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[Roger2561]

Here's a question someone at work asked me this morning - He wants to know if there is a test out there that one can perform on their OWB of a pending leak before one sees water pouring from it?  Does such technology exist?  I said I'd check with the pro's on this site.  Thanks, Roger

[JTS717]

We have a small machine at work that can measure the thickness of any metal by simply touching the end of a probe to one side of it.  But I'm thinking it is a $10,000+ machine.  We use it for measuring how much bolts stretch in our engines.  I have also heard of guys having them ultrasound tested.  I don't know how much that would cost.

[walkerdogman85]

You can have an x-Ray done or a UT test done, they would probably be expensive! We use both methods at work in a coal fired boiler. The UT test is just a probe that measures metal thickness. It would take some time just grid your water jacket off and go. The metal needs to be clean though. Neither test is practical though for the home owner I'm guessing..

[mlappin]

Poor ass farmer way, take a small ball peen hammer and tap it, a dent means thin metal. How it sounds will also reflect how thin its getting, I can go by sound, my Dad is deaf in one ear and has tinnitus in the other.

[BoilerHouse]

Ultrasound test for metal thickness and magnetic particle test for metal integrity.  Done by trained technicians and very expensive.  Where I live, its the law for historic riveted boilers - every 10 years.

[Bondo]

Poor ass farmer way, take a small ball peen hammer and tap it, a dent means thin metal. How it sounds will also reflect how thin its getting, I can go by sound, my Dad is deaf in one ear and has tinnitus in the other.

Ayuh,....    A few years ago, I took my little welder out to a Bud's place, 'cause his Owb(donno the brand or model) had sprung a Leak,....

He took down the cabinet, insulation, 'n what not, 'fore I got there,...
The visible leak has 2/3rds back, up near top, towards the back, by the vent,...
1 leaker, some surface rust, gettin' to better lookin' metal further away,...
In order to see how big of a patch I needed, I took my weldin' chippin' hammer, the real pointy end, 'n began poundin' on the area,...
'bout 8", maybe 10" out from the leaker, I finally hit metal, that I didn't puncture with the hammer,...
A couple inches beyond that point is where I fit the patch to, 'n welded it up,...
So far,....   so good,...

The trouble with the pointy hammer test is,...
Ya gotta be ready to do the repairs,... then, 'n there,.....