Needle Scalers...

[TheGrooveking]

I was wondering who here uses/have used a needle scaler and if so what did you use it on/for?

TheGrooveking

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

knock rust off of school bus frames

 

[McKay]

Rust and heavey scall of any metel or steel.

 

[chevelle67]

Use em to knock rust and scale off of frames etc.

 

[speed bump]

Cleaning slag off of welds and cleaning up metal before welding.

 

[TozziWelding]

Use it in between passes welding, removes the slag and peening reduces stress in the weld area.

 

[atomicpunk]

Use'em to chip off paint, rust, welding slag, and annoy other people with the noise sometimes.

 

[ranger302]

chipping concrete from forms

 

[AlchemyMetalworks]

I use them to descale sand-castings.

They're also good for "redecorating" sand-blasted heads that have been modified. This would be for sleeper applications where only factory heads are approved, or street racing when you don't want to give any visual cues as to what you've ACTUALLY got under the hood.

 

[DonkDonk]

They are great for stuff that is rusted that has lots of nooks and crannies that are hard to get to with a flap disc, grinder, etc. They are really good at removing heavy rust/scale in those hard to reach areas like the beds on the military trucks I have built.

 

[BigAl62]

I use mine to clean heavily rusted wheels ( on the sealing surfaces) and to piss off hung over coworkers when I have to work Saturdays (makes very loud noise on steel workbench top)!

 

[CHRIS LUCKYMAN]

X2 on ******* people off. Knock off rust, clean off crusty/dirty parts like spindles, drums, etc., putting a uniform texture onto modified metal.

 

[jtrace]

When I was a mechanic at a rental store I used mine to clean mortar and concrete mixers that came back "dirty" nasty loud job.Probably why I can't hear well anymore lol....

John

 

[John Timmins]

All ships have them to remove rust. In the engine room when a piston is pullerd you can save a lot of time using a needle gun on the top of a piston crown to clean around the ring grooves.

 

[jabberwoki]

Whats a good brand for one of these tools?

DONKDONK love your truck!!!

 

[Wrenches of Death]

I was wondering who here uses/have used a needle scaler and if so what did you use it on/for?

TheGrooveking

Cleaning welds. If you're going to fart around with one, make damn sure that you have good eye protection. Seriously.

WoD

 

[Wrenches of Death]

I use them to descale sand-castings.

They're also good for "redecorating" sand-blasted heads that have been modified.

CLEVER!

I've never used one on cast iron. I'll mention this to my tractor collecting buddy. A welded casting stands out like a sore thumb. A ground weld on a casting stands out like TWO sore thumbs!

"Redecorating", as you put it, is worth a try to make a repair less obvious. Thanks!

WoD

 

[The Dutchman]

I could have used one of these day before yesterday to get rust scale off an exhaust flange on an Isuzu Rodeo I was working on. Anyone have reccomendations as to a good make/model?

 

[DonkDonk]

Whats a good brand for one of these tools?

DONKDONK love your truck!!!

Thanks!

As to far as recommending a good brand, I guess it depends on how you are going to use it. If just every once in a while then I would guess a cheap one would be fine. They are essentially just a air hammer with the needle stuff on the end, in fact you can get a needle scaler attachment for some air hammers. Mine is an Ingersoll that I got for $20 at a pawn shop, looks like you can get a new one for $140:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002STTDE/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Harbor Freight is $69.99, so 20% off coupon makes it around $55:

http://www.harborfreight.com/air-needle-scaler-1108.html

Looks like Northern Tools has one for $39:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000AXBEC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[rsanter]

they are good for rust removal and knocking off welding slag like other have said
keep in mind that they are not for thin material. if you are carefull you can use it on 16ga but not thinner or you will dent the material

bob

 

[Shipfittin]

I use it to knock off old paint, weld slag, rust and mill scale. It's a must have tool in the ship repair/ new construction industry. The one I use is from IR, I love it.

 

[DrkMtnDew]

i just have the mini HF one, but it works well on rust and slag. also used it to clean cement off my bedliner.