Arthritis and maintenance

[Watchmaker]

These last months the arthritis (osteo) in my hands has gotten to be a nuisance. No trigger pull, no pop riveter and no damned grease gun!

I just bought a used Milwaukee M18 grease gun with soft case, 5AH battery and super charger for $150. Figured the battery and charger were worth $50.

Unit has a date code for 2021 so good until 2026.

Works great and cleaned up like new. Now I no longer dread the 50 hour grease chore! Literally, had to use two hands for manual grease gun (with lock nozzle) and pop riveter (try THAT!). Guess I am heading to the glue factory.

Too bad I spent the $20 on the lock nozzle. So it goes.

 

[GrizBota]

Well you’re still getting it done. On an old school grease gun with the big lever, most of us use two hands on that one. As to the $20, it’s still useful to the next person that uses the grease gun.

So why is the new to you unit only good until 2026? Is than an estimated battery shelf life?

 

[trial and error]

Well you’re still getting it done. On an old school grease gun with the big lever, most of us use two hands on that one. As to the $20, it’s still useful to the next person that uses the grease gun.

So why is the new to you unit only good until 2026? Is than an estimated battery shelf life?

I think he's reffering to milwakees 5 year warranty period, I could be wrong

 

[85Hokie]

These last months the arthritis (osteo) in my hands has gotten to be a nuisance. No trigger pull, no pop riveter and no damned grease gun!

I just bought a used Milwaukee M18 grease gun with soft case, 5AH battery and super charger for $150. Figured the battery and charger were worth $50.

Unit has a date code for 2021 so good until 2026.

Works great and cleaned up like new. Now I no longer dread the 50 hour grease chore! Literally, had to use two hands for manual grease gun (with lock nozzle) and pop riveter (try THAT!). Guess I am heading to the glue factory.

Too bad I spent the $20 on the lock nozzle. So it goes.

Get cha a lock-n-lube and making greasing stuff FUN!

 

[cthomas]

FYI I have some M18 batteries from August 2015 that are still going strong. At one point I know how to read Milwaukee date codes, but I just engraved the date I bought them as it does 2 things, date and I am the only one in the shop(with Milwaukee) that does it. Now are you saving up for the rivet gun?

 

[Watchmaker]

FYI I have some M18 batteries from August 2015 that are still going strong. At one point I know how to read Milwaukee date codes, but I just engraved the date I bought them as it does 2 things, date and I am the only one in the shop(with Milwaukee) that does it. Now are you saving up for the rivet gun?

I may have to. After the 4th I am going to complain to my Doc. At OT they measured my rt hand grip at 60% of normal for age. I used to make people wince. I don't mind dyin, but I really want to be like our Milwaukee batteries, work until they don't.

 

[DustyRusty]

I also have arthritis in my hands, and go to the chiropractor for my hip problem. Before I walk out the door, he fixes both my hands in less than a minute, and they have been getting better with less pain. Only wish that my hip problem was as easily fixed.

 

[Nicksacco]

After a long day in the shop, my hands hurt and sometimes the trigger finger acts up.
Then my feet are sore and my back aches.
I think I need to reread my 50 hour schedule...

 

[fried1765]

I also have arthritis in my hands, and go to the chiropractor for my hip problem. Before I walk out the door, he fixes both my hands in less than a minute, and they have been getting better with less pain. Only wish that my hip problem was as easily fixed.

Cheer up!
Things get even worse as you approach 83.
Even with medication, my gout is acting up again now.

 

[DustyRusty]

Wait till you get to my age and tell me what you remember about being 83. I am long past 83 and headed toward 100. I can't even remember what 83 was like, and it was just a few months, or years, or decades ago. I just can't remember. Just before the body went to hell, the memory chips failed.

