Author: micro-admin-commerce

How To Use A Grease Gun – Tips And Tricks

Proper lubrication plays a critical role in the long-term performance and reliability of industrial machinery. One of the most essential tools used in equipment maintenance is the grease gun. Whether you are a business owner, maintenance manager, or technician, understanding how to properly use, clean, and maintain a grease gun can significantly reduce downtime, minimize wear, and extend machine life.

Although applying grease to heavy machinery may seem simple, improper lubrication can lead to serious mechanical issues. With the right techniques and regular maintenance, a grease gun becomes a powerful tool for improving equipment efficiency.

Why Are Grease Guns So Important?

While some lubrication tasks can be done manually, using an industrial grease gun makes the job easier, cleaner, and more precise. Grease guns are especially useful for lubricating hard-to-reach fittings and confined mechanical components.

Without proper lubrication tools, grease application can become messy and wasteful, increasing maintenance costs. A grease gun allows technicians to:

  • Control the exact amount of lubricant applied

  • Reduce contamination

  • Reach small or tight lubrication points

  • Improve overall equipment reliability

Additionally, modern alternatives like electric grease pumps can further improve accuracy and reduce manual effort in high-volume operations.

Must Read: Tips For Trouble-Free Grease Lubrication

Essential Grease Gun Tips for Better Performance

To maximize efficiency and extend the lifespan of both your grease gun and machinery, follow these expert recommendations:

1. Learn Where the Lubrication Fittings Are

Before applying grease, identify all lubrication points on your machine. Equipment manuals usually indicate grease fittings (zerk fittings) and recommended lubrication intervals.

Knowing where each fitting is located ensures:

  • Complete lubrication coverage

  • Prevention of dry friction

  • Reduced component wear

Once identified, make sure you understand how to safely load and operate your grease gun.

2. Clean the Grease Gun After Every Use

Failing to clean your grease gun regularly can lead to contamination and performance issues. Dirt and debris may enter the system and damage sensitive components.

After each use:

  • Wipe the exterior with a clean cloth

  • Remove excess grease from the nozzle

  • Inspect for visible damage

Regular cleaning prevents clogs and ensures smooth operation.

3. Store the Grease Gun Properly

Proper storage increases the lifespan of your lubrication equipment. Always disengage the plunger and store the grease gun horizontally.

Horizontal storage helps:

  • Prevent oil separation

  • Maintain internal pressure balance

  • Extend lubricant shelf life

Never leave a loaded grease gun in extreme temperatures.

4. Inspect Before Every Use

Before starting lubrication tasks, inspect your grease gun thoroughly. Check:

  • Hose condition

  • Nozzle and coupler

  • Plunger functionality

  • Cartridge positioning

There is nothing more frustrating than preparing for maintenance only to discover your grease gun is not functioning properly.

5. Calibrate Each Grease Gun

If your lubrication management system requires precise grease quantities, calibration is essential.

To calibrate:

  1. Use a digital scale.

  2. Pump grease 10 times onto the scale.

  3. Divide the total weight by 10.

This gives you the average output per stroke. Knowing this measurement ensures accurate and consistent lubrication.

6. Pump Slowly During Lubrication

One of the most common mistakes is pumping too quickly. Rapid pumping can cause back pressure, which may indicate:

  • Blocked grease fittings

  • Over-lubrication

  • Internal bearing issues

A good rule of thumb is to allow 3–5 seconds per pump. If you feel strong resistance, stop immediately and inspect the fitting.

Never force grease into machinery under high pressure.

7. Clean Using Water and an Anti-Grease Solution

Grease guns naturally accumulate oil and grime. Cleaning with only water is not effective. Use a combination of:

  • Warm water

  • Anti-grease cleaning solution

This removes stubborn buildup and maintains hygiene standards in your maintenance area.

Common Grease Gun Mistakes to Avoid

Avoiding common errors can save significant repair costs:

  • Over-greasing components

  • Ignoring manufacturer lubrication schedules

  • Mixing incompatible grease types

  • Failing to replace damaged hoses

  • Using contaminated cartridges

Proper lubrication techniques improve equipment health and reduce unnecessary downtime.

Benefits of Proper Grease Gun Usage

When used correctly, grease guns offer major advantages:

  • Improved machine performance

  • Reduced downtime

  • Lower component wear rates

  • Extended asset lifespan

  • Better operational efficiency

Remember, grease is one of the least expensive components in maintenance — yet it has one of the highest impacts on equipment longevity.

Manual vs. Electric Grease Guns

While manual grease guns are cost-effective and widely used, electric grease pumps are ideal for:

  • High-volume lubrication tasks

  • Consistent grease output

  • Reduced technician fatigue

  • Automated lubrication programs

Choosing the right lubrication equipment depends on your operational needs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How often should machinery be greased?

