Needle gun/Scaling gun

WTF D00D · Feb 16, 2013

I just wanted to pass this info on to anyone who may not know cause it seems many have never heard of these. I used them on tug boats when I was a kid to remove old paint and have noticed sometimes the old military paint laughs at sand blasting...lol. It wont laugh at these...I'm sure some have seen these, but for those who havent, save yourself some time...

Just in case you never heard of one, they work great on everything but body panels.

http://www.factoryauthorizedoutlet.com/ir/ingersoll-rand-standard-duty-needle-scaler

rickf · Feb 16, 2013

Great for knocking rust off of frames. WEAR EAR AND EYE PROTECTION! You will need a healthy size compressor or a large air tank.

swbradley1 · Feb 16, 2013

We didn't really need this thread. Any Sailor who has ever been on a ship knows what a need gun is. Any Sailor on the ship in a shipyard is especially sensitive to any discussion of the metal wood pecker you hear waking up, going all day and when you go to bed.

Anchors aweigh baaabyyyyy!!!!

PS They do remove rust and scale too.

Lonesome715 · Feb 16, 2013

I need one for sure.

EO2NMCB · Feb 16, 2013

Yep as a young non rate I knew it well.

gringeltaube · Feb 16, 2013

Steve,

A sailor - need gun... ehh, I mean needle gun!

And YES, I agree with the OP: a needle scaler is THE TOOL to remove those several layers of thick, old CARC paint; where sandblasting would take forever.

After countless work-hours the needles on mine are already worn down to half the original length, and now I can't seem to find replacement needles for it.
So, can anyone recommend a real good scaler - HD, preferrably US-made? (I'm not so sure that I want the one linked above... even if it says IR?)

G.

Lonesome715 · Feb 16, 2013

The under coating is what gets me.

rickf · Feb 17, 2013

You can get the same one as above from Harbor freight cheaper. Yea, I know where it is made but it works and they sell the needle kits. I can buy four of those guns before coming close to the price of an American one. I save that money for the impact guns and hand tools, US made only!

WTF D00D · Feb 17, 2013

harbor freight is where I got the one Im using on the truck., just buy the extended warranty cause youll go through them pretty fast...lol

MarcusOReallyus · Mar 5, 2013

rickf said:
I can buy four of those guns before coming close to the price of an American one.

Yeah, and sadly, that "American" one is probably made in China.

Stretch44875 · Mar 6, 2013

I've used the heck out of mine. Tractor rims, and outside of brake drums. Need it for the salt of ohio.

rickf · Mar 6, 2013

Outside of a brake drum, bet that is a bit noisy unless it is on the vehicle. :roll:

Stretch44875 · Mar 7, 2013

No such thing as quiet when it comes to needle scalers.

Rust builds up in the grove on the backside of the drum, that the backing plate fits into. Then you get scraping noises when it rubs. Just a habit to needle scale the rust out whenever drums are off.

ryan77 · Mar 7, 2013

Harbor freight $20 bucks! Throw it away and buy a new one when worn out!

aczlan · Apr 8, 2013

I have this one: http://www.harborfreight.com/compact-air-needle-scaler-96997.html and it has worked well for my limited uses.

Aaron Z

Ford Mechanic · May 1, 2013

Good idea! I've just about had it with this sandblaster aua

bigboy44 · May 1, 2013

I used these on oil platforms to scale rust! Ever try to cut rusted plate with a torch? A plasma cutter works great on rusted iron but a clean cut with a torch is impossible.

Pablo66 · Jun 9, 2013

Would you all recommend the scaler instead of sand blasting to prep a set of hmmwv wheels for a new coat of paint?
Thank you,
Paul D

RedbeardTheZombieHunter · Jun 9, 2013

Pablo66 said:
Would you all recommend the scaler instead of sand blasting to prep a set of hmmwv wheels for a new coat of paint?
Thank you,
Paul D

I'd start with the needle scaler and do the finish cleanup and metal prep by blasting. The needle scaler will knock off the flake rust and paint, but won't touch the good bonded paint or deep rust. Sandblasting will take what the scaler didn't and leave a good "tooth" to the surface of the metal for your primer to bite into.

gringeltaube · Jun 9, 2013

Besides that, HMMWV wheels come powder-coated and that kind of paint is very tough if it had to be removed completely.
Surface wet-sanding (400 grit) plus phosphating of any blanc spots- has worked best for me, to prepare for a new coat.

G.

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