Welding Tips and Tricks

Just wondering what do y'all prefer and if there any reason why?

I just like a wire wheel on a angle grinder

Joe,
There are several ways to look at that question. If it is a choice of one or the other, in would go chipping hammer, with the caviat that it is a high quality one and not a HF. Reason; you will be able to use it anywhere and this will teach you to weld better I have a needle scaler and it will work fine but I personally do not like the peen marks left behind. Also to consider, an employer or customer might not allow marks left by a needle scaler. Of course it can be just as bad with someone pecking with the chipping hammer. Steve brought up a point of a needle scaler would effectively peen the weld so it might be considered for cast repair. If it is a question of speed obviously the needle scaler wins hands down.
In the end I guess it all depends on what you need one or the other for.
-Jonathan

It was just out of curiousity where I work at when you get sent to welding school a needle gun and pecking hammer is standerd issue