Follow the manufacturer’s recommended lubrication schedule. Frequency depends on load, environment, and operating hours.

What happens if you over-grease equipment?

Over-lubrication can cause seal damage, overheating, and bearing failure.

How do you unclog a grease gun?

Remove the cartridge, clean the nozzle, check the hose, and ensure no hardened grease is blocking the system.

Can different types of grease be mixed?

No. Mixing incompatible greases can reduce effectiveness and damage machinery.

Conclusion

A grease gun is more than just a maintenance tool — it is a critical component in ensuring smooth and reliable machine operation. By following proper gun maintenance practices, calibrating output, cleaning regularly, and applying lubrication carefully, you can significantly extend the life of your equipment and reduce maintenance costs.

About Micro-Lube

Micro-Lube is a full-service conveyor lubrication company with international experience and a strong commitment to professional, affordable, and personalized service. With over ten years of hands-on expertise in storage, conveyor, and chain lubrication, we have earned the trust of our customers through quality products and dependable solutions.

If you are looking for expert lubrication support, customized solutions, or advanced lubrication equipment, contact Micro-Lube today and let our specialists help you optimize your maintenance operations.

 

What Is Hydraulic Fluid Filtration?: An Overview

Over the past few years, everything around us has drastically changed from technology to automobiles; everything has evolved. With this change, hydraulic technology has also advanced over the years, hence now keeping your hydraulic fluid free from contaminants and impurities is more vital than ever before. With ever-increasing pressure loads and tighter tolerances, contaminated hydraulic fluid can have a substantially detrimental effect on your equipment. Hence, make sure to buy all your lubricants and filtration systems from a certified industrial lubricant supplier. Also Read: How Does Micro-Lube Deliver The Best Industrial Lubricants? To keep all your equipment in pristine condition, you need to have the right filtration system for your hydraulic equipment. Filtration systems have filters that remove contaminants that could otherwise compromise the performance of your equipment or cause serious damage to your system. Also, keep in mind that not all hydraulic fluid filtration systems are the same, but by familiarizing yourself with different types of filtration systems, you can choose the perfect one for your system. In this blog post, we will give you a detailed overview of what exactly a hydraulic fluid filtration system is.

Contamination And Hydraulic Fluid

As we all know, hydraulic fluid is the blood of hydraulic systems. Without it, hydraulic equipment is useless. Hydraulic fluid plays a vital role in the operation of these machines and performs four main functions:
  • It is used to regulate the temperature by cooling the mechanical components.
  • The hydraulic fluid lubricates the metal surfaces of the hydraulic equipment.
  • It creates a pressure barrier by forming seals between the metal surfaces.
  • The hydraulic fluid provides the primary medium for power transfer.

Hydraulic Fluid As A Lubricant

Of all the aforementioned roles of hydraulic fluid lubrication is often overlooked, but it is also one of the most integral functions of hydraulic fluid. As the hydraulic equipment parts move in proximity to each other within the system, the fluid provides a thin cushion between the parts and prevents components from rubbing against each other. Friction between the components of hydraulic equipment will ultimately result in early equipment failure and decreased performance. This is absolutely true for newer equipment, as they contain clearances of only 1-2 microns. These micron components are typically susceptible therefore, it is very important to maintain that slim clearance between the parts of the equipment to keep them in good condition. Hence, you need to properly maintain the hydraulic fluid of your equipment to keep it in pristine condition.

Hydraulic Fluid Contaminants

There are different types of contaminants, each of which has the ability to negatively affect your hydraulic equipment. However, when it comes down to hydraulic filtration systems, its primary target is to eradicate these particulates. When you use a hydraulic system, you will encounter many kinds of particulate contaminants in your hydraulic fluid. All these particles are typically too small to see due to their size being less than 40 microns. However, this size is more than enough to cause problems to your hydraulic equipment. Grit, dirt, sand and other particles often silently make their way into your hydraulic equipment and cause damage to your system. No matter how tightly your equipment’s components are sealed, there is almost always some way through which these particulates will make their way into your equipment. Sometimes, these contaminated particles make their way into your equipment through the hydraulic fluid. Apart from these particles, there are some other particles that are created by the natural function of your hydraulic equipment. Over time, the seals begin to degrade and the parts of your hydraulic equipment come in direct contact with each other, resulting in the generation of small particles that slowly enter your hydraulic fluid. Slowly and gradually, this effect gains magnitude that leads to the creation of more wear and particulates. All of this ultimately leads to inefficiency and early equipment failure. In order to protect your hydraulic system fluid from contamination, you need to place effective filtration systems in your equipment. The filtration system will not let any harmful particulate into your hydraulic equipment and will increase its efficiency.

