Needle scaler any good?

[shortfuse]

I need an inexpensive needle scaler for light work. Are these Powermate needle scalers any good? The price is low, but is the quality low as well?

Powermate model: 024-0299CT

[smithdoor]

I use a electric wire brush aka 4 ½" grinder.
If weld is running just right removing slag is easy too.

Dave

I need an inexpensive needle scaler for light work. Are these Powermate needle scalers any good? The price is low, but is the quality low as well?

Powermate model: 024-0299CT

[shortfuse]

I've got brushes, chisels, grinders and hammers...I need an inexpensive scaler.

[Freebirdwelds]

I need an inexpensive needle scaler for light work. Are these Powermate needle scalers any good? The price is low, but is the quality low as well?

Powermate model: 024-0299CT

At that price it will be hard to say. But I've had expensive ones end up being a POS too. You never know you may get lucky, unless you plan on hitting hardened steel all day.

[M J D]

From what I've found the online ones hit harder. I have an ingersal rand that I've used for years. I think it's on its 4th or 5th set of needles. Buy once cry once.

[shortfuse]

Good info. I would prefer an inline one to get in tight places.

[smithdoor]

It is like using flux core wire if everything is just right it will peal off.
I have found this with most stick welding too one hit with a chipping hammer the slag is off.
I still use a wire brush for construction work as maybe Xray years after welding in California.

Dave

FYI In California they like cert welder as one more to though the book for earthquakes

I've got brushes, chisels, grinders and hammers...I need an inexpensive scaler.

[MinnesotaDave]

Good info. I would prefer an inline one to get in tight places.

I use the Harbor freight inline one. It works pretty good, broke part of the striking anvil behind the needles, but still works fine.

[smithdoor]

Looks great and a good price too.
https://www.harborfreight.com/compac...ler-96997.html

Now they need to make a electric one.

Dave

I use the Harbor freight inline one. It works pretty good, broke part of the striking anvil behind the needles, but still works fine.

[MinnesotaDave]

Looks great and a good price too.
https://www.harborfreight.com/compac...ler-96997.html

Now they need to make a electric one.

Dave

Pretty sure I have this one:
https://www.harborfreight.com/air-ne...aler-1108.html

[M J D]

Pretty sure I have this one:
https://www.harborfreight.com/air-ne...aler-1108.html

Typical harbor freight. They no longer make that one and now it's a more expensive one. The harbor freight one is pretty much a spot on copy of the ingersal rand. Someone I used to work with had the hf one, thrashed about 3-4 of them while the IR is going strong. Definitely a tool that loves air tool oil

[smithdoor]

That is air most of electric are $1,500.00 and is very heavy to climbing scaffolds too.

Dave

Pretty sure I have this one:
https://www.harborfreight.com/air-ne...aler-1108.html

[Continuum]

I need an inexpensive needle scaler for light work. Are these Powermate needle scalers any good? The price is low, but is the quality low as well?

Powermate model: 024-0299CT

I have this exact model. 29$ as I recall. It works very nicely and it is light on air. My only complaint is that the barrel doesn’t secure to the gun tightly. It tends to unscrew itself. Pictured here in the swapable high dielectric (wood) holders.

[123weld]

reason i like straight ones/inline, is when i yank on the hose, it slides right into my hand positioned to go. also, when its tangled amongst a bunch of grinder cords on a lift/basket, i can pull the hose, and it usually slithers out of the tangled cords. odds of a pistol grip one doing either isnt good. i spent a hundred bucks on a generic one and its held up well, 2-3 sets of needles, but there falling out now. probabaly what helped its life is, i always kept it oiled, and kept pressure only as high as to make it work satisfactory, which is about 60 -45 psi

[BaTu]

A needle scaler is Such a great tool to have, I use it for all sorts of things. They absolutely Eat cement and mortar

[flushcut]

I have the Ingersoll air hammer and they may a scaler for it as an attachment.

I’ve read here Popeye The Old Miner uses Harbor freight scalers. Buys the warranty and gets a two for one deal.

[whtbaron]

I have this exact model. 29$ as I recall. It works very nicely and it is light on air. My only complaint is that the barrel doesn’t secure to the gun tightly. It tends to unscrew itself.

I've had that issue with a few Chinese tools.... air hammers, die grinders.... I've tried blue Loctite and it didn't work. Might try red some day, but only on things I never need to open up, the needle scaler might not be one of them. I have an inline needle scaler that's staying together so far... it was a little higher up the scale of cheap Chinesium at around $70 CDN on sale, but it seems to be doing well.

[smithdoor]

Luck of the draw.
A American made chipping hammer works all time. Does not need air or electricity but the leaver is hard to swing all day long.

Dave

I've had that issue with a few Chinese tools.... air hammers, die grinders.... I've tried blue Loctite and it didn't work. Might try red some day, but only on things I never need to open up, the needle scaler might not be one of them. I have an inline needle scaler that's staying together so far... it was a little higher up the scale of cheap Chinesium at around $70 CDN on sale, but it seems to be doing well.

[123weld]

Luck of the draw.
A American made chipping hammer works all time. Does not need air or electricity but the leaver is hard to swing all day long.

Dave

might be a lil hard to be watched while trying to charge 100+ per hr, and be tinkering w/ a hammer sometimes also, i havent seen a new slag hammer i like and worth a darn in yrs, let alone american made. i have a handful of slag hammers off the alaskan pipeline from an old surplus dealer. the heads are a hard stainless, and i only need to sharpen it once/twice a yr.

[smithdoor]

Most time I use 4½" grinder with a wire brush. The leaver on the chipping hammer gets tiring to swing all day.
When I was doing welding it QUOTE they did not care what used.

Dave

might be a lil hard to be watched while trying to charge 100+ per hr, and be tinkering w/ a hammer on a stiffener in a ibeam/etc. also, i havent seen a new slag hammer i like and worth a darn in yrs, let alone american made. i have a handful of slag hammers off the alaskan pipeline from an old surplus dealer. the heads are a hard stainless, and i only need to sharpen them once/twice a yr.

[andremajic]

Just saw a video on the torque test channel on youtube where they showed how the long barrel air hammer is literally the exact same model, put out by the same factory in taiwan, with the same exploded parts numbers and diagram as the expensive matco version.

Maybe there's a similar needle scaler?

I prefer to use a wire wheel, but a needle scaler fits in places a 5" wheel doesn't.

Where I work, all the air tools are sioux pneumatic tools, but they are rather expensive. They're used every day, all day, so there's something to be said for that. I guess your price point will depend on how often you plan on using it.

Another brand to look at would be Chicago Pneumatic. Sometimes you can snag a used one for cheap. (probably because the seller confuses it with the cheap HF Chicago electric brand.)

Andy

[CAVEMANN]

I've got the cheapie Harbor Freight model, the onl complaint I had was the needles weren't swaged enough on the end in the gun body which was a fairly simple fix. I made a jig to hold them, heated with a torch & swaged the a little more. I think I paid 15 bucks for it, they're about 23 now.

[MinnesotaDave]

might be a lil hard to be watched while trying to charge 100+ per hr, and be tinkering w/ a hammer sometimes also, i havent seen a new slag hammer i like and worth a darn in yrs, let alone american made. i have a handful of slag hammers off the alaskan pipeline from an old surplus dealer. the heads are a hard stainless, and i only need to sharpen it once/twice a yr.

I like the atlas tomahawk.
Bought one for my sweetie and I use it

[whtbaron]

I like the atlas tomahawk.
Bought one for my sweetie and I use it

Oh my.... she likes it rough, huh? lol... Happy Holidays Dave!

[smithdoor]

I like Tomahawk chipping hammer
The only problem I had is they ran away
Works great too.
Do not turn your back or they wonder off in side someone pocket.

Dave

I like the atlas tomahawk.
Bought one for my sweetie and I use it