Anyone still making good air tools?

[zubzub]

  When there is a dust problem I turn on my big shopvac, set it up so it catches the dust plume and go for it.  I have a long hose and make sure the shop vac is outside.  I can cut tile in a finished btrm, even use a shop vac with my NO sander to sand a wall in a finished home, no air borne dust, just a little heavy stuff falls to the floor.  Never underestimate the power of a flat pry bar being driven by  a hammer, also a throw away chisel, hammer driven , sharpen with your grinder. I have tried using air chisels not too effective on rubbery/bouncy stuff, but mine isn't great.  I have a big Bosch electric hammer drill that has a hammer only mode, even then not great on rubbery stuff.  BTW watch out for fires in your shop vac.  Saw dust and sparks make a lethal combination.

[belfert]

To clarify, the rubber and sheet metal are coming out as one piece.  The sheet metal is actually glued to sheet aluminum that is the actual step.  The rubber is really tough stuff and no way I am I ever getting it loose from the sheet metal.

I've been trying a pry bar and beating on the pry bar with a hammer to no avail.  I am hoping the air hammer might work.  At $20 for a cheap air hammer I can't go too wrong.

[skipn]

   Just a curious question....
     What are your plans for covering the steps..... once you get the old stuff out?

     Maybe it would have been easier to attach the new floor covering to the rubber.

   Skip
     

[luvrbus]

Belfert, have you tried getting a small spot started and using acetone it will dissolve most glues.buy some nail polish remover or a small can of acetone and try it if you haven't already but make sure you use it in a well vented area

[Sammy]

Belfert, the step tread should be one piece - rubber bonded to metal, then it's secured to the stepwell. That's how most of them are made. I use an air chisel with a flat blade to get them out.
Prep stepwell surface before installing new step treads - scrape old glue. I use a DA sander with 80 grit paper to scuff up surface, so new glue will hold properly.Put glue on bottom of new step tread and on stepwell surface too, let it tack up then install it. Caulk around edges if needed to keep out water and dirt.
Hope this might help. Best of luck with your project. 

[belfert]

Sammy, that is exactly what I have.  Thanks for confirming that an air chisel will work.

I am putting aluminum tread plate in place of the rubber.  I might not have started to remove the rubber if I knew how much work it would be.  The steps are made of multiple pieces of rubber with little seams in between.  It is very hard to sweep dust and dirt out so that is the reason for replacement.