About Micro-Lube

Micro-Lube is a full-service conveyor lubrication company with international experience and a genuine commitment to professional, affordable, and personalized service to its diverse customers. Our staff has over ten years of “hands-on” experience in storage, conveyor, and chain lubrication, which has earned our customers’ confidence in our products and services. Contact us here for more information.

Common Industrial Lubrication Problems And How To Fix Them

Industrial lubrication problems are not something anyone can identify easily. Even ones involved in the process can not tell what is going wrong until the problem becomes pervasive. Sometimes, workers do not even know that the recurring machine downtimes are just because they are making some mistakes in the lubrication. Either the lubricant type they are using is incorrect, or the intervals between two lubrication times are long. Also Read: Lubricant Storage And Handling: It Matters More Than You Think Thus, the problems with industrial lubricants are covert and not easy to identify. The following blog enlists major industrial lubrication problems and how you can fix them. Alternatively, you can contact a reputed industrial lubricants supplier for high-end advice.

Lack Of Properly Defined Procedures

Just like a chain is as strong as its weakest link, great lubrication programs are only as effective as the people involved in them. The biggest problem in this scenario is the retirement of the technicians. As baby boomers are subsequently reaching their retirement age, they are taking a whole lot of experience with them. The lack of knowledge and dependency on technology by millennials is creating a procedural hole in activities. Hence, the main problem with modern lubrication plants and plans is a lack of procedural knowledge. The incharge technicians work at a place for years and do not transfer that knowledge to their subordinates. So, when the subordinates start working on their own, they only rely on inadequately written procedures. Unfortunately, unwritten procedures that are the keys to successful lubrication leave a facility with the retirees. When they are not there, it only causes problems, and people have to take time to learn them by trial and error.

The Remedy

Thorough proper documentation of even the smallest practices in the lubrication process and clear instructions on lubricant storage and handling can help avoid procedural problems when the responsible technicians retire or switch jobs.

Over-Greasing

Many plant workers and lubrication experts fail to understand that the grease gun is an instrument that requires precision. The overuse of grease can cause many problems and damage the machine instead of soothing it. The simple practice is to attach the grease gun to the bearing and work the lever up until the grease starts oozing out of it. While this may be an effective way to grease the hinges, this practice should not be generalized to all appliances. Over-greasing can become a serious problem and result in early bearing failure, contamination ingression, and high operating temperatures.

The Remedy

To avoid over-greasing your appliances, calculating the amount of grease every bearing requires and determining the output of the grease gun is a great way to start the optimal greasing procedure. However, there are other concerns that need to be addressed as well. For instance, every grease gun has varied outputs. To deal with this, standardize a single type of grease gun so that the output when lubricating the gears is constant. Similarly, make sure that a single type of grease is used in one grease gun, as mixing two different lubricants can cause problems. Moreover, make sure you get your lubricants and lubrication tools from a trusted lubricant supplier. In this way, you will not have to worry about the contaminants and problems caused by low-quality or substandard greasing lubricants.

Lack of A Labeling System

Lubricants come in very similar packaging. When greasing machines, there are chances that you might mix the lubricants and use the wrong ones if they are not labeled properly. Not labeling the lubricants is yet another very common problem with most lubrication processes.

The Remedy

Develop a proper lubrication system. You can have pre-made labels made from the manufacturers and lubricant sellers and attach them to the grease cans. Developing a labeling system is time-consuming, but once done, it saves you from many lubrication potholes.

About Micro-Lube

Micro-Lube is a full-service conveyor lubrication company with international experience and a genuine commitment to professional, affordable, and personalized service to its diverse customers. Our lubricants are available in various packaging to cater to all kinds of clients’ size needs. Similarly, our storage tools are the best to use for storing lubricants and keeping them in usable condition for a long time. Our staff has over ten years of hands-on experience in conveyor and chain lubrication which has earned our customers’ confidence in our products and services. Contact us here for the solution to industrial lubrication problems. Related blog: Know about the Basics of Automatic Lubrication System

How To Select The Best Hydraulic Filtration System

  Thanks to technological innovation and the internet, everyone now has easy access to all sorts of information. On the internet, you can get an immeasurable amount of information about the best oil handling practices and the finest ways of filtering and lubricating your hydraulic filtration systems. But with that being said, there are many misleading articles on the internet that can put you on the wrong track. Where you can find many articles about the best oil handling systems, there is little to no information about how to choose the right filtration system for your equipment. To select the best oil filtration system you need all sorts of information that will help you verify that the hydraulic filtration system fulfills the needs of your equipment. One of the best ways to choose the finest filtration system for your equipment is by hiring a certified industrial lubricant supplier. These certified professionals will help you choose the filtration system that perfectly fits your needs. In this blog post, we will outline the top questions that will help you choose the best filtration system for your equipment.

What Is The Application?

