses. After each use, wipe any excess grease off the outside of the gun.
Clean the nozzle, hose, and even the trigger. If you use cartridges, leave the empty cartridge in place until the next use, this prevents any dirt from collecting on the plunger, which could contaminate the grease in the next cartridge.
2. Check Your Connections
If the threads on the screw cap or base get crushed or deformed, grease can end up oozing out of every seam instead of being inserted into the intended bearing or joint.
Before each use, make sure that every connection is seated correctly, the screw top is not cross-threaded, and the pistol grip and plunger move freely. A bent part can cause more problems once you load up with grease.
3. Store It Covered
Even if you have cleaned your grease gun after use, it will still collect dust and dirt when left out in a busy shop. Your grease gun should be stored in a tool chest or cabinet where it is less likely to have a pile of dust land on it.
If it is cordless or pneumatic, it may have come in its own storage case. This is the best choice for proper storage between uses.
4. Inspect The Seals
Your grease gun includes rubber seals that prevent the grease from escaping around the edges. A ripped or cracked seal will fall apart, get mixed into the grease, and potentially jam up the mechanical unit that you are servicing. Check and replace the seal as needed whenever you have the gun open for loading.
So, Which Is The Best Grease Gun?
If you are shopping for a new grease gun for your commercial application, you will want to invest in the DEWALT DCGG571M1 20V MAX Cordless Grease Gun. Its powerful battery system not only provides enough power to work through 16 cartridges in one shot, but the battery can also be used with a variety of other tools in and around the shop.
It is easy to carry, comes with an extra-long whip, and has been proven to stand up to all the abuse you can dish out.
If you are repacking the bearings for the one and only time on your lawn tractor, pick up the GreaseTek Premium Pistol Grip Grease Gun for under $20 and save the frustration of adding yet another expensive tool to your garage.
We hope that you found all the information you needed on grease guns to help you make the best choice for your personal needs. If you have used any of these products at work or at home, we would love to hear how they worked for you.
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