Bloo Posted July 18, 2023 Share Posted July 18, 2023 Who can magnaflux a radiator fan blade? I have pretty much exhausted local options, except for one I am probably not going to use. I'm now considering mailing it somewhere. Any suggestions? Good experiences with some specific company? Thanks. I may have posted this before but lost track of the thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fordy Posted July 18, 2023 Share Posted July 18, 2023 Hi Bloo - obviously you are looking for cracks. If you don't locate someone try the spray on dyes that will highlight cracks under UV light or alternatively a strong magnet on the piece and dust with iron filings - there should be a definite concentration along any fracture line as it will create opposing magnetic poles. Cheers Steve 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloo Posted July 18, 2023 Author Share Posted July 18, 2023 There is a guy who can do the dye testing near the local airport. I don't remember the exact cost but pretty high. I understand magnetic testing can detect smaller cracks. Just a plain magnet will do? that's good to know. I've wanted to get this Pontiac fan tested for years because it's construction looks exactly like the later Hupmobile one that has a reputation for coming apart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fordy Posted July 18, 2023 Share Posted July 18, 2023 Plain magnet will work but the stronger the better. If you think about those old diagrams showing magnetic flux where it has greater density at the poles then a crack will act as 2 poles a N & S and the flux converges and is concentrated there so the filings will be thicker at that point. Iron is better rather than steel filings as they are a more powdery form but either will work. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
31Buick96S Posted July 18, 2023 Share Posted July 18, 2023 Either a local crank grinder or cylinder head specialist should have magnaflux equipment. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloo Posted July 19, 2023 Author Share Posted July 19, 2023 Thanks for all the responses! There is one local outfit who have equipment or so I'm told. The last time I took them something it was for press work and they missed by half an inch and then tried to convince me I had imagined it. It was a long time ago and no doubt there is different staff now but I'm not in a wild rush to go back there for anything. I think I'm looking to mail this fan somewhere. Any leads on competent magnetic powder testing would be appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank DuVal Posted July 19, 2023 Share Posted July 19, 2023 Well, for about $1200 you can become the guy who does small parts! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hemi Joel Posted July 19, 2023 Share Posted July 19, 2023 Where are you located? I'm in Minnesota, and I could do it if you stop by. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloo Posted July 19, 2023 Author Share Posted July 19, 2023 Wenatchee, WA... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted July 19, 2023 Share Posted July 19, 2023 I'd probably try something like this first: https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/articles/testing-cracks-home-diy-dye-penetrants/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TTR Posted July 19, 2023 Share Posted July 19, 2023 As someone already mentioned, I’d think any crankshaft grinder, cylinder head/engine machine shop should be able to do it. My go-to engine machine shop (here in SoCal) recently checked a Cord 812 transaxle case for/with me, took us about 10-15 minutes or so because I wanted to photo-document couple of small (non-critical) fractures that showed up with black light. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Restorer32 Posted July 19, 2023 Share Posted July 19, 2023 We have all our magnafluxing done by a local NAPA machine shop. Any shop that rebuilds engines should have the necessary equipment and expertise. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldtech Posted July 20, 2023 Share Posted July 20, 2023 Local aircraft shop should be able to do it too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHuDWah Posted July 22, 2023 Share Posted July 22, 2023 On 7/18/2023 at 3:21 AM, Bloo said: There is a guy who can do the dye testing near the local airport. I don't remember the exact cost but pretty high. I understand magnetic testing can detect smaller cracks. Just a plain magnet will do? that's good to know. I've wanted to get this Pontiac fan tested for years because it's construction looks exactly like the later Hupmobile one that has a reputation for coming apart. Neodymium magnets are the strongest commercially available. They stick to anything iron/steel and I sometimes have trouble pulling them off - have to slide them off the edge of whatever they're stuck on. Home Depot has them in different sizes/shapes and they're not very expensive. My old fingers are no longer nimble and I have trouble threading in screws, especially small ones. I stick a magnet on the screwdriver shaft and it's strong enough to hold the screw on the blade, so I can start/tighten it easy-peasy. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloo Posted July 24, 2023 Author Share Posted July 24, 2023 Thanks for the responses. Unfortunately I pretty much exhausted local options before I posted this. I do know someone who does a lot of cylinder head work. I'll give him a call on Monday and see if he can do it. Unfortunately he is about 3 hours away. It might be worth the drive to finally get this done. Otherwise I guess it's neo magnets and hope I don't miss anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloo Posted August 6, 2023 Author Share Posted August 6, 2023 Well, I guess I dropped the ball on that, I still haven't called that guy. In another couple of days I'll have a couple of Mazda hubs I'd like to get checked as well. It is a long drive from here, but I'll do it if no better options pop up. Anyone know if I need to strip the paint off the fan blade? I suspect so, but I'm not sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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