There are innumerable applications in the power generation, mining and industrial sectors, hence to choose the right hydraulic filtration system it is important to know the industry it will be used in. To get the best results, the first step should be to decide on the application of your filtration system, because there are different filtration systems used for different industries. As different industries have different applications and there are also many environmental concerns, in order to choose the right filtration system, you need to first know the application of your hydraulic filtration system. When you know the application of your filtration system it makes it easier for you to decide its size. For instance, when you know that you are filtering at a remote site, you will have in mind that it will be difficult to transport a heavy system that has to be carried from one place to another, so with this information, you will bring a filtration system that is smaller in size and easier to move from one end to another. Hence by knowing the application of your hydraulic filtration system you will be able to choose the best filtration system for your equipment.

What Is Oil Type?

The next important question you need to ask yourself before choosing a filtration system is: what is the oil type or viscosity? The oil type is a big factor in applying and choosing the proper filtration system because there are light, medium and heavy grades of oil and there is no one system solution that can be used for all ISO grades. For different grades of oil you will need different hydraulic filtration systems, also to avoid cross-contamination you should keep like grade oils and fluids together and use different carts for different oil grades. So before choosing your filtration system you need to first determine the oil type and viscosity and your equipment. Also, make sure to buy all your hydraulic filtration systems from certified industrial lubricant suppliers.

What Is The Temperature Of Your Oil?

Temperature is one of the most unpredictable and main causes of a wide range of uncertainties in properly applying a filtration system. There are many situations and conditions where a filtration system may need to be operated on in colder conditions or where the temperature affects the viscosity of the oil. So in order to choose the best hydraulic filtration systems for your equipment you need to first understand the environment and temperature of your oil. Also along with understanding the temperature and environment of your oil you need to make sure that you buy your oil filtration system from a certified industrial lubricant supplier.

About Micro-Lube

Do you want high-quality lubricant-related products? Get all types of oil storage containers at Micro-Lube. Micro-Lube provides state-of-the-art industrial filtration and storage products. We have many different types of filtration and oil storage systems in stock. You can also find filters for all kinds of big machinery used in plants and mining systems. We deliver products all across Canada. If you do not find what you are looking for on our website, please contact us for more information.

Benefits Of Using Chain Lubricants | Micro-Lube

  Generally, machines will not operate with a dry or rusty chain, almost every industry requires high-quality chain lubricants for their machinery. Although, different chain lubricants are used in different industries depending on the type of machinery and their usage. Various factors are involved in selecting a lubricant that can suit the demands of your machinery. For instance, a lubricant that serves well for textile machinery might not work well on bike chains. Regardless of the type of lubricant, each chain oil serves the same purpose and provides similar benefits to every machine. So chain lubricants are equally important for the efficient working of machines in every industry. To maintain the efficiency of the machines, the right choice of chain lubricant should be made. Using the wrong lubricant is as dangerous as not using a chain lubricant. Because a chain lubricant that does not suit the requirements of the machine can damage the chain material as well as the machinery. However, engine oil and industrial machine lubricant providers, supply chain lubricants that suit your machine. You can also take the advice of expert industrial lubricant suppliers to find the best solution that can serve your machine well and increase its performance. To understand the importance of chain lubricants the benefits of using them are discussed further in this blog. Hence, every machinery can get the same advantages regardless of the type of lubricant they use.

Smooth Working

A chain is used to operate different parts of a machine, so the working of the chain can affect the working of parts connected to it. The use of chain lubricant helps it rotate smoothly so that the parts connected to the chain can also have smooth movement. Along with that, the chain lubricants eliminate rusting and chances of breakage. A chains’ lubricant not only keeps the material of the chain in good condition but also protects it from damage. The lubricants behave as a protective shield on the chain that keeps it greasy and protects it from damage. Therefore, by using the proper lubricant the chain can be used for a long time as the lubricant increases the efficiency and life of the chain.

Low Energy Consumption

Commonly, the chain is responsible for the movement of the wheels, motor etc, so smooth and trouble-free movement of the chain is mandatory to operate the parts connected to it. On the other hand, if the chain is not working properly the engine will exert more effort to operate at the required speed, consequently, the engine will consume more energy to operate the machine. So using a chain lubricant can minimize the energy consumption as it helps the chain operate with good speed.

Saves On Repair Costs

Chain lubricants keep the structure and material of the chain in good condition, a dry and rusty chain can break due to high-speed rotation. The lubricants protect the chain due to which repairing costs are saved and work for a long time without needing to be repaired.

Less Maintenance

Generally, the chain is considered accurate, if it is working smoothly with excellent rotation speed. Less maintenance is required on machines that are operating accurately. Moreover, it is quite difficult to remove the chain from the machine for frequent maintenance. Hence, using chain lubricants can help you keep the chain intact in the machine for a long period of time. Also, you can save the effort and cost required for the maintenance of the chain.

