Scaler Tips

Scaler Tips

Needlegun scaler

Operation and use

A needle gun has a set of very fine chisels known as needles. The tool forces these needles against a work surface at variable speeds up to around 5,000 times per minute. Different models offer choices of number of needles, operating speed, and power levels. Many models use compressed air, although electrical needle-guns do exist.

In a pneumatic unit, compressed air forces a piston forwards and backwards. This movement causes the needles to move back and forth against the work surface.

An able seaman uses a needlegun to remove scale while refurbishing a mooring winch.

The needle gun has advantages over other scaling tools. Its main advantage is that the needles automatically adjust themselves to contours, making the tool a good choice for cleaning irregular surfaces. A needle gun can clean an area to bare metal in seconds, and compares well to other scaling tools in terms of accuracy and precision.

It is recommended that before needlegunning, a surface be prepared by removing oil, grease, dirt, chemicals and water-soluble contaminants. This can be done with solvents or with a combination of detergent and fresh water.

Then, the needle gun is used to remove rust, loose mill scale and paint, leaving bare metal. It is used most effectively by holding it at a 90 angle to the work surface. It is recommended that an area no larger than six to eight inches be cleared at once. Two to three passes over an area is generally sufficient to clean it. Then the process is repeated until the desired area is completed.

Prior to painting, it is desirable to feather any edges between metal and old paint. It is also important to check the surface for oil deposited during chipping, and if necessary, clean the area with solvents. Since bare metal surfaces will flash rust soon after exposure to the atmosphere, paint should be applied as soon as possible after chipping. If flash rusting occurs prior to coating, further chipping, cleaning and sanding may be necessary.

See also

Nautical portal

Abrasive blasting

Corrosion

Rust

Wire brush

Notes

^ U.S. Navy, 2006.

^ a b c d e f g h Miller, 2008.

^ Park, 1984.

^ a b c d e f g h i j k l NAVSEA, 2008.

^ a b c NETC, 2003, p. 11-10.

^ Nitto Kohki, 2008.

References

Miller, Jason (2008-01-30). "Needle Scaler and Debris Removal". Free Online Library. Free Online Library. http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Needle+Scaler+and+Debris+Removal-a01073853851. Retrieved 2008-04-05. 

Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) (2008). "Chapter 7: Submarine Forces Afloat Painting and Preservation Guidelines for Non-Nuclear Spaces and Components". Contracted Ship Maintenance. Joint Fleet Maintenance Manual - Rev A Change 7. VI. United States Navy. http://www.submepp.navy.mil/jfmm/HTML/Volume VI/VI-Ch-07.htm. 

Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) (2003) . "Chapter 11: Painting". NAVEDTRA 14343: Boatswain's Mate. Nonresident Training Manuals. Pensacola, Florida: United States Navy. http://www.navystorekeeper.com/NAVEDTRA_14343.pdf. Retrieved 2008-04-05. 

Park, Sharon (1984). "#13: The Repair and Thermal Upgrading of Historic Steel Windows". Preservation Briefs. Government Publishing Office. http://w3.gsa.gov/web/p/HPTP.NSF/a533f1f859737bc9852565cc0058d0b6/064f66fe515200ca852565c50054b2ff?OpenDocument. Retrieved 2008-04-05. 

Nitto Kohki (2008). "EJC-32A Electric Needle Scaler". nittokohki.com. Nitto Kohki USA. http://www.nittokohki.com/tools/products/powertools/needlescalers/ejc-32a.html. Retrieved 2008-04-05. 

U.S. Navy (2006-03-23). "Eye on the Fleet". Navy NewsStand. United States Navy. http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=33020. Retrieved 2008-04-05. 

External links

Video of needle-gunning rust

Battleship Texas Restoration Manual

Safety while removing paint

Schematic and parts list for Jet Chisel JT-20

v  d  e

Metalworking

 

Tools

Cutting machines

Water jet cutter  Band saw  Cold saw  Laser  Miter saw  Plasma

Cutting tools

Broach  Burr  Chisel  Counterbore  Countersink  End mill  File  Guillotine shear  Hand scraper  Milling cutter  Nibbler  Reamer  Throatless shear  Tipped tool  Tool bit

Forming tools

Brake  Die  English Wheel  Flypress  Hydraulic press  Machine press  Punch press  Stamping press

Hand tools

Clamp  Combination square  Drift pin  File card  Hacksaw  Hammer  Hand scraper  Machinist square  Magnetic base  Needlegun scaler  Pipe and tube bender  Pliers  Punch  Saw piercing  Scriber  Tap and die  Tongs  Vise  Workbench  Wrench

Machine tooling

Angle plate  Chuck  Collet  Jig  Fixture  Indexing head  Lathe center  Machine taper  Magnetic base  Mandrel  Rotary table  Wiggler

Measuring instruments

Bore gauge  Caliper  Comparator  Dial indicator  Engineer's blue  Feeler  Center gauge and fishtail gauge  Gauge block  Gauge  Go-NoGo  Machinist square  Marking blue  Marking gauge  Marking out  Micrometer  Radius gauge  Scale  Sine bar  Spirit level  Straightedge  Surface plate  Tape measure  Thread pitch  Height gauge  Vernier scale  Wiggler

Smithing tools

Anvil  Forge  Fuller  Hardy hole  Hardy tools  Pritchel  Slack tub  Steam hammer  Swage block  Trip hammer

Casting  Fabrication  Forming  Jewellery  Machining  Metallurgy  Smithing  Tools & Terminology  Welding

Categories: Cleaning tools | Metalworking hand tools
About the Author

I am a professional writer from China Manufacturers, which contains a great deal of information about copper carbonate , manganese dioxide, welcome to visit!

How do you use a universal curet and a posterior & anterior sickel scaler? Would love some tips?

I have an practcle exam in a week on using sickle scalers and universal curets.

So frustrating coz I dont think we've had enough time to learn it all!

I get confused about were to sit for different quadrants

What kind of strokes I need to do

How to use the damn instruments in general

grrr any advice would be appreciated

Aimee

Aimee:
Sickles are good for anterior teeth and universal curettes are good for all teeth.
You really must sit down with someone though who can demonstrate their proper use and positioning. If it is possible video(record) their demonstration and review it as much as possible. It is impossible to tell you much in this format.
Sorry

Tip Clip: Knock Sensor Testing