Oil Can, Tin Plate, Steel Pump

Quick Answer: This oil can is a tin plate container with a steel pump and a narrow spout that delivers light oil drop by drop or in a short jet. It is used to lubricate pivots, slides, screw threads and small bearings in workshops and on laboratory apparatus.

Oil Only Where It Is Needed

Tin plate is thin steel sheet coated with tin, which resists rust and can be seamed into a leak-tight reservoir. The pump, worked by the thumb or a trigger, pushes oil up the spout in small amounts, so a few drops land on a pivot or slideway instead of a puddle spreading across the bench and gathering dust. Whether this can uses a thumb pump or a trigger, and whether its spout is rigid or flexible, can be confirmed with LabEquip.

Oil and grease do different jobs. Oil flows into close-fitting pivots, screws and slides and spreads as the parts move, while grease stays put in bearings that have a nipple and is packed in with a lever grease gun. The screw of a bench vice, the joints of pliers and cutters, lathe slides and the hinges of apparatus cupboards all take oil.

Use the grade recommended by the equipment maker; light machine oil suits most hand tools and bench equipment. The can is not a container for petrol, thinners or other solvents, which are far more flammable and may attack the pump’s seals.

Applications

• Oiling lathe slides, drilling machine columns and other workshop machinery
• Lubricating vice screws, clamp threads and the pivots of pliers and cutters
• Maintaining hinges, rollers and moving parts of apparatus and lab furniture
• Leaving a thin, wiped film of oil on steel tools to keep rust away

Specifications

Care & Handling

• Wipe off surplus oil after application; excess oil collects dust and grit.
• Keep the spout capped or wiped so it does not drip or pick up dirt.
• Store the can upright, away from heat and flames, and label it with the oil grade.
• Clean up spills at once so benches and floors do not become slippery.

Why Choose LabEquip

Workshop instructors, lab technicians and maintenance staff use an oil can for the small, regular lubrication that keeps tools and apparatus moving freely. LabEquip supplies it through its general lab products section; capacity questions can go through the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which oil should I put in the oil can?

Light machine oil suits most hand tools, vice screws and pivots. Machinery should get the grade listed in its manual. Avoid thick gear oils, which do not flow well through a small pump.

Can the oil can be used for solvents or petrol?

No. Petrol, thinners and similar solvents are highly flammable, evaporate from the spout and can damage pump seals. Keep solvents in containers made and labelled for them.

Why is the pump not delivering oil?

The can may be low, the pump may need several strokes to prime after refilling, or the spout may be blocked with dried oil or dust. Top up, pump a few times over a cloth and clear the spout with fine wire.

How much oil should I apply?

A drop or two on each pivot or slide is usually enough. Work the part to spread the oil and wipe away any surplus, because excess oil holds grit that causes wear.

When should I use grease instead of oil?

Grease is used where lubricant must stay in place for a long time, such as bearings with grease nipples, heavily loaded joints or parts exposed to water. Oil suits close-fitting pivots, threads and slides that need frequent, light lubrication.

Can I use it on lab apparatus?

Yes, on metal moving parts such as stand clamps, jack screws and cupboard hinges. Keep oil away from optical surfaces, electrical contacts, rubber parts and anything that touches samples or glassware.

Last Updated: September 2026