Reduce Noise

A dry, damaged or un-greasy chain makes a lot of noise which affects its surroundings. Dry chains generate a very loud sound during rotation. Also, increased noise represents that it’s time for lubrication. Thus, lubricating the chain makes it greasy and easy to operate, eventually, minimizing its rotation sound. Also Read: Possible Causes Of A Noisy Bearing

About Micro-Lube

Micro-Lube is a lubrication service provider. We at micro-lube provide exceptional lubrication products and services for your industrial and personal machinery. We aim to give professional, affordable, and personalized service to our valuable customers. Our experienced team can handle all lubrication tasks related to conveyor, and chain lubrication. In addition to lubrication, we also provide filtration services for your lubricants. You can check our wide range of products to find lubricants, filters, oil dispensers, and storage products. If you need any of our products, feel free to contact us, our team will give you the detailed information.

Tips For Trouble-Free Industrial Grease Lubrication

Lubrication is a fairly easy process and has no life or death dangers attached to it. But industrial grease lubrication, on the other hand, can lead to potential disasters, if not applied and carried out as efficiently as it should. The result of failures caused by this method can cost unexpected downtime, higher maintenance costs, or even personnel safety hazards. Grease lubricants involve much more than just inserting grease into a machine’s parts and then hoping for the best. It should be a well-planned and carefully performed procedure to ensure the equipment’s safe operation and achieve maximum service life. Before going into grease lubrication, make sure to get the required knowledge or hire professional service providers like Micro-Lube which has been in the industrial lubricants industry for several years now, and is ready to serve you with any assistance you want regarding industrial lubricants Also Read: What Causes Lubrication Failure? If you are looking for tips on trouble-free grease lubrication to minimize operation costs and increase machine efficiency, follow these tips. This blog post will guide you through some important tips to ensure the best operation.

Choose The Right Type Of Grease

When you think grease is just grease, there begins the death of your equipment. Many people get into trouble due to their ignorance about their grease selection. If you are aiming for the long trouble-free life of your equipment, your grease selection should include proper base oil viscosity, base oil type, thickener type, NLGI grade, and an additive package.

Decide Where And How To Apply

After selecting the right grease lubricant, determine the place where you have to apply the grease in the right way and the right amount. Some machines have a prominent place for applying grease, making the process a lot easier. But the most crucial tip is to look for any potential places and figure out the greasing points where grease must be applied. There can be hidden places where the grease may not be able to get to using regular methods, but there are tools available to ensure that every part gets its share.

Select The Right Grease Frequency

It is equally important to apply the right amount of grease in the right places. Make sure that no place is left empty and that the grease is spread evenly around the parts. Many people pick the wrong greasing frequency. This results in bad performance and results in the inefficiency of the machine. The frequency depends on a lot of factors, such as the degradation time of the grease, the workload of the machine, time, speed, and what kind of contaminants it is exposed to. A general rule of thumb is to grease the machines once every quarter or every month. However, this method rarely fits all equipment.

Monitor The Lubricants Performance

Once you have selected the right grease for lubrication and determined the greasing points, it’s time to monitor the effectiveness of the lubrication. It is necessary to evaluate the performance of the lubricant and adopt any changes over time as needed. One good way to measure the effectiveness of a lubricant is to test the sound of the equipment. A smooth and crisp sound without fluctuations indicates that the parts are working properly.

Choose The Appropriate Test Period

Maximum equipment life can be achieved by consistently measuring the lubricant’s effectiveness. It is important to monitor in-service grease consistency, as grease that softens too much or early on can run out of the machine or fail to stay in place. A grease that hardens with time can provide inadequate lubrication and increase the load and electrical consumption which consequently is bad for the machine’s performance. Make sure that you perform regular inspections of the equipment to look after the condition of grease.

To Sum Up

These were a few essential tips for trouble-free industrial grease lubrication. Greasing can be a tricky task. It is suggested that you should use professional lubrication products by an experienced company that provides the best solution for your needs.

About Micro-Lube

Micro Lube is a full-service lubrication company with international experience and a genuine commitment to professional, affordable, and personalized service to its diverse customers. At Micro-Lube, you can find a wide range of lubricants for almost any kind of machine. We help provide you with the best lubricant for your machines and several other products related to filtration, dispensing, chain, conveyor, and more. Our staff has over ten years of “hands-on” experience in providing the best solutions for your equipment, which has earned our customers’ confidence in our products and services. Contact us here for more information. Also read related blog: Know about the Basics of Automatic Lubrication System

Some Common Terms Related To Industrial Lubricants

Being in the industrial industry requires you to be familiar with everything that can make your company grow and increase your business PR. However, many people don’t realize the importance of having the right education and knowledge about certain terms to help them understand their industry better and prepare them to combat any challenges. Micro-lube has been in the industrial lubricants industry for several years now, and we are ready to serve you with any assistance you want regarding industrial lubricants. You can read our blog section to learn about industrial lubricants, their usage, their benefits, and more. This blog post mentions some common and useful terms used for industrial lubricants. Knowing these terms will make the process of industrial lubricants easier for you from buying, using, and keeping them for years.

