PosiPen magnetic thickness coating gauge - video

[Jon]

PosiPen magnetic thickness coating gauge. Around $225 on Amazon.

15-second video:

[12bolts]

Surely that would require knowing the base metal composition at least.

[Jon]

Testing coating thickness with a holiday detector.

[Toolmaker51]

Surely that would require knowing the base metal composition at least.

Generally [any instance of my use] the PosiPen is ferrous materials. There are digital meters in the same price range measuring thickness on ferrous or non-ferrous with paints, plating or certain coatings.
Very broadly used in many industries, especially being an NDT [non-destructive test]. Electromagnetic induction is used for non-magnetic coatings on ferrous substrates such as steel. Eddy current principle is used for non-conductive coatings on non-ferrous metal substrates.
https://www.elcometer.com/en/coating...ess-gauge.html

[tonyfoale]

Testing coating thickness with a holiday detector.

What is a holiday detector? I know when I am on holiday, without any sparks.

[tonyfoale]

There are digital meters in the same price range measuring thickness on ferrous or non-ferrous with paints, plating or certain coatings.

For Xmas I got a digital ultra sonic thickness measurer. It works better than expected once I figured out how to use it properly. The documentation was naff. Where I could check measurements by other methods, calipers or mic, it proved to be quite accurate. It is an invaluable tool for checking thickness where you do not have access to both sides. It works on most metals and plastics. Some types of cast iron can not be measured due to reflections from voids and the carbon bits floating around.

[Moby Duck]

Don’t know if “holiday” is a generally used term, but in Naval terms it refers to gaps in the paint coating, big or small. They are looking for uncovered areas/pin holes in the paintwork.

[Toolmaker51]

Don’t know if “holiday” is a generally used term, but in Naval terms it refers to gaps in the paint coating, big or small. They are looking for uncovered areas/pin holes in the paintwork.

That is accurate; though coating holidays in our esteemed USN detectable by eye, being some portion the width of a roller or brush. On new work holidays are prevalent on texture of welds and seams. Later, they'll weep tiny trails of rust, undermining the point behind surface protection. But they have a ready supply of additional paint chippers and painters.

Industrially, especially manufactured products, inspection methods for holidays is substantially smaller. The charged brush is a low voltage method, but not so visible in normal lighting. Company made hydraulic reservoirs for military aircraft tow vehicles, a step shaped box with MIG welded ends and fittings. Before powder coating, welds were 100 percented @ 30 PSI and sudsy water; ~8' of weld and 6-7 fittings. They also were examined visually for weld residues, pitting, voids etc. The same areas were sparked for holidays after olive drab paint. Powder paint is highly effective, but obstructions and pockets are challenges. Residues and pitting don't receive paint well, mainly being non-conductive impurities.
Adhereing to MIL-SPEC requirements keep a lot of fabricators out of that work; only a few prosper. Built in; not bolted on.
Achieves what ISO-9000 series certifications of "Model for quality assurance in production, installation and servicing." wishes it could. Real quality results, not empty 'assurance' via administrative clowns.

[olderdan]

Don’t know if “holiday” is a generally used term, but in Naval terms it refers to gaps in the paint coating, big or small. They are looking for uncovered areas/pin holes in the paintwork.

I have heard decorators use that term but did not know it had naval origins.

[Scotsman Hosie]

What is a holiday detector? I know when I am on holiday, without any sparks.

Essentially a manual Hi-Pot Tester. In this iteration, used to check full coverage and thickness of coatings – on weld seams.