Cheap Grease Gun from Harbor Freight, Any Good? Lets take a look.
Today we will be looking at the Holt Industries (sku 64381) pistol grip grease gun sold at Harbor Freight. In this article I will go over the cost, whats included, initial setup and thoughts.
Holt Industries Pistol Grip Grease Gun…Pricing/Value
Before we get into whats included. Lets go over the cost of this item.
ProTip: Keep an eye out for Harbor Freight coupons. They typically offer coupons that can save you 20% or 25% off any one item!
At the time of writing this article (July 2019), this grease gun is currently available at Harbor Freight for $29.99 MSRP. On this purchase I was able to use a 25% off Coupon which brought the total to around $22.50 before tax.
So how does that compare to other grease guns on the market?
High-end Grease Guns
High end grease guns with specialty fittings can range from 3-4 times the cost of this Holt Industries model by Harbor Freight. A popular example would be the line of grease guns by LockNLube that feature their quick-release coupler.
If you are not familiar with the LockNLube coupler you should check out the image above or Click Here to See Their Products on Amazon.
Basically, they have designed a quick-release coupler that is designed to take the frustration out of greasing. By simply squeezing the release lever you can easily lock on & off a zerk fitting.
Low Cost Budget Grease Guns
In addition to the fancy options with quick release fittings. There is also quite a large selection of “cheap” or budget models available.
Click here to check pricing on Amazon
Harbor Freight Grease Gun. Whats in the box?
So what do you get with the purchase of a $22.50 grease gun from Harbor Freight? Well, just about everything you will need…except the grease.
The Holt Industries Professional Pistol Grip Grease Gun Includes:
• Metal tube assembly designed for 14oz cartridges
• Cast Aluminum Head with Manual Air Bleeder
• 18″ Flex hose
• 4″ straight steel pipe
• 4-jaw coupler that can be used with either the flex hose or straight pipe
What you will not receive is a 14oz grease tube, so you will need to provide your own. For my test I will be using Amsoil’s Synthetic Polymeric Grease.
This is a NLGI# 2 rated grease for use on chassis, wheel bearings, axle assemblies, universal joints, ball joints and other greased heavy-duty components.
Initial Setup, Loading the Grease Gun
Assembly is pretty easy.
To get started, you will first have to decide between using the 18″ flex hose or the 4″ straight pipe.
Since many grease zerks tend to be in the most awkward of places. I decided on going with the flexible hose for my purposes.
Using two adjustable wrenches, slowing tighten the hose to the aluminum head until snug. With the grease gun now assembled it is time to load the tube.
Follow the directions on the grease cartridge to properly load the canister into the grease gun tube.
If you have never done this before or had trouble in the past here is a great video tutorial to help explain the correct procedure.
How to Load a Grease Gun, Video Tutorial:
Overall First Impressions
With the cartridge loaded and following the steps in the video above I was able to prime the grease gun without any trouble.
Compared to a cheaper grease gun, the handle rod felt much more positive locking into place while loading the grease tube. In the past, I have had the handle release causing grease to go everything.
I am still testing this product but so far I am impressed with the overall build quality and how easy it was to load. For the price, this one seams like a winner.
More Great Deals at Harbor Freight
• 18ga Pierce Brad Nailer from Harbor Freight, First Project Review
• Harbor Freight Warranty Experiance
***Grease Storage Tips***
What is the best way to store grease tubes?
Grease Tubes should be stored in the up-right position with the pull tab facing down. The pull tab will act as a seal to prevent grease from bleeding out of the canister and making a mess.
Avoid storing the grease tubes in the horizontal position or with the cap down. As the oil separates from the grease (normal thing), the thin oil can leak out of the tube.
Again, this separation of oil is normal and does not necessarily indicate a poor quality grease. The only thing you can do is plan for it to avoid a big mess.
At what temperatures should grease tubes be stored?
General recommended temperature for storage is between 32-86 degrees F. Avoid locations that will experience wide swings in temperature (hot to cold or vise versa).
*due to differences in composition from one grease to another, always consult with the manufacture regarding their specific recommendations.
This grease gun works! I returned 2 others that were garbage from other manufacturers. The problem with your product is the grease nozzle will not pull off the grease fitting. I had to use pliers to remove the nozzle. Many folks have complained about this. Please fix this issue by getting a new nozzle for future production. Once you fix this issue you will have outstanding reviews on your product. If replacing the tip costs you more money, charge more for the unit! Again I was glad I got mine to grease what I needed to pinpoint some problems but shouldn’t have to use tools to disconnect tool from my car. If you fix that issue you will have an awesome product. Hope you take my advice, you have a great product with a little kink!
There are a few things you can do that might help. Try not to pull the nozzle directly off the fitting, but rather move the nozzle at an angle and then rotate it off. Also, some of the nozzles can be adjusted by turning the end to tighten/loosen their hold. The last option is to replace the fitting with a Quick-Release system like the LockNLube, these fittings use a small handle that will instantly release the nozzle from the fitting.
Also, please remember this article is only for information purposes as we are not affiliated with the manufacturing of this product. However, I still use this grease gun and so far have had very little issues. Thanks for stopping by!
I bought a grease gun used it once. Two days later didn’t work . Remove the weak cheap grease put in some good stuff. Never pressured up. I just handed harbor freight 27 bucks. This makes the third time that I’ve purchased tools there . I will never buy anything from Harbor freight again.you got me for $130.00. pretty sad man
Duane, that is unfortunate to hear. I am still using this grease gun and have yet to have any trouble with it. Sometimes it can be tricky getting a new grease tube started and pressurized, I would suggest checking out the video above to make sure it is done properly. If things are still not working out you can try returning it to the store.