| Operation and use | | | | paint should be applied as soon as possible after |
| A needle gun has a set of very fine chisels | | | | chipping. If flash rusting occurs prior to coating, |
| known as needles. The tool forces these needles | | | | further chipping, cleaning and sanding may be |
| against a work surface at variable speeds up to | | | | necessary. |
| around 5,000 times per minute. Different models | | | | See also |
| offer choices of number of needles, operating | | | | Nautical portal |
| speed, and power levels. Many models use | | | | Abrasive blasting |
| compressed air, although electrical needle-guns do | | | | Corrosion |
| exist. | | | | Rust |
| In a pneumatic unit, compressed air forces a | | | | Wire brush |
| piston forwards and backwards. This movement | | | | Notes |
| causes the needles to move back and forth | | | | ^ U.S. Navy, 2006. |
| against the work surface. | | | | ^ a b c d e f g h Miller, 2008. |
| An able seaman uses a needlegun to remove | | | | ^ Park, 1984. |
| scale while refurbishing a mooring winch. | | | | ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l NAVSEA, 2008. |
| The needle gun has advantages over other scaling | | | | ^ a b c NETC, 2003, p. 11-10. |
| tools. Its main advantage is that the needles | | | | ^ Nitto Kohki, 2008. |
| automatically adjust themselves to contours, | | | | References |
| making the tool a good choice for cleaning | | | | Miller, Jason (2008-01-30). "Needle Scaler and |
| irregular surfaces. A needle gun can clean an area | | | | Debris Removal". Free Online Library. Free Online |
| to bare metal in seconds, and compares well to | | | | Library. Retrieved 2008-04-05. |
| other scaling tools in terms of accuracy and | | | | Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) (2008). |
| precision. | | | | "Chapter 7: Submarine Forces Afloat Painting and |
| It is recommended that before needlegunning, a | | | | Preservation Guidelines for Non-Nuclear Spaces |
| surface be prepared by removing oil, grease, dirt, | | | | and Components". Contracted Ship Maintenance. |
| chemicals and water-soluble contaminants. This | | | | Joint Fleet Maintenance Manual - Rev A Change 7. |
| can be done with solvents or with a combination | | | | VI. United States Navy. VI/VI-Ch-07.htm. |
| of detergent and fresh water. | | | | Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) |
| Then, the needle gun is used to remove rust, | | | | (2003) . "Chapter 11: Painting". NAVEDTRA 14343: |
| loose mill scale and paint, leaving bare metal. It is | | | | Boatswain's Mate. Nonresident Training Manuals. |
| used most effectively by holding it at a 90 angle | | | | Pensacola, Florida: United States Navy. Retrieved |
| to the work surface. It is recommended that an | | | | 2008-04-05. |
| area no larger than six to eight inches be cleared | | | | Park, Sharon (1984). "#13: The Repair and |
| at once. Two to three passes over an area is | | | | Thermal Upgrading of Historic Steel Windows". |
| generally sufficient to clean it. Then the process is | | | | Preservation Briefs. Government Publishing Office. |
| repeated until the desired area is completed. | | | | Retrieved 2008-04-05. |
| Prior to painting, it is desirable to feather any | | | | Nitto Kohki (2008). "EJC-32A Electric Needle |
| edges between metal and old paint. It is also | | | | Scaler". Nitto Kohki USA. Retrieved 2008-04-05. |
| important to check the surface for oil deposited | | | | U.S. Navy (2006-03-23). "Eye on the Fleet". Navy |
| during chipping, and if necessary, clean the area | | | | NewsStand. United States Navy. Retrieved |
| with solvents. Since bare metal surfaces will flash | | | | 2008-04-05. |
| rust soon after exposure to the atmosphere, | | | | |