Abrasion

Abrasion refers to the general wearing of the machine’s surface, often caused due to lack of proper lubrication and exposure to grime, dust, and dirt.

Absolute Viscosity

Absolute viscosity is a term that is used interchangeably with viscosity. It is used to distinguish it from kinematic viscosity or commercial viscosity. Absolute viscosity is a fluid’s internal resistance to flow. It is divided by fluid density equals kinematic viscosity, and the unit of absolute viscosity is poise. Considering the absolute viscosity while buying an industrial lubricant is important.

Additive

An additive is any material incorporated into a lubricant or similar product to import new properties or enhance the existing properties. It is usually used in relatively low concentrations.

Anti-foam Agent

An anti-foam agent is used as an additive to suppress the foaming properties of petroleum products. It converts the small bubbles into large ones that burst more rapidly and decrease the foaming.

Antioxidant

An antioxidant is also a chemical used in small quantities to increase oxidative resistance. It helps prolong the base oil’s induction period in oxidizing conditions.

Base Number

The base number is designed as the amount of acid, and all the quantity of hydrochloric or perchloric acid expressed in milligrams of KOH. It neutralizes all the basic constituents of a one-gram petroleum product sample. This term also indicates the capacity of oil to fight the corrosive effects of acidic products.

Boundary Lubrication

Boundary lubrication is lubricating between two rubbing surfaces without developing a lubricating film. It requires antiwear and extreme pressure additives to prevent metal-to-metal contact.

Batch

A batch is any quantity of material being considered or handled at a certain time.

Biodegradable

It means being capable of being broken down chemically depending on certain microorganisms such as bacteria, yeast, and fungi. Most petroleum products are typically biodegradable in the environment within two months to 2 years.

Catalyst

A catalyst is a substance that increases the chemical reaction rate without itself being used in the chemical process.

Cavitation

Cavitation refers to the formation of an air or vapor pocket. It is caused due to the lowering of pressure in a liquid and occurs in a hydraulic system due to low fluid levels.

Compressibility

Compressibility enhances some property or part of the new property of the base fluid.

Detergent

Detergent refers to an additive or a compound that has the property of neutralizing the acidic contaminants in the oil.

Dry Lubrication

Dry lubrication is the situation of moving services with no liquid lubricant between them.

Emulsifier

An emulsifier is an additive that promotes the formation of a stable emulsion. The emulsion is an intimate mixture of materials that don’t form a homogeneous mixture upon mixing.

Filtration Ratio

Filtration ratio, also known as the beta ratio, is the ratio of particles greater than a given size in the influent fluid to the number of particles greater than the same size of the effluent fluid.

About Us

Micro Lube is a full-service conveyor lubrication systems company with international experience and a genuine commitment to professional, affordable, and personalized service to its diverse customers. Our staff has over ten years of “hands-on” experience in conveyor and chain lubrication which has earned our customers’ confidence in our products and services. The above mentioned are some of the most common terms used in the industrial lubricant industry. There are tons of other important terms as well which you should know about. Contact us for more information for conveyor lubrication and industrial lubricants suppliers in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Lubricant Storage And Handling: It Matters More Than You Think

Lubricant Storage And Handling: It Matters More Than You Think Both the physics of machines and practical experience have made it clear that machines cannot fight friction without lubrication. Quality lubrication eliminates contaminants and other elements that increase the friction between the machine parts and cause wear and tear. What will happen to your machine if the lubricant you are using is not pure and clean? It will fail to do its job of reducing contaminants and even add to the cause. Read Also: What Are The Benefits Of Regular Oil Analysis? Poor in-plant storage and handling is often the root cause of chemical and moisture contamination. Hence, the storage and handling of lubricants is a more important task than most of us think it to be. The following blog elucidates the top reasons why proper lubricant storage and handling matters.

The 3Cs In Lubrication Storage And Handling

The easiest way to confirm you are doing well in terms of lubricant storage and collection is to make sure you and your team are pondering on these three elements.
  • Contamination avoid any type of contamination in the products.
  • Confusion take measures to prevent any confusion about any product, label them correctly, and ensure appropriate usage.
  • Containment ensure containment to prevent environmental pollution.
To improve the performance and service of lubricants their storage and handling procedures should be checked. Storage and handling are usually treated as afterthoughts. But, these afterthoughts have a significant impact on the performance of the lubricant program.

