Visual inspection kit needed

Date 11-03-2005 15:12

Do a search for welding inspection tools on the net. Also try nondestructive testing equipment. I did this the other day and found a couple of sights that have what you are looking for. Go to ndtsupply.com or tedndt.com. I know that one or both of these sites have kits that you can custom make with the tools you pick out.

By swnorris (****)

Date 11-03-2005 18:08

Try this link:

http://www.normas.com/AWS/pages/TK%20INCH.html

By CHGuilford (****)

Date 11-04-2005 17:44

I accumulated my inspection tools piecemeal from many sources, including the local welding supply stores.
Some items were purchased from GAL Gage company, who also sells kits.

I suggest starting out with a good flashlight (inspectors never have enough flashlights), telescoping mirror, fillet gauges, tape measure, and 6 inch steel rule. Then add other items as you see the need.

I would avoid cheap quality tools and gauges; it's hard to be taken