What grease gun to use

[ChazzC]

THANKS for all the nice answers!!

It is indeed the clamp that rides up & down the column, that oiler looks really nice, could you explain what characteristics make the Super Lube Oil your preference?

Little Machine Shop recommends using Lithium grease on the table dovetails & lead screws and machine oil everywhere else, but Lithium grease oils out. Sherline recommends Super Lube oil & grease for all of their machines, so I tried it and have been very pleased with it. I do use Way Oil on dovetails & lathe ways.


The Reilang pump is quite expensive here in the netherlands

It’s not any cheaper in the U.S.: I bought directly from Jens Putzier because I couldn’t find any for sale “locally”

 

[piper184]

Here are the two oil cans I have for my machines. The Goldenrod brand is quite common in the USA. Good quality and reliable pump. The tip is threaded on so it can be removed or replaced. I have one that I put a standard grease gun tip on it so I can lube the ways on my South Bend Lathe. It was common at one time for the manufacturers to use grease zerks (nipples) even where oil was to be applied. Over the years as the machines changed hands new owners would see the zerk and assume it was to be greased. The grease collected dirt and chips which led to wear and blockage. I could have changed out all the zerks or even installed a one shot oiler system but it was easier to just put a grease gun tip on the oil can and use way oil.

For way oil I just make my own using a non-detergent motor oil of about 30 wt. and a wee bit of STP or Motor Honey oil treatment as a tackifier.

The pointed tip on the red can (cheap foreign import) will easily push in the ball of the oilers and let oil flow. You don't need much pressure for a ball oiler.

 

[Red96]

If you do go with the Goldenrod oiler, know that they are known for leaking where the bottom of the can is crimped to the sides. Before you put any oil in it, clean it well and wipe some RTV in the bottom crimp groove, and it will not leak.


My oiler trigger started sticking shortly after purchase. The pump assembly had to be taken apart and some re-fitting/deburring fixed the issue. As is usual for us....everything's a 'kit' that we need to finish into an acceptably performing device.

 

[piper184]

Unfortunately these sorts of things are not built to the standards of quality that they once were. Sigh...
The cheap import ones are even worse in my experience. They leak at the cap, they leak at the pump, they leak at the hose... But I can buy three of them for one Goldenrod and my wife gives me old cookie bake trays to set drippy things in to help control the mess.
Someday I may attempt to make my own oil cans. Lots of plans about the old Eagle style available online.
I think I need more time.....

 

[Joselo24]

Unfortunately these sorts of things are not built to the standards of quality that they once were. Sigh...
The cheap import ones are even worse in my experience. They leak at the cap, they leak at the pump, they leak at the hose... But I can buy three of them for one Goldenrod and my wife gives me old cookie bake trays to set drippy things in to help control the mess.
Someday I may attempt to make my own oil cans. Lots of plans about the old Eagle style available online.
I think I need more time.....

I found something similar yesterday while browsing for oilers, with some cheap ones at 1/10th of the price of the good ones. I did consider making my own, sounds like a nice project to start getting acquainted with my machines, I'll look for the old Eagle style you mention.

I found a nice thread in the General Machine Shop discussions discussing Eagle oil cans

 

[durableoreo]

In my experience these are oilers rather than grease fittings. Is this the clamp that rides up & down the column? If so, oil would be more appropriate (the milling head appears to be oil filled from the photos I found here; there is also a link to the owner of the machine shown on that page, so you could get some info from them). A manual is available, but pricey.

I use a Reiling Double Pump Oiler on these fittings and Super Lube Oil.

The price is distressing but I recommend them anyway. I've spent more than 50 $ on garbage oilers and hated all of them. Some were dead on arrival, others leaked on everything.