Boiler tube prep: I traded my die grinder for a needle scaler on a tight bundle job

Rowan Lewis · 2026-09-07T04:20:03.830592+00:00

Had to replace 14 tubes in a tight economizer bundle down at the PSE&G plant in Jersey last month. My foreman swore by the needle scaler for knocking off old scale and fins, but I've always used a die grinder with a carbide bur. Gave the scaler a shot since the tube gaps were too narrow for my grinder, and honestly it saved me about 3 hours of fighting for access. Do you guys stick with one tool for tube prep or switch it up based on the bundle layout?

Talk Freely

Loading…

Boiler tube prep: I traded my die grinder for a needle scaler on a tight bundle job | Boilermakers - Talk Freely