dye test rigging

[rdw]

I am thinking of doing an extra good inspection of my rigging this spring. The rigging was inspected 2 years ago with the mast down and all the fittings taken apart.
What is your esperience with the dye used to test or inspect for stainless cracks?
Do you have any specific product recommendations?
Thanks for any help.
RDW

[Gary M]

Metal inspectors use this technique all the time. I completly cleaned and tested my rod rigging last year. The cleaner they use does a very nice job and the dye penetrant does a good job when checking parts such as the swaged end of the rod.
Unfortunately the method does not work when you have a groove such as top and bottom at the swedges that are normally applied where the spreaders connect to the rod. The dye will stay in the groove there and tell you nothing. Unfortunately this is one of the problem areas since salt can sit in this little groove and casue problems.
Still worth doing but not fool proof.

Good luck
Gary