Thanks for your video on this. No welding was required on mine. I just plugged the rod hole in the bottom with a nut and bolt. It works great and no leaks!
Stuart, I'm following the much the same path you've already trod. My M-head bridgeport was greased and greaed by the previous owner(s). We disassembled the base, much kerosene and cleaning, and reassembly. I have the lubricator from H&W, same story, broken. I'll be modifying a grease gun like you've showing, great idea, thanks!
I modified one of those small grease guns by removing the disc on the plunger and made a disc to accept an oring to seal on the inside of the tube and left everything else intact, so it can be used in any position.
Great video! - Quick Tip: I just bought the same grease gun from HF and found that a 13-dram or 16-dram Rx pill bottle (the kind with push down and turn cap) fits perfectly in the tube. So I did not have to cut or weld it. Just drop in the pill bottle fill it with oil and close the grease gun. The little tabs that secure the lid on the pill bottle hold it in place and it seals on the rubber gasket in the grease gun when securely tightened. The pill bottle is stamped PP5 on the bottom so it's polypropylene (compatible with oils). Hope this helps.
Thanks Stuart. We use a full size grease gun on our natural gas compressors, particularly the force feed lubricator. It's a metered oiling device. We added a fitting to the end of the grease gun and we inject into a lube oil divider block.
So the machine I just picked up was greased by the previous owner and as much as I want to start using the machine, I'll feel better if I get all the old grease out. I was curious about being able to purge out the old grease without taking the bed off. Thanks for talking about it and making the video. They help out a lot!
I didn't take mine apart. I just pumped in oil to purge it until it ran out oil-colored. That took a lot of oil. I know there's still some traces of grease in there, but it's mostly oil. I did take the one at work apart because that had been sitting in a hot garage for years and the grease had turned to wax. You could barely move the table.
Absolutely right! People who use grease are a pain. From the start it causes us to need more muscle on the handles, but when the stuff dries out, you really get a workout. Grease is essentially oil in a soap base, by the way, (not wax) and soap is saponified oil or fat... Grease in centralized lubrication systems hardens too, and it's often easier to re-pipe than to clear them. With metal delivery pipes, I've cleared them with an SKF oil injection system capable of producing 3,500 bar, since the 700 bar hydraulic pump wouldn't shift the stuff. I notice today on Ebay there are Bijur oil pumps (as installed by Bridgeport) available for, say $60, so why not go for a centralized system? Each point of application needs to be fed through an appropriately dimensioned aperture, though, or all the oil is delivered to the point the oil can get to most easily, via the path of least resistance... It's a challenge to get right. Good piece on oil v grease.
Hi Robert. I've thought about doing a Bijur system, but I'm not sure I have the time available to me to take apart my machine and install it. Who knows though? Two of the machines here at work have them and one doesn't. The ones that have them don't have any external fittings like mine does, so I'm guessing those were installed at the factory. That also leads me to believe that I might not need to take apart my table to do it. I might be able to just run the lines to the current fitting locations and just replace those zerks. Now you've got MY mind grapes fermenting into some delicious brain wine. I'll have to look into it. Thanks for watching!
Great video. It might be possible to get a Freeze Plug at the auto parts store that will fit on the end. Silver soldering or brazing might be easier than welding.
I did the same thing in a full size harbor freight grease gun. I added a draw tube so i dont have to turn it upside down. The full size grease guns come with the correct size hole to tap for a 1/8 pipe thread.
@@nicholasdavidson5683 I tapped it with a 1/8 pipe tap and used a 1/8 pipe nipple from the plumbing section at the hardware store. Lamp nipples are also the same thread. If you need help feel free to pm me
Thanks! I got Vactra oil but had been just manually applying it all over the ways and gib areas with the ways moved to their extremes, feeling like I'm missing a gap inside. My mill drill has flatter deals and not nipples so much, but still the spring-loaded ball in a hole.
Awesome idea, how about a video break down on how th3 grease gun was modded for, in detail. For those makers out there? Merry Christmas, to and yours and have a happy new year.
@@StuartdeHaro I've bought grease guns to test out making an oiler too. Its so hard to find stuff online. This video and comments section has been a great source of information.
I know there are commercially available oil guns, but I'm not sure how they would be oriented in use. Search for oil gun at McMaster Carr or Grainger and you should find it.
Thanks for your video on this. No welding was required on mine. I just plugged the rod hole in the bottom with a nut and bolt. It works great and no leaks!
Thanks I used a standard grease gun cut it with a pipe cutter.Then I went to the plumbing supply house and got a test plug.Works great I owe you one
Stuart, I'm following the much the same path you've already trod. My M-head bridgeport was greased and greaed by the previous owner(s). We disassembled the base, much kerosene and cleaning, and reassembly. I have the lubricator from H&W, same story, broken. I'll be modifying a grease gun like you've showing, great idea, thanks!
Good luck with cleaning it all out. The push lubricator works well until you need to refill it. Then the tab rips off and you're screwed.
I modified one of those small grease guns by removing the disc on the plunger and made a disc to accept an oring to seal on the inside of the tube and left everything else intact, so it can be used in any position.
Great video! - Quick Tip: I just bought the same grease gun from HF and found that a 13-dram or 16-dram Rx pill bottle (the kind with push down and turn cap) fits perfectly in the tube. So I did not have to cut or weld it. Just drop in the pill bottle fill it with oil and close the grease gun. The little tabs that secure the lid on the pill bottle hold it in place and it seals on the rubber gasket in the grease gun when securely tightened. The pill bottle is stamped PP5 on the bottom so it's polypropylene (compatible with oils). Hope this helps.
