In a message dated 06/04/2003 5:58:33 AM Central Daylight Time,
jerryvv@alltel.net writes:
> Years ago when I worked for the Navy Nuclear Program I was
> trained in various Nondestructive Testing methods and Penetrate Testing was
> one of them. It is true that improper cleaning will mask a small crack and
> therefore invalidate the test. He was not pulling your leg.
> It should also be noted that Mag Particle testing can only be done on
> materials that can be magnetized. Since aluminum can not be magnetized it
> won't work and Penetrant Testing is your only economical choice.
>
Amici:
My two cents....as arguably the owner of the worlds largest collection of
original ARW Silverstone MAG wheels, I too have been doing Penetrate Testing
for
years. I use a local nondestructive testing outfit that specializes in
testing wheels for the airlines. They told me they did my wheels as a sort of
'favor' to me, but their invoices suggested it was rather a high end Pension
Plan
for top management. When I saw the area in their shop that was dedicated to
this procedure, I was less than impressed. Sure didn't seem very High Tech.
Looked like something one could set up in your garage, with a black light and
some canvas tarps. Most of their shop was dedicated to XRAY testing. Isn't
that another option open to us?
About the only thing I proved with my testing was that original ARW
Silverstones WILL NOT stand up to modern power and rubber. Accent on the
latter. I
have almost three dozen wheels, but only three of them are still crack free. I
just put four on my current daily driver, a freshly restored TR4. They sure
look neat.
Bill Dentinger
|