Review on ARCAN PROFESSIONAL TOOLS Micro Pistol Grip Grease Gun With Vented Head Cap And Knurled Barrell Handle (ASMGG) by Joe Michels

I got this hoping it would fit into some tight spots where I currently have to use a flexible hose on a standard-sized, large grease gun (see photo comparing size of this micro gun to that of standard grease gun). I was attracted to the "double spout front output” (shown in one of the pics) which allows you to attach the rigid tube either in line with the body of the gun or at right angles as pictured in the ebay ad. Unfortunately, even the smaller size of this gun and with the tube attached in line with the body, it still wouldn’t reach the grease fittings in some tight places on a zero turn mower (some of the deck spindles and under the seat).So that’s the bad news, it won’t replace a flexible hose. But the good news far outweighs the bad. The build quality is very good. The body is metal with knurled patterns that make it easy to hold. The size is also very good. It’s small enough that it can be held and operated with one hand. The handle operates smoothly and is comfortable to grip and squeeze. It seems to be "leak proof” as advertised. I’ve had it for a few weeks, used it a couple times, and the outside is still clean, unlike my standard grease gun which is COVERED with grease. I don’t know if this will change during hot summer months when this gun is stored in a sweltering pole barn, but so far it’s tight.NOTE: It looks like this gun would take 3 oz. grease cartridges, but the cartridges I tried would not fit in the barrel. However, the fit was so close-fitting, I was able to suck the grease out of the cartridge using the vacuum pressure from the snug-fitting rubber plunger in the gun. There may be a better way to load this gun, but here’s how I did it.1. Remove the head from the gun barrel2. Pull the follower and plunger back just enough to be able to insert the open end of the grease cartridge about an inch or two into the barrel of the gun. The fit has to be snug – air tight.3. Open the other end of the grease cartridge. The one I used was just aluminum foil that I peeled off.4. Slowly pull back on the plunger rod to suck the grease from the cartridge into the body of the gun.5. If necessary, slowly push the plunger back nearly to its starting position and repeat the suction process. I had to do this 3 or 4 times before all the grease was vacuumed out of the cartridge, but it worked surprisingly well with very little wasted grease left in the empty tube.The coupler connected to grease fittings about as well as my other grease gun(s), which is to say, not great. I always have problems getting the nozzles on and off the fittings, especially in tight places. I may pony up the money and buy a locking coupler.Overall, I really like this tool. I don’t have a lot of fittings to grease so the size and ease of handling of this gun make it really nice to use. I’ll probably replace the rigid tube with a flexible hose, and maybe replace the coupler with a locking coupler, but I still think this is a great item. I’m giving it 4/5 stars because the coupler is a pain to use, like most couplers that come standard on other grease guns. It’s not worse than other couplers; it’s just not better.