Field Measurements 1

[SteelPE]

How do you determine the thickness of HSS squares and rounds in the field? Is there a way to estimate the thickness based upon field measurements, or is this something you would need an ultrasonic thickness gauge for?

Also, has anyone used an ultrasonic thickness guage for such measurements in the past? What kind of results should you expect with regards for accuracy and tolerances from the mill?

 

[azcats]

I used a Phase II brand thickness gauge for years and it worked well. My primary use was large diameter pipes. I think it was $800 new in about 2005.

Main problem I had was when dealing with a pipe that had several coats of paint or an epoxy coating under the paint. I often couldn't get consistent readings with the many coats of paint or no reading whatsoever with the epoxy coating. I didn't do a lot of this so I never really proceeded with the next step in solving that problem which would have been to keep in my kit a battery powered angle grinder with a stiff wire wheel along with a rattlecan of primer/paint.

HSS is a bit more consistent with thickness and sticking to nominal sizes. These large diameter pipes can be made from any thickness of plate and are often made to some oddball thickness for a hundred mile pipeline with specific requirements and then the surplus is sold on the market and often used structurally.

Although looking thru their website now, it appears Phase II might have gauges that can deal with coatings if you're willing to spend 4 figures.

Also - being consistent with how much coupling fluid I used (along with consistent pressure on the probe) when calibrating and working made my results more consistent/reliable. But as you note, we're not measuring wall thickness of a pipe for coolant in a nuclear power plant.