jdleach
Stainless
- Joined
- Sep 19, 2009
- Location
- Columbus, IN USA
It may not seem like much to others here, but I am so delighted to finally get one of these things after 25 years.
It is a simple oil gun.
You see, most of my old machines are oiled through the typical hole/cup/ball-check type of lubrication point. That is, all of them except my Index Super 55 mill. While there are some cups on it, the ways have grease zerks for applying the oil. Since I have never owned an oil gun, the only way to oil the ways was by slathering it on with my fingers and a pump oil can. Looked at oil guns over the years, but the prices always sent spasms down my back (especially my right buttock where the wallet resides), and never found a used one. Too, I seemed to never find the time to modify a good grease gun so as to make it into an oil gun.
This past week, I once again looked at the guns on McMaster-Carr. And again, the price is chilling for the large 26 oz. model, a whopping $208. They offer a smaller version, but the specs. lead me to believe it comes from C#$%@a. I REFUSE to purchase anything else from there.
So I did an extensive Google search, and found a supplier of the Alemite 4035 oil guns for a mere $106. Still pricey, but Alemite is good stuff, and this one was dropped shipped to me straight from the factory in Johnson City, TN.
Got it yesterday, and it is a beauty. Own an Alemite grease gun I bought new some 30 years ago, and they have cheapened them somewhat from then, now using a molded plastic plunger handle instead of a cast aluminum/white metal one. But the essential quality is still there, heavy as hell, a cast iron head (nickel plated), and very good machining.
Going to the Shop later to properly oil my mill. I love it.
It is a simple oil gun.
You see, most of my old machines are oiled through the typical hole/cup/ball-check type of lubrication point. That is, all of them except my Index Super 55 mill. While there are some cups on it, the ways have grease zerks for applying the oil. Since I have never owned an oil gun, the only way to oil the ways was by slathering it on with my fingers and a pump oil can. Looked at oil guns over the years, but the prices always sent spasms down my back (especially my right buttock where the wallet resides), and never found a used one. Too, I seemed to never find the time to modify a good grease gun so as to make it into an oil gun.
This past week, I once again looked at the guns on McMaster-Carr. And again, the price is chilling for the large 26 oz. model, a whopping $208. They offer a smaller version, but the specs. lead me to believe it comes from C#$%@a. I REFUSE to purchase anything else from there.
So I did an extensive Google search, and found a supplier of the Alemite 4035 oil guns for a mere $106. Still pricey, but Alemite is good stuff, and this one was dropped shipped to me straight from the factory in Johnson City, TN.
Got it yesterday, and it is a beauty. Own an Alemite grease gun I bought new some 30 years ago, and they have cheapened them somewhat from then, now using a molded plastic plunger handle instead of a cast aluminum/white metal one. But the essential quality is still there, heavy as hell, a cast iron head (nickel plated), and very good machining.
Going to the Shop later to properly oil my mill. I love it.
