Any Source for X-Raying

[Jim McKee]

Any company that can X-Rays Damascus barrels?
Thanks!
Jim

[Drew Hause]

Jim: any industrial NDT lab could x-ray the barrels, the problem is in interpreting the findings. No standards exist for radiography of pattern welded barrels, and x-rays can not differentiate between defects within the barrel wall, and pits on the interior surface.



Some information may be found here
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1...vwLYc-kGA/edit

It has been my hope that a NDT expert with access to testing facilities, and doublegun interest, might develop a pattern welded barrel evaluation service. To my knowledge that has not yet occured.

[Phil C]

I can not think of a standard NDTprocess that would accurately test Damascus barrels. I believe a person with a little work could put together an adapter to test these barrels for cracks or pits that penetrate the walls using an air conditioning ( Freon) servicing cart.
Using rubber plugs adapted to the servicing hoses you could pull a vacuum of 28-29". Even the most minuet leak will drop the vacuum very quickly. If a leak is detected a small test charge of freon could be charged into the barrel being tested, and using a freon leak tester the leak could be pinpointed. Even leaks that are hidden under the ribs would be detected.
I guess a person could also use a fluorescent penetrant inside the plugged barrels and a low pressure applied. This would allow any crack that is not under the ribs to be seen under a black light. Unfortunately if there is a surface crack that has not penetrated completely through these tests would not work.

[Drew Hause]

There are a few smiths with experience doing Penetrant Dye Testing; Rocky Hays is one. The problem again is in the interpretation of the findings, and inability to identify flaws/defects/inclusions within the barrel wall





The metallurgical engineer and NDT supervisor at TEAM Industrial Services with whom I worked thought radiology would be a better test


I'm glad we're discussing this again, and hope someone might decide testing pattern welded barrels (short of proof testing) could be commercially viable

[Drew Hause]

BTW: lots of confident, and completely erroneous, statements were made here
http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/...=7498#Post7498

[edgarspencer]

Originally Posted by Drew Hause

BTW: lots of confident, and completely erroneous, statements were made here
http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/...=7498#Post7498

[Robert Delk]

I know that some doctors have developed a process for x-raying old decoys to show repairs,the age of paint and other things to determine the originality of the decoy. Perhaps there are some radiologists with an interest in guns that could develop a procedure for shotgun barrels. I guess the cost of some decoys,over 500,000 bucks for some and 5 figures for most "good' ones, has driven the incentive to find a way to detect flaws and faking.Maybe not worth it on a shotgun worth a couple of grand.