Cool Tool Alert - Needle scaler

I'm sure Pete knows what this is but I had no idea this tool existed. And it's SO. COOL.

I was just cleaning up the corrosion on my hitch and this thing just blasts off the rust and scale buildup effortlessly. So fun. Probably going to hit some areas on the frame just to keep up with the corrosion here in the salt belt. Can't wait.

Looks like this in use:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJRf6zrulC4

Friggin' 30 bucks at HF Needle Scaler at HF

You know, not too bad as far as CFM. Certainly had my 30gal Oiled compressor cycling but the amount of work per CFM is insane. A zip here, a zip there, huge amounts of work accomplished per blast! I'd say it uses less air than my die grinder or cutoff wheel FWIW.

That said, it's time to get the big-dog compressor soon and go up to 22oV.

Quincy's are advertised as US made

Gary S wrote: Quincy's are advertised as US made

Quincy was on my list until I started looking into them farther. The advertising loophole is they are assembled in the US but use some off shore components. The compressor itself is Chinese and uses aluminum pistons. Being real up and close with 550 Hp of compressor at the plant gave me some great inside information.

Here's something I also found on Quincy's own website:
"In 2004, we expanded into Kunshan, China,"

BTW, my real first choice (Joel you'll love this with your love for German equipment) is a Kaiser 5 HP rotary screw but, $$$$$$$

[QUOTE=Gary S] In reality neither one of you need to spend more than 2K on a compressor unless your doing it for bragging rights. /QUOTE]
The Curtis I'm getting is below 2K.

Gary,
The intent of building my shop has always been to make money. If it wasn't for all the stuff from my move filling the shop, I'd have a boat in here right now. It's funny you pictured the blast cabinet because that's the main reason for my looking at a compressor. They really use the air even if you are using a very small grit media and a very small nozzle. I typically run Black Beauty blasting some pretty old rusty parts and am tired of blasting for 15 seconds and then waiting for 3 minuets for my 2 HP compressor to recover. Also, I can barely make it through a long period of time with my siphon feed spray gun. A HVLP is even worse. I'm impressed that your Sears has lasted all the years and as with my 2 HP, we are exceeding the duty cycles. Besides the blast cabinet, I'm also factoring in the possibility of 2 pneumatic demands at the same time so I don't feel the 5 HP is going past my needs. Longevity? Yes, I've always been of a mind set that going the best is better plus, I do happen to prefer buying items made in the USA. The only tool that's given up on me so far is my old Porter Cable belt sander that I got in high school! Many an hour as well as several sets of brushes in it!

How are you running a 6HP compressor off of a 120V receptacle?

Also if anyone was ever in the Navy they would recognize a needle scaler in the dark, blindfolded with mittens on. Think they issue you one when you check onto a skimmer. After all if it doesn't move it needs to be repainted every couple of days. Spent many a day in the boiler room of a destroyer with one of these bad boys, going deaf, and getting numb hands chipping paint from bilges and frame member under the boilers. Ah the good old days.

8122pbrainard wrote: mark c wrote: How are you running a 6HP compressor off of a 120V receptacle? . He's not!! 8122pbrainard wrote: Joel, I remember when you were out shopping for a compressor deciding on the 30 gal. I'm glad it worked out for you. I also remember discussing the importance of the CFM rating and not the peak HP's people are being fooled into believing.. The HP's are all BS on the import home center compressors and the reason you need to be very careful

LOL.....I had three requirements at the time. It had to be at least 30 gallon and 120V and be portable. I bought it, plugged it in and used it. I could care less how much HP it says it has or how much it realistically has or how much CFM it's running. It's done everything I've asked of it without failure. Even if it completely self destructs tomorrow, it's paid for itself 100 times over. I hope you can say the same thing for your compressor 20 years from now.

Well your young enough to buy a good tool and it will last you as long as you need it. I have maybe 20 years to go and my son has a -50 interest in getting his hands dirty. Some things hardly get used anymore not really worth it to buy the most expensive and best version when a Harbor Freight one will do the job. I see no positive gain in selling my stuff at a garage sale for 20 cents on the dollar

Donald,
Wow! Thanks for the information. It sure sounds like you have done the research and I need to do more. Wanting to stick with a USA compressor, I'll need to rethink what to buy.

BTW, single phase motors are available up to 15 HP. beyond that it's common to utilize a VFD with single phase input running a 3 phase induction motor plus there are still some repulsive inductions still around but big $$$.

Qunner- LOL

But with that Holley mounted on it Pete I'd be more concerned with fuel consumption than water usage!   

81nautique wrote: But with that Holley mounted on it Pete I'd be more concerned with fuel consumption than water usage!

Wait until I get the turbo hooked up!   

Nice exchanger Pete. I normally just drop an extra 100' of air hose in a trash can full of water when painting. From there to the water separator and the results have been quite good. When I retire I will rig up something cool like you did.

baitkiller wrote: Nice exchanger Pete. I normally just drop an extra 100' of air hose in a trash can full of water when painting. From there to the water separator and the results have been quite good. .

John,
Excellent idea! Isn't there a saying about necessity being the mother of invention?   

The brazed plate will be wall mounted higher than the tank so condensation will drain into the tank where an auto condensate dump off the bottom of the tank will go to drain. Thankfully I thought ahead when I built the shop and had a floor drain installed in the utility room. I have a friend who didn't and had to run the drain hose through a hole in the wall. It freezes in the winter!!