Needle-Scalers 101

Lanse

Well-known Member
Morning everyone!

So, I just got a decent deal on a new needle scaler. Everyone's been telling me for years that I need one and how much I'd like having one, but I've never actually used one of these things before lol.

I understand they're great for taking slag off welds, and they'll clean a long 6-8' weld in seconds. Also the'll chip off those big rust flakes on truck frames and the like that even a knotted wire wheel on an angle grinder won't touch!

Anything I should know about this thing before I use it? And more importantly - does anyone have any cool tricks of things it can do well? It seems like a super versatile tool, and many of you guys are very creative with uses of things, I was wondering if there was anything that sticks out in a persons mind haha.

Thanks in advance guys!

Also - regarding my last post about the ole' lug nuts - you answered my questions about them perfectly! Thanks to all who responded. I guess I dont always say this enough.. Have a great day everyone!
 
I've also used mine for chipping dried concrete off from metal surfaces (such as cleaning up mixer drums) and it worked well. One thing they do NOT work well for is cleaning up sheet metal--they tend to dimple and stretch it--but they're a wonderful tool within their limitations.
 
My advice is to just go ahead and use it. I have used mine extensively cleaning up several large projects, enough to go through one set of needles. The flared end of the needle will eventually break off and the needle drops out but it takes a lot of scaling to get to that point. There usually is no need to bear down hard on it, just easy pressure and it will do it's job. A needle scaler does not work on soft materials or grease, it just punches holes in it. Mine is a straight line scaler and if I use it for any length of time it helps to wear padded gloves so my hands don't get to buzzing from the vibes. Hearing protection is recommended.
 
Been using them for years, and all I can say at this point is the other three replies pretty much covered all there is to know about them.

Well, one thing extra. You already know air tools need oil, and a needle scaler is no different. I usually put a few drops in the air aide, before use, and will sometimes turn it over and drop a few extra drops in on the needle side to give a little lube to the ends of the needles as well as to the area around the piston that drives them, that it wouldn't get from the top/air side.
 
Sure will need ear protection. I used one for cleaning a rusty rim on the inside - worked great. Noise can damage your ears quickly.
 
I spent hours down in after steering on a Destroyer escort with one of those things maybe why I have hearing aids now.
 
place I worked had one. they basically used it for stress relief (peening) of some critical welds, only used a half load of needles as that seemed to get to critical area better and also concentrated power in smaller area.
 
Those things are bad for hangovers. I was on a carrier,they were using them on the flight deck. Directly above our shop. Sure made for a bad day.
 
WEAR YOUR EAR MUFFS !!!!!! That being said you might want to run it through a pressure regulator and start with maybe 60 pounds and work your way up from there. Too high of pressure and they just beat the crap out of ya. They really do work. Take your time a little and learn how to use it.
 
We had a guy using one in the bilge when I was on a destroyer. He had taped the trigger down, had it rigged to hammer on the deck, and was sitting right beside it, sound asleep.

Needless to say he got his tail chewed out when he got caught. Aboard ship, sleeping with a constant noise was normal, but I'd still like to know how he could sleep with that racket.
 

Yes it has 101 uses :) Wore one out that attaches to a air hammer so brought a dedicated one. Its to slow for me so got another to go on a air hammer... As of now it gets the most work de-rusting steel wheels... Let you imagination lead you... Its a good gasket remover on tuff gaskets. I used one this week to clean the rust off brake caliper mounts were the pads fit on a 2011 F250 it shined it up better than a file... They work great most anywhere you would use a wire bush to get the job done...
 
(quoted from post at 19:09:09 09/15/17)
Yes it has 101 uses :) Wore one out that attaches to a air hammer so brought a dedicated one. Its to slow for me so got another to go on a air hammer... As of now it gets the most work de-rusting steel wheels... Let you imagination lead you... Its a good gasket remover on tuff gaskets. I used one this week to clean the rust off brake caliper mounts were the pads fit on a 2011 F250 it shined it up better than a file... They work great most anywhere you would use a wire bush to get the job done...


If you've let your lawnmower deck go without washing they will peel off the dried crud. If there's a lot of buildup (grass, weeds, dirt, etc.) an air hammer with a chisel-point tool seems to work better as the scaler packs the needles full of junk.
 
They work wonders to blend repairs on cast iron, and also to make a brand new clean repair blend in with the older material around it.
 
On steering clutch on dozer, I have gotten a TD-6 and TD-9 completely apart with needle scaler. Loosens up to rust and crud reel good.
 

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