That is good to know! Thanks!
Thanks Stuart. We use a full size grease gun on our natural gas compressors, particularly the force feed lubricator. It's a metered oiling device. We added a fitting to the end of the grease gun and we inject into a lube oil divider block.
So the machine I just picked up was greased by the previous owner and as much as I want to start using the machine, I'll feel better if I get all the old grease out. I was curious about being able to purge out the old grease without taking the bed off. Thanks for talking about it and making the video. They help out a lot!
I didn't take mine apart. I just pumped in oil to purge it until it ran out oil-colored. That took a lot of oil. I know there's still some traces of grease in there, but it's mostly oil. I did take the one at work apart because that had been sitting in a hot garage for years and the grease had turned to wax. You could barely move the table.
Absolutely right! People who use grease are a pain. From the start it causes us to need more muscle on the handles, but when the stuff dries out, you really get a workout. Grease is essentially oil in a soap base, by the way, (not wax) and soap is saponified oil or fat... Grease in centralized lubrication systems hardens too, and it's often easier to re-pipe than to clear them. With metal delivery pipes, I've cleared them with an SKF oil injection system capable of producing 3,500 bar, since the 700 bar hydraulic pump wouldn't shift the stuff.
I notice today on Ebay there are Bijur oil pumps (as installed by Bridgeport) available for, say $60, so why not go for a centralized system? Each point of application needs to be fed through an appropriately dimensioned aperture, though, or all the oil is delivered to the point the oil can get to most easily, via the path of least resistance... It's a challenge to get right.
Good piece on oil v grease.
Hi Robert. I've thought about doing a Bijur system, but I'm not sure I have the time available to me to take apart my machine and install it. Who knows though? Two of the machines here at work have them and one doesn't. The ones that have them don't have any external fittings like mine does, so I'm guessing those were installed at the factory. That also leads me to believe that I might not need to take apart my table to do it. I might be able to just run the lines to the current fitting locations and just replace those zerks. Now you've got MY mind grapes fermenting into some delicious brain wine. I'll have to look into it. Thanks for watching!
Great video. It might be possible to get a Freeze Plug at the auto parts store that will fit on the end. Silver soldering or brazing might be easier than welding.
Thanks for all the videos! I enjoy and learn. May you have a happy holiday and a new year full of joy
I did the same thing in a full size harbor freight grease gun. I added a draw tube so i dont have to turn it upside down. The full size grease guns come with the correct size hole to tap for a 1/8 pipe thread.
what kind of tube did you use?
@@nicholasdavidson5683 I tapped it with a 1/8 pipe tap and used a 1/8 pipe nipple from the plumbing section at the hardware store. Lamp nipples are also the same thread. If you need help feel free to pm me
Mind grapes fermenting. Thank you, and Merry Christmas Stuart.
So go get yourself some cheap sunglasses (grease gun) ... excellent video! I just got a 1981 Bridgeport and I will make one of these. I subscribed.
Thanks! I got Vactra oil but had been just manually applying it all over the ways and gib areas with the ways moved to their extremes, feeling like I'm missing a gap inside. My mill drill has flatter deals and not nipples so much, but still the spring-loaded ball in a hole.
Thanks Stu. Just bought a mill.🙂
Awesome! Let me know if you have any questions. Most importantly, have fun!
I brazed the plug in the bottom of mine. Works great, thanks!
Very helpful thanks. I think I'll be doing mine sometime. Cheers
Very true..! Thanks for the grease gun mod.
Younger me might have accidently greased my milling machine 😅 all i know it was a pain to clean up
Great idea. I'll have to do this.
Awesome idea, how about a video break down on how th3 grease gun was modded for, in detail. For those makers out there? Merry Christmas, to and yours and have a happy new year.
Do you have a video showing how to convert a grease gun into a oil gun
Nothing beyond this one. I meant to make one, but never found the time. Maybe I'll move it up the list. Thanks for reminding me about it!
What exact ISO type of machine oil you use? Any particular viscosity? Thanks.
I use Mobil Vactra #2, which appears to be ISO 68.
@@StuartdeHaro Thanks.
What about the knee z screw?
You can add a tube inside to draw oil up to the pump head instead of holding upside down.
Nice. I bought a couple of extra grease guns back when I made this video to try a couple of suggestions. I'll add that to the list.
@@StuartdeHaro I've bought grease guns to test out making an oiler too. Its so hard to find stuff online. This video and comments section has been a great source of information.
Does anyone have a link for a product that dispenses oil like this (but can be used upright or upside down)
I know there are commercially available oil guns, but I'm not sure how they would be oriented in use. Search for oil gun at McMaster Carr or Grainger and you should find it.
Well those grease guns are useless for grease. However it seems like they do well with oil.
Which kind of oil?
Great tip. Thanks.
So . . . how do you fill it?
The tube still screws off.
Thanks!
Thankyou! Great!
If you find a machine that's been greased, fill your oil gun with alcohol, and flush. Don't light a match.
Good idea on the grese gun
JB Weld would do a fine job for the non welders. Just be clean,
I used plumbing solder to do min just make sure to degrease use flux and clean off the flux when completed
Soak everything that moves now and then with WD40
WD-40 is NOT a lubricant.