 

[NCL4701]

I’m not nearly as old as some here but I’ve already realized there are some activities I used to muscle through that now require more thought and use of motors or hydraulics. I recall my father telling me long ago after he found out I’d cleared about 3/4 of an acre with a bush axe and pickup truck: when you’re young you use a $25 bush axe; by the time you’re too old and busted to use a bush axe hopefully you can afford a bush hog. I now own a bush hog and the bush axe rarely leaves it’s hanger on the wall.

By the time my father hit his mid-80’s his primary method of completing heavy physical work was to text me what needed doing and ask me to put it on the list. Not his preferred method, but quite effective.

 

[fried1765]

Wait till you get to my age and tell me what you remember about being 83. I am long past 83 and headed toward 100. I can't even remember what 83 was like, and it was just a few months, or years, or decades ago. I just can't remember. Just before the body went to hell, the memory chips failed.

How the hell old are you anyway?

 

[Jchonline]

Get cha a lock-n-lube and making greasing stuff FUN!

Sounds like OP already has one (possibly). @Watchmaker you may be able to remove it from the manual gun. If you can you should be able to put it on the M18. I have one on mine.

 

[Bmyers]

How the hell old are you anyway?

Well when Noah got off the ark, DustyRusty came out from his hiding spot below deck.

 

[DustyRusty]

My wife is Mrs. Noah, so that makes me Noah.

 

[PaulL]

I’m not nearly as old as some here but I’ve already realized there are some activities I used to muscle through that now require more thought and use of motors or hydraulics. I recall my father telling me long ago after he found out I’d cleared about 3/4 of an acre with a bush axe and pickup truck: when you’re young you use a $25 bush axe; by the time you’re too old and busted to use a bush axe hopefully you can afford a bush hog. I now own a bush hog and the bush axe rarely leaves it’s hanger on the wall.

By the time my father hit his mid-80’s his primary method of completing heavy physical work was to text me what needed doing and ask me to put it on the list. Not his preferred method, but quite effective.

Saw this with Dad too. We thought they'd have to give up farming at some point, but he did two things:
1. Buy more machinery. Always a good idea
2. Start using his brain more than his muscles

I always remember a discussion we had with a lady farmer (she won local farmer of the year or some such). And someone said "how's she gonna grab a ram lamb and throw it over the fence." And she said "why would I throw a lamb over the fence, that's what gates are for." As you get older you have to start using your head like a woman would, instead of using muscles as the answer to every situation.

Amazing the work you can get done with leverage, chains, ramps, and a bit of hydraulic power.

Unfortunately the big C got him at 72, but until then he was going strong. Mum still has most of his equipment, amazing what she can get done with the 1.6ton Takeuchi excavator, and the old Massey Ferguson TEA with a transport tray on the back. Most things can be rolled or pushed onto the tray, the hydraulics do the lifting. Anything she can't roll the excavator will move.

 

[torch]

Works great and cleaned up like new. Now I no longer dread the 50 hour grease chore! Literally, had to use two hands for manual grease gun (with lock nozzle) and pop riveter (try THAT!). Guess I am heading to the glue factory.

Milwaukee also makes a cordless electric pop riveter.

Just sayin' ;-)

 

[Runs With Scissors]

........making greasing stuff FUN!

Be Careful..Making public statements like that could get you a one way ticket to the Looney Bin.....or at least a Senility Test....

 

[Watchmaker]

Wait till you get to my age and tell me what you remember about being 83. I am long past 83 and headed toward 100. I can't even remember what 83 was like, and it was just a few months, or years, or decades ago. I just can't remember. Just before the body went to hell, the memory chips failed.

When I hit 60 my friends told me that the changes start coming very quickly. Fortunately, I had a number of friends older than me to show me how to prepare for aging. Still, it is a nuisance.

For the younger people, think about your body. Use hearing protection or you will eventually not be able to hear spring peepers or many birds.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

Use hearing protection or you will eventually not be able to hear spring peepers or many birds.

But the up side to my hearing loss is that I have a bonafide excuse to readily ignore annoying people. (about 99.6% of people )