needle scaler

[Professor Marvel]

I was thinking about using my sand blaster to touch up some spots rust on my tractor before spot repainting. Then I heard of a needle scaler and thought it might be less messy. What are the pros and cons of these and what are the differences and various uses.
Say like sand blasting vs needle scaling on wheels where i don not want to remove the tires.
Thanks

 

[davedj1]

Loud! The needle scaler will be much louder than sandblasting and they take a lot of air to run them . In my experience, the needle scaler is great for very loose and flaky rust. I have a spot blaster for small places, it's built like a paint sprayer with the cup. I also find an air die grinder with scotchbrite pads work pretty good too.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Actually needle scalers arent very loud unless youre working sheet metal (not advised due possiblle distortion) and you can get a small one at HF for around $30..They work well on scaly rust, but wont get down into the pits like sandblasting. They use much less air than sandblasting. Whichever method used, an after treatment with Ospho will etch the surface slightly and provide better "tooth" for paint adhesion.

A needle scaler is also valuable for relieving surface stress on new welds, cleaning cured concrete off tools, etc.​

 

[Big Barn]

Actually needle scalers arent very loud unless youre working sheet metal (not advised due possiblle distortion) and you can get a small one at HF for around $30..They work well on scaly rust, but wont get down into the pits like sandblasting. They use much less air than sandblasting. Whichever method used, an after treatment with Ospho will etch the surface slightly and provide better "tooth" for paint adhesion.

Plus two on the possible distortion. . Wire brush on an angle grinder will work also but sand blast is the best IMO.

 

[Professor Marvel]

Thanks for the info. guess i will just stick with sandblaster. thought needle scaler might be easier to grab quickly in some applications and less messy.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Thanks for the info. guess i will just stick with sandblaster. thought needle scaler might be easier to grab quickly in some applications and less messy.

You had it right.

 

[Professor Marvel]

You had it right.

thanks
i will pick up the HF compact and try it out
for that price I have nothing to loose

 

[ray66v]

A scaler is for loosening up scaled rust or paint. It is best for and removing the bulk of the loose material. It will not deliver a paint ready surface, if you are trying to do a good looking repair. If it's a farm implement, and you really don't care that much, it may be fine.

Distortion on thin metal is possible with either a sand blaster, or a scaler. You have to use them both properly.

I use a scaler on body panels all the time. If you use it at 45 degree or more angle to the surface, the hammering motion delivers a glancing blow, rather than directly into the metal. It will not damage the metal, if you do it right.

The reason I like to take the scaler to the rust on body panels is, if there are pin holes it can be impossible see them for certain. If you repair the rust, without catching a pin hole, it will bubble out in a short time. The scaler will make the hole big enough, that there is no question they are there, so you can be sure to fix it.

You can follow the scaler up with a 7470 3M Roloc clean and strip disc, (or similar product), on a die grinder, or angle grinder. Or, if you don't want it perfect, or find that too expensive, you can use a wire wheel on an angle grinder. Either can remove the rust, without sand blasting.

 

[TractorGuy]

Wire brush on the angle grinder is my choice.

 

[Stimw]

I have both sizes and use the smaller one most of the time.
You can also buy a nose piece scaller that fits on an air chisel if you are really cheap.

 

[spitter]

Ive restored 2 many rusty things to list. best thing Ive found is wire wheels for angle grinder or die grinder I have a huge assortment. Watch out for flying wires tough. :drink:

 

[Egon]

Start out with the needle scaler to quickly get rid of the big flakes, other gunk and find the holes. Then switch to a wire brush and finally finish of with the sandblaster. Access may also determine which method to use.

The needle scaler is the easiest to use.

 

[texasranger556]

I just painted a tractor that ran a salt spreader most of its life so a fair bit of rust. As others have said the needle scaler is tough to beat for heavy flaking rust. Especially inside corners that are difficult to get access. I had started with a sand blaster ($50 one that you drop the hose into a bucket of blast media) and even wearing a full suit I had grit everywhere. The scaler was much faster but leaves a much rougher finish than blasting. For the cast pieces I didn't really care, it looked fine after ospho, primer, and paint.

For pieces small enough to fit in my HF blast cabinet, they came out great.

Edit: I have the small HF scaler. It works surprisingly well for how cheap it was. I did have to bend the trigger a couple times so it would depress the air inlet valve all the way... otherwise it slowly lost power.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Start out with the needle scaler to quickly get rid of the big flakes, other gunk and find the holes. Then switch to a wire brush and finally finish of with the sandblaster. Access may also determine which method to use.

The needle scaler is the easiest to use.

. . . And an oscillating wire brush is the one that will clean down into the pits. Spinning just skips over the top. Use of Ospho afterward is a big step to eliminating the sand blaster.

 

[DaveOmak]

I have an air hammer with a needle scaler nose attachment... Great combo... the air hammer is priceless... Drive out lug bolts... relieve stress in metal... Cut metal with a chisel tool... It's a small jack hammer too.....

 

[aczlan]

. . . And an oscillating wire brush is the one that will clean down into the pits. Spinning just skips over the top. Use of Ospho afterward is a big step to eliminating the sand blaster.

What make/model oscillating wire brush?

Aaron Z