Home DIY grease gun

Don't laugh too hard...

I've never used a grease gun. Not even in high school automotive class in 1973 (yes, Nineteen seventy three).

I'd like to get one to top off family car balljoints, though also any other uses with family cars and if there's anything else around the home like outdoor basic equipment it might be used for.

I'd appreciate suggestions, along with what features/accessories i should look for, and any advice so i can avoid retrospective "stupid mistakes".

In basic research so far i see there are at least two sizes so i am guessing more. I also see that there are electric, air pressure (yes, i do have a compressor, but what if i am helping a daughter where there is no compressor?), and manual (so far my favorite choice without knowing anything more).

Last, i noted mention of cases where different types of grease are used, so some folks have more than one gun to accomodate the different ones - i don't know how likely this would come into play.

I am NOT bleeding cash; matter of fact, pretty much the opposite, so rather than go for all the finest i'd like to focus on a solid unit with everything i would need under the circumstances and use i have described - i don't want junk that i'll regret within a year and have to buy better, nor do i want to buy something that can be used for an F-35 - which is why i am coming to you folks as everything else i see on the internet i have to think are manufacturer influenced or simply are lacking because i can't describe my particular parameters.

Thank you for considering my confusion!!!

Best Regards,
Bruce

Bruce, hate to break it to you but the grease fitting phase has come and passed 🤣.

I just have a manual Husky one. Works fine on everything thing I see with grease fittings, which isn't much any more unfortunately.
I use Milwaukee cordless tools, there's a nice 18v grease gun. I don't feel compelled to buy it.
There is a universal needle attachment you can buy. It is used to slide under the rubber or puncture the boot to add grease to non serviceable joints. There's mixed feelings about that naturally.
I would say just about anything you can get at the parts store should be just fine and I would probably avoid the cheapest one Harbor Freight.

I have a milwaukee m18 at work, we have 2 at the farm, one with a load bearing grease and one for high speed like wheel bearings and such. Very good guns but if you're not wanting to spend the coin then a hand pumper is the way to go, I got one off the cornwell truck and one from orielys for at home (one load bearing and one high speed of course). The cornwell one is much nicer and easier to bleed but the orielys works just as good as any. There's a lot of different greases and areas where they should and shouldn't be used. we can have a whole nother topic on just greases, I think it would be a bigger deal then using the correct oil but is it just as critical? In certain areas with my experience yes and no. The biggest thing I'd say is if you're packing a lot of old school bearings get high speed wheel bearing grease, normally is red. For your general suspension, ujoints and pins get a good tacky "black" or "brown" grease, generally they're made to not wash out or turn almost liquid in high temps. If you have a boat trailer or any trailer that's going to be high speed but then gets cooled down right away then you're gonna need a special high speed boat wheel bearing grease, sometimes they're purple or blue and I would also recommend installing wheel bearing buddies on those trailers too for long term use. With boat trailers they fly down the road at 70+ mph then get dipped in a cold lake, this causes seals to suck in and water to make it's way into the grease which a lot of greases won't work with. I guess at the end of the day find out what you're wanting to do and pick the correct tool for your needs and then dive into the universe of greases. IMO Chevron Delo makes a very good product and has some of the best greases again IMO. Hope this helps.