Lubricant Packaging

Lubricants are packaged in various forms such as drums, pails, totes, and bulk tanks to cater to different consumption rates and storage facilities. To select the packaging that best suit your needs consider the following points:
  • What is your average consumption rate? You can determine it based on historical data. This will help you determine the usage in a given period.
  • Maintain a safety stock at optimum level. This stock can account for emergency refills.
  • Try to ensure a first-in-first-out inventory system to ensure that the usage and storage flow can be maintained within the space limitations.
  • Determine the storage condition of your storage facility. Storage environment and storage conditions greatly influence the shelf life and purity of a lubricant.

Recommended Storage Life

Most lubricants have a manufacturer’s or lubricant distributor advised shelf life based on the additives they contain. For instance, the effectiveness of lubricants containing rust inhibitors after six months in storage. Conversely, some turbine lubricants with light additives can last on the shelf for up to three years. However, the shelf life of your lubricants highly depends on the storage conditions. Hence, most manufacturers provide proper storage guidelines for every lubricant to maximize the shelf life. Some conditions are proven to be effective for most lubricants, a few of them are listed below. Temperature fluctuations cause air siphoning. Along with air, moisture and other elements also enter the container and result in contamination. Extreme temperatures can cause chemical degradation. Depending on the formulation a rust lubricant may become less stable in an oil base leading to precipitation. This precipitation increases by manifolds in extreme cold and hot temperatures. A humid environment is not appreciable in storage facilities. Petrol-based lubricants are usually hygroscopic. When they are exposed to open air they readily absorb airborne moisture. The moisture immediately starts breaking down the additive package. This accelerates the oxidation of the lubricant’s base, once it is put into service.

About Micro-Lube

Micro-Lube is a full-service conveyor lubrication company with international experience and a genuine commitment to professional, affordable, and personalized service to its diverse customers. Our lubricants are available in various packaging to cater to all kinds of clients’ size needs. Similarly, our storage tools are the best to use for the sophisticated job of lubricant storage and keep them in usable condition for a long time. Our staff has over ten years of “hands-on” experience in conveyor and chain lubrication which has earned our customers’ confidence in our products and services. Contact us here for more information.

Why Do You Need An Oil Filtration System?

  An oil filtration system is the best way to clean new and used oil from all your industrial equipment. Filtering the oil and keeping it clean of moisture and contaminated particles will increase the life of the oil and will protect all your equipment from wear and tear. Most premature machine failures happen due to contamination, so if you want to protect your equipment, keep your new oil clean as it comes into your facility and keep it clean throughout its working life. Also, by using high-quality oil filters, you can protect your equipment oil from getting contaminated. But just make sure that you buy all your industrial oil filters from a certified industrial lubricant supplier. Also Read: Frequently Asked Questions About Oil Filtration Systems You can extend the life of your equipment by establishing an IS code cleanliness goal and by maintaining the quality of your oil filtration system. Small and large particles are the enemy of industrial equipment, so you can keep your equipment in good condition by removing all such particles. If you want to improve lubrication reliability, you must use a portable oil filtration system that screens the oil and removes large and small particles from your equipment’s oil. This blog post will tell you why you need an effective hydraulic filtration system in your facility.

The Problem: Contamination

Contamination control is the most important and integral part of any proactive maintenance strategy. Without it, you can’t keep your equipment in good working condition. The first primary step in keeping all your lubricants and oil clean and dry is to measure their potential impact on your machinery and oils. With this newfound information, it will become easier for you to take the appropriate actions to keep all your oil and lubricants in good condition. Another shocking piece of information that you must have is that most of the oil you purchase today has not been filtered before being sold. Yes, the oils may be newly refined and look translucent, but they have many particles that can contaminate your system. If you put this new oil into your machine without filtering it, there are two primary types of contamination that your equipment will get exposed to: dirt and water. And once dirt and water contamination enter the equipment, it will continue to generate new particles and will cause damage to your equipment. These particles will act as a catalyst for additive depletion and oxidation, which will further degrade the condition of your equipment’s oil. Water contamination will cause oxidation within the lubrication of your equipment and corrosion inside your equipment. These factors will threaten your equipment’s reliability and lubricant quality, but you can effectively control them with simple yet effective preventative maintenance techniques such as oil filtration systems. So to control the aforementioned problems, you need a high-quality oil filtration system in your industrial facility. Also know about the Oil filtration and its benefits.

How To Achieve Oil Cleanliness

Here are some steps that can help you achieve oil cleanliness:

Set Oil Cleanliness Targets

This is the first step that you need to take in order to achieve oil cleanliness. The ISO cleanliness code refers to the logarithmic scale used to determine the cleanliness of lubricants and oils. The ISO code for oil cleanliness is ISO 4406: 1999. In this system, the number of particles in 1mL of fluid is counted and arranged according to size. So to keep your equipment oil clean, you will have to set targets that you can achieve. So when you set lower ISO codes and moisture targets, it will result in greater reliability and the equipment lifes extension.

