[SEL] Finding ground off serial numbers

[Peter Scales]

Hi Peter

I'd guess and say that it wouldn't - hard-stamping of serial numbers deforms
the grain of the metal, rather than fracturing it.  Dye pen needs a fracture
or surface-breaking discontinuity to work.  It gets dragged into cracks by
capillary action, like tea goes up a sugar lump :)

All the best

     Pete
-- 
Peter Scales  

> -----Original Message-----
> From: sel-bounces at lists.stationary-engine.com 
> [mailto:sel-bounces at lists.stationary-engine.com] On Behalf Of 
> peter ogborne
> Sent: 06 November 2008 21:27
> To: The SEL email discussion list
> Subject: Re: [SEL] Finding ground off serial numbers
> 
> Peter ,just wondering how a dye penetrant would go.
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Peter Lowe" <plowe at exemail.com.au>
> To: "ATIS" <sel at lists.stationary-engine.com>; "Oldengine.org" 
> <stationary-engine at oldengine.org>
> Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2008 7:02 PM
> Subject: [SEL] Finding ground off serial numbers
> 
> 
> > Hi Guys
> >
> > I have a technical one for you gurus
> >
> > When I worked at the steel mill in Newcastle, Australia. 
> the laboratories 
> > were able to detect and read things that have been ground off.
> > The company engraved all their tools with BHP, the rouges 
> would grind that 
> > off and steal the tools. If caught at a gate bag inspection 
> with suspect 
> > tools, they could take them to the lab and detect the 
> engraved BHP. By 
> > stamping or engraving it alters the grain structure of the 
> steel and it 
> > can be picked up by some sort of spectrograph.
> > Does anyone in the US know of such a technique, I have a 
> R&V guy in Texas 
> > that needs to lift a serial number from a 4hp triumph line engine.
> >
> > Regards
> > Peter Lowe
> > R&V Engine Registrar
> > Australia
> > Ph: 61-266453455
> > http://www.oldengine.org/members/plowe/rv-engines/rvpage.htm
> > http://www.oldengine.org/members/plowe/rv-engines/rv-register.htm
> > _______________________________________________