To help you understand the grease gun range and applications a little better, we've broken down a key standard associated with the product. Grease nipples are part of a wider category of fittings, with each having their own strengths and desired applications. Here are a few of the most common fittings for your consideration: If you're looking for personalised recommendations on the right type of grease fitting for your job, ask our experts for specialised advice.

Grease nipples are incredibly important for dispensing lubricant exactly where it needs to be. They also provide a visible point of entry for maintenance and lubrication, giving engineers peace of mind that the lubricant they apply will go exactly where it is needed without spillage. Material - Grease nipples are generally available in steel, brass, carbon steel, stainless steel, and Monel®. The material will affect the strength and overall longevity of your grease fitting. Flush fittings - Flush fittings boast a low-profile design that is useful in situations where clearance between moving parts is a necessity. They are typically used in low-clearance mechanisms such as pulleys and shafts. Delivery mechanism - These come in a range of choices, from a fixed tube or flexible hose to couplers and adapters. All have benefits depending on the machine location, operation type and user preference. Thread - Grease fittings have two common thread types, tapered and parallel. If the thread diameter becomes narrower towards the bottom, then it's a tapered thread. If the thread diameter is straight all the way down, it's a parallel thread.Don’t mix old and new greases - use only the correct type of lubricant for the job and parts you’re working with By adding grease nipples as a way to dispense lubricant onto moving parts, you can greatly reduce the chance of machine ineffectiveness or failure.

Grease guns are typified by their operation, with each offering its own benefits. The best choice depends solely on the type of application required and the preference of the user. DIN - This is the awarding body of the standard, in this case, the Deutsches Institut für Normung (German Institute for Standardisation) Lever grease guns - Also called manual grease guns, this type is operated via a simple pressure trigger mechanism, enabling the user to control force and flow rate through their own physical squeezing force Bearing Cars: These encase the ball screws but themselves involve lots of movement in every action on the machine. They should also be greased timely for smooth flow of operations in all directions X axis, Y axis, Z axis.The standard features of any grease gun tool - triggers, hoses and so on - tend to be fairly consistent across the full range of options for different formats and models. In other words, nearly all the different types of grease guns look fairly similar, regardless of whether they’re entirely manual, air-fed, battery-powered, or operated with a hand pump mechanism. Available in a variety of operational types, users can choose from hand-powered, battery, or pneumatic grease guns. Hand-powered and battery grease guns allow for cable-free working, while pneumatic guns feature hose attachments, but are more powerful. They are fundamental to proper machine maintenance, allowing grease to be applied in an effective manner. Due to their importance, machines often become faulty or damaged when grease fittings are neglected or misused. Output - The amount of grease delivered with each pump varies in different guns. Understanding the amount needed for each machine can help to ensure that you don't over or under grease machinery and cause damage to seals and motors.

Pneumatic grease guns - Air-powered models that attach to a compressor via a length of hose, offering greater power for industrial or larger commercial applications Grease nipples (AKA grease fittings or zerk fittings) are used in conjunction with grease guns to dispense lubricant exactly where it needs to be. The grease nipple itself is a screw-on valve cap made from metal, which has a small opening at its peak and a narrow channel that directs lubricant to the base. Battery-powered grease guns - The core mechanism of battery-powered grease guns is similar to the above models, except that the on-board batteries provide the power to create the required pressure build-up (rather than the user having to do so manually or via external means) Commercial grease fitting cleaners are available to help unclog grease nipples and fittings. Additionally, users can heat up the fitting to soften and help shift the clogged grease.

There are several common formats for grease fittings, with the most common being a standard-sized convex shape that fits snugly against the typical concave end of a grease gun nozzle. This combination allows the grease gun to be attached easily from various angles and still make an air-tight connection, meaning fewer instances of lubricant oozing out around the outsides of the grease nipple rather than being forced into the voids as intended.

Safety vent fittings - Safety vent fittings are similar to standard grease nipples; however they have a vertical slot that serves as an air vent as grease is applied. This also lets users know when enough lubricant has been applied, as it will begin to flow out the slot. Grease nipples - Grease nipples provide a secure lubrication point for mechanical components such as bearing houses. They offer a secure connection to grease guns to accurately apply lubrication to moving systems.Another variation is the grip type, with manually operated guns engineered with either a lever grip, which requires a two-handed pump method, or a pistol grip, which can be operated with one hand. Both battery and pneumatic grease guns feature pistol grip technology, and it's considered by some to allow for a more precise application of lubricating grease. As well as having a grip and a nozzle or ‘barrel’ of sorts, grease guns are typically operated via a lever that may somewhat resemble a large ‘trigger’. In certain newer or more automated models, this lever may be significantly smaller than in more traditional manually operated formats, giving rise to terms like ‘pistol style’ grease pumps.