Take Action To Reach Set Targets

The second step is to take all the necessary actions to achieve oil cleanliness targets. So in order to fulfil all your oil cleanliness targets, you will have to take action. Here are some actions that you should take:
  • Avoid contaminant ingression.
  • Make sure the lubricants are kept clean and dry.
  • Avoid cross-contamination.
  • Use high-quality filter carts to dispense and clean the oil.

Monitor Oil Cleanliness

The last step of an effective contamination control program involves regularly monitoring the equipment’s oil condition and taking appropriate action if the goals are not met.

About Micro Lube

Micro Lube is a full-service conveyor lubrication system company with international experience and a genuine commitment to professional, affordable, and personalized service to our diverse customers. Our staff has over ten years of “hands-on” experience in storage, conveyor, and chain lubrication which has earned our customers’ confidence in our products and services. Contact us here for the best industrial lubricant supplier in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

What Should You Know About Oil Analysis?

What Should You Know About Oil Analysis? Heavy industries and factories are dependent on oil and petroleum for the efficient daily operations. Dealing with malfunctioning machines when you already have so much to manage can be pretty daunting, right? Why not save yourself from this by opting for a reliable oil analysis program? Regular oil analysis and testing can prevent contamination in the machines and thus, save you from excessive, costly damages and downtimes. Checking the oil health of your machines regularly is necessary for the health of your machines. A well-lubricated machine can perform well for years while an improperly lubricated machine can go into premature failure. Oil analysis plays an active role here and keeps the oil in a healthy condition, which makes it suitable for machines. So what is oil analysis, and why is it so important for your industrial machines? We will discuss all you need to know about oil analysis in this blog post, so you know you are taking the right steps for your precious machines.

What Is Oil Analysis?

Oil analysis is a regular routine of analyzing the health of oil, its contamination level, and the machine wear and tear. The purpose of an oil analysis program is to test for any contamination within the oil and remove it to avoid potential damages caused by contaminated oil. Oil analysis is necessary to prevent your machines from downtime. Oil analysis gives you a complete picture of your lubricating process and helps you solve problems at the early stages. The analysis can be done onsite, off-site, or online. Off-site oil analysis is necessary for a more comprehensive test. Onsite testing is necessary for the equipment to be monitored very frequently. This type of oil analysis and testing are used to perform a range of tests, for example, checking metal contaminants and particle accounts. Online testing is suitable for instant alerts and for those that are not really detectable via a vibration or other indicators. It provides an early warning and prompts onsite and outside sample testing to repair the problem straight away if the fault is present.

Why Is Performing Oil Analysis Necessary?

One of the obvious reasons to perform oil analysis is to find out the condition of the oil and mitigate any issues if it has. The purpose is to take out the oil sample, check the contamination and other properties, and ensure whether it is suitable for further use. The oil analysis technique is used to check the following three categories: fluid properties, contamination, and wear debris.

Checking The Fluid Properties Of Oil

One part of oil analysis includes checking the fluid properties, which means identifying the oil’s current physical and chemical state as well as identify its remaining useful life. With this process, you can find out whether the oil is correct to use or not. It also tells you if the additives are active or have depleted over time. Moreover, you can also find out the viscosity shift and what the expected viscosity is. All these fluid properties will tell you whether a certain lubricant or oil can be further used or not.

Checking The Contamination Of The Lubricant

Another useful benefit of performing oil analysis is checking the destructive contaminants and finding their probable sources, which might be internal or external. Performing oil analysis to check the contamination of the oil means checking whether the oil is clean or not and what type of contaminants are present in the oil. It also means tracking the origin of contaminants and finding out their source. This process also tells if there is any sign of internal leakage, which might be leading to contamination. Therefore oil analysis can prevent contamination within the oil and help it to last longer.

Checking The Wear Debris

Oil analysis also includes the identification of particles that are produced as a result of mechanical wear and corrosion. This helps answer questions related to machine degradation and the amount of wear debris. It also highlights any internal machine component from where the wear is originating. All of these methods help check the condition of the oil to keep the machine healthy and extend the life of the oil. An oil analysis report consists of different measures such as viscosity, wear data, elemental data, contamination data, and moisture/water levels. There are many benefits of oil analysis.

About Micro Lube

Get high-quality lubricants with Micro Lube. Micro Lube is a full-service conveyor lubrication Company with international experience and a genuine commitment to professional, affordable, and personalized service to our diverse customers. Contact us for more information. I hope now you will get the enough information about oil analysis.

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