Anyone used an Air Needle Scaler?

yeah, i used one a few times, dont own it, but the next best thing is my buddy does .... hehe

My father in law has that. He is a metal fabricator/welder...it is so nice to knock off the slag with it...it makes it quick and does a real nice job...I would get it, its worth whatever it cost...

WOW....I just clicked on the link and saw how much it was...it is pricey but it does do a really good job...

I've never used one, but every weld shop I've been in, they've been used. They're loud, but very effective at slag removal.

HF has both that style and one that you put on the end of an air hammer.

attachment
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=5541

full tool
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=1108

dc

Yeah, I've got one. And it's sweet for cleaing up in tight spots. For instance, I used it to clean the entire centersection (outside) of my '78 D60 for my Ranger project. It fits in around all the webbing and into all the corners where a wire wheel would never fit.

But Dave is on the right track. Get the cheapest air hammer you can get. For the longest time Harbor Freight was selling a Campbell Hausfeld for $9.99 on clearance, so I ordered one. I bet the cheapest Central Pneumatic is no different. A short barrel hammer is fine, you don't need a ton of power behind the needle scaler, you just need the vibration mostly. Then order the HF attachment, I think I paid $9.99 for that too. So for $20 I got a needle scaler and its' awesome for clean-up jobs.

EDIT: I looked at your kit linked above and that's WAY too pricey. That looks like a seriously industrial unit, but why do you need CHISELS on a needle scaler??? That's what the air hammer is for.

Thanks for the info.

The link was the wrong one. Thats the compete kit for $750. I was just looking at the one in the picture which was like $120 or something like that.

I'm looking at getting one for all the welds I cant get the cup brush in to. On the car trailer I'm working on just about every weld underneath it or on the inside of the C-channel or I-beam theres not really good access. That sure looks like it would make it easy.

I think a cheap hammer the attachment will fit your needs. Think about how much force you put behind a chipping hammer - not much. As it is I swing a chipping hammer too hard and dimple my welds.

If you've been in the Navy there are two tools you definitely know how to handle. One of them is a paint brush and the other is a needle scaller, a.k.a. the needle gun. I've spent countless hours chipping away at paint and rust with those things and I can tell you they kick serious ass. Don't even think about using it on any kind of thin sheet metal, it'll bust a hole in it quick. On more than one occaision I've seen them bust through a piece of steel that was more rusted through than the operator thought. Very noisy though, you'll want some good hearing protection. Definitely the best tool for getting into hard to reach seams and what not. I never realized they were that cheap, I'm going to pick one of the attachment ones up for my cheap air hammer.:thumbup

Looks like Harbor Freight has thier needle scaler on sale this month.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=1108

dc

I'm thinking of geting one to clean the heavy rust for underneth like the frame and bars and stuff ..but now I know not to use on the body right ?

Huh. Just placed an order for the big one and the small one plus 4 replacement tips. Thanks for the Heads up! I am going to be using these on my 84 BII that is being fully resto'd since it is rust AND dent free!

This is a old thread but figured i would clear it up some.

That air needle scaler is more for thick metal, around 1/4" and up.

It's good for knocking off paint that chips easily and slags but other then that it looses it glory.

It's used a lot of oil rigs and similiar places, cheap and quick work don't care what it looks like as long as it's cleaned of paint and then repainted to protect the structual part of a metal rig.

Cool so maybe ill try the small one from harber fright see if its ok I do welding too so im thinking I need one anyway .u think I should just use a 4 1/2 " grinder with a wire wheel or that rapid strip pad I've see people use I just thought that with The heavy rust would eat up faster then the air needle

I have always seen them used to remove slag from welds. they work very fast at it compared to a chipping hammer.

garys b.b.b. said:

Cool so maybe ill try the small one from harber fright see if its ok I do welding too so im thinking I need one anyway .u think I should just use a 4 1/2 " grinder with a wire wheel or that rapid strip pad I've see people use I just thought that with The heavy rust would eat up faster then the air needle

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In reality a chip hammer would do better if you do not weld every day of the week. I couldn't see the justification of having one myself and i can get them for free all day long.

garys b.b.b. said:

but now I know not to use on the body right ?

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Do not use it on the body metal. It will warp it badly.


I use one all the time for rust scale on the Peterbilts frame rails. It is a great tool for that.

It works really good for scaley rust. I use one in conjunction with stripper pads and wire wheels for removing different types of rust on recycled parts. Using one will show you where it shines, but some types of rust are better dealt through other removal methods.

Dave's Bronc 90 said:

If you've been in the Navy there are two tools you definitely know how to handle. One of them is a paint brush and the other is a needle scaller, a.k.a. the needle gun. I've spent countless hours chipping away at paint and rust with those things and I can tell you they kick serious ass.

Click to expand...

:stupid
LOTS of time behind one of those!:doh0715::banghead:barf