Needle scalers use vibrating needles to remove debris or texture materials. Two body types are available, straight and pistol grip, with interchangeable chisel point or pointed needles. Pneumatic and electric feed power the scaler, but safety measures must be taken to protect the operator.
Needle scalers use a series of needles to remove debris or texture materials. The needles attach to the front end of the needle scaler and move rapidly when the handle is pressed. This rapid needle movement allows the needle scale to remove large amounts of material with minimal user effort. Determining the correct type of needle scaler for a given task requires selection of the power used to vibrate the needles and the body shape of the scaler.
Straight shaft and pistol grip are the two types of needle scaler bodies commonly used in the construction and automotive industries. The shape of the body does not affect how the tool works, but it does affect how the operator handles the tool and his or her comfort level during operation. A pistol needle scaler allows the user to apply more downward force on a material, but reduces the distance a scaler can reach. These types of scalers are common when the operator is working in an area with little or no obstructions. In tight spots or areas that require a greater reach, straight bodied scalers are needed.
After selecting the body of the scaler, the next task is to select the types of needles to be installed in the end of the scaler. Chisel point needles use a sharp, flattened point to give texture to harder materials. Pointed needles apply force to a smaller area. These types of needles remove paint, weld slag, and corrosion from harder materials like metal and stone. The needles are interchangeable and keeping multiple sets of needles around increases the versatility of the tool.
Two types of feed power the vibrating action of the scaler needles. Pneumatic scalers use a constant supply of air to vibrate the needles when removing or texturing materials. This type of scaler has fewer moving parts and requires less maintenance than an electric scaler. Unlike a pneumatic scaler, electric scalers don’t require bulky air compressors to operate, allowing them to operate with less setup time. Both types of scalers require adequate safety measures to ensure operator safety.
The pressure required to remove and structure the material sends the particles flying through the air at high speeds. Safety goggles and a visor are required to protect the operator’s eyes. Respirators or dust masks prevent the scaler operator from inhaling the dust created during operation. The use of proper safety measures while using a needle scaler will keep the material removal and texturing process safe for an operator.
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