Professional Tool Reviews for Pros
Makita's cordless grease gun has the flow rate, hose length, and max output PSI to match up with any other option available but with a better build than most. While it does come at higher price than many of the other brands, it's a big time-saver that supplements your other 18V LXT equipment maintenance tools well.
Makita’s 18V LXT lineup is expanding with the addition of their first cordless grease gun. The Makita cordless grease gun is a big upgrade over the more traditional hand pumps. To quote Will Smith from Men In Black II, “Old and busted…new hotness”.
Anyone who has experience operating heavy machinery knows it’s foolish to avoid the grease can. In my past life, I worked as a drill rig operator for a geotechnical engineering firm. Due to the nature of the machines we used, it was crucial to grease all moving parts daily in order to avoid any metal-on-metal contact. With that said, applying grease to 25 or 30 grease zerks is agony on your hands.
Automatic grease guns are not anything new to the market and we’re seeing more companies join the ranks. The first ones operated on a pneumatic system but newer cordless options let you ditch the air hose and compressor, making them incredibly convenient.
We connected with our trusted rancher Eli Mosley to see how the Makita cordless grease gun affects his equipment maintenance. He is responsible for several large tractors, a dozer, and a front-end loader along with some smaller equipment. Each piece has numerous fittings (pins, bushings, etc.) that require grease daily in order to keep working properly. If you don’t think this is a big deal, realize that some of these machines have literally dozens of fittings!
He’s been stuck in the dark ages using a hand greaser so going cordless shaved valuable time off his maintenance schedule. The high 10,000 PSI pressure and impressive 10-oz max grease output didn’t have any issue keeping up with the number of fittings and the amount of grease they need. When the time clock reads “sunup to sundown,” anything that saves you time means you’re able to get more work done to keep that ranch running like clockwork.
The Makita XPG01 features a two-speed motor to help you dial in the pace of your greasing. Low is perfect for hitting bearings, small grease points, and topping off your daily checklist.
The Auto-Speed mode is awesome when you have a large quantity of grease because the pump can deliver up to 10 fl-oz of grease per minute. The automatic part of this mode varies the flow rate to match the resistance of the part receiving grease.
Should the internal pressure exceed a critical level, grease will automatically flow from the pressure relief valve until it reaches a safe level. This can occur if you work in a particularly hot region or if you leave the tool in direct sunlight for a prolonged period of time.
As with most grease guns, the Makita cordless grease gun accepts standard tubes of grease as well as bulk grease, if you happen to have some on hand. The bleeder valve on the front makes priming incredibly easy. After releasing the plunger, just loosen the valve to release any trapped air and tighten it down when all the air has escaped. You’ll know you’re good to go when a small amount of grease comes out of the valve.
This is Makita’s first cordless grease gun, they hit the nail on the head ergonomically. The straight handle is very similar to that of a top-handle jigsaw and comfortable to hold. To help manage the tool’s 11.3 weight (with 2.0Ah battery), there’s a removable shoulder strap and there’s a lock-on button for those large volume jobs.
A front-mounted LED light eliminates the need for a flashlight or headlamp when working in low-light situations. Unlike many other power tools, the LED light doesn’t just come on when you pull the trigger. Instead, you need to hit the on/off switch if you want the light. It stays lit for about 60 seconds after you release the trigger.
What’s unusual is that you have to go through the process each time you want the light whether or not you used it on the previous trigger pull.
A removable clip attaches on either side of the canister to the hose when it’s not in use. I like that you can hook it on either side. The hose is just over 47 inches long, so accessing hard-to-reach zerks isn’t an issue for the Makita. Whether you’re left or right-handed, you can run the hose opposite your carrying hand and avoid some extra grease stains on your pants.
The Makita XPG01 runs $239 as a bare tool or $299 with a 2.0Ah battery and charger. Both options carry a 3-year limited warranty. Compared to the other cordless grease guns out there, this is on the expensive side.
Makita’s cordless grease gun has the flow rate, hose length, and max output PSI to match up with any other option available but with a better build than most. While it does come at higher price than many of the other brands, it’s a big time-saver that supplements your other 18V LXT equipment maintenance tools well.
Having worked in the automotive and metalworking trades, Josh has even found himself core drilling commercial properties for purposes of surveying. His knowledge and love of tools are exceeded only by a greater love for his wife and family.
A fan of all things that can stretch him mentally, Josh quickly dives into new products, tools, and product testing with ample amounts of both enthusiasm and precision. We look forward to many years of growth alongside Josh as he settles into his role at Pro Tool Reviews.
Milwaukee Expands Woodworking Line With M18 Cordless 1/4-Sheet Orbital Sheet Sander There aren’t many areas where Milwaukee’s cordless lineup isn’t as deep, but cordless sanders are one of them. That’s beginning to change as the Milwaukee M18 Cordless Orbital 1/4-Sheet Sander joins the brand’s expanding selection of cordless woodworking tools. Milwaukee M18 Orbital Sheet Sander […]
Makita 40V max XGT Cordless Reciprocating Saw Shows Off Full-Featured Design As a core tool, it was no surprise to see Makita launch the GRJ01 reciprocating saw early in its 40V max XGT line. Now we’re turning our attention to the latest model, the Makita GRJ02 40V max XGT Reciprocating Saw. We got one in […]
Hilti Nuron TE 30-22 Raises The Bar For SDS-Plus Rotary Hammer Power There’s no question Hilti knows concrete, so when the product team set out to revamp its entire cordless system with Nuron technology, we were naturally curious about what that means for rotary hammers. Looking at the high end of the SDS-Plus range, one […]
Flex 24V Brushless 7 1/4-Inch Cordless Circular Saw Puts Pressure on the Big Boys With its impressive first generation of 24V tools shaking things up at Lowe’s, many people are wondering where Flex fits in with the other options available to DIYers and Pros. We got our hands on one of the critical pieces of […]
There are a few reviews that says the Makita grease gun is hard to load tubes of grease into the barrel. Do you think this is true?
As an Amazon Associate, we may earn income when you click on an Amazon link. Thanks for helping us do what we love.
See our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.
Pro Tool Reviews is a successful online publication that has been providing tool reviews and industry news since 2008. In today’s world of Internet news and online content, we found that more and more professionals researched a large majority of their major power tool purchases online. That piqued our interest.
There’s one key thing to note about Pro Tool Reviews: We’re all about the professional tool user and tradesman!
Copyright ©2008-2022 Pro Tool Reviews, LLC. All rights reserved.
Professional Tool Reviews for Pros