Guy at the supply house made me rethink how I prep tube sheets

I was bitching about how long it takes to clean out tube holes on a condenser retube, and this old timer says I should try a pneumatic needle scaler instead of a wire wheel. Took me 3 tubes to figure out the angle, and now I cut my prep time by like 40% on that 600-tube bundle last Thursday. Anyone else got a tool that changed how you tackle a specific job?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_joel7d ago

Honestly, did you read that article in the HVACR Journal a couple months back? They were talking about needle scalers for tube sheet cleaning and how guys are also using them to break loose stubborn gaskets on big chiller heads. Sounds like that old timer was onto something for sure. I bet the vibration helps knock the crud loose way better than a wire wheel ever could without gouging the metal.

jake_kelly247d ago

Totally agree, I actually tried it on a big chiller head last month and it worked way better than I expected. I mean, I was skeptical at first but that needle scaler just buzzed right through the old gasket without scratching the flange at all. Probably saved me a good hour of scraping and cursing compared to a wire wheel. idk why more guys don't use em for that, it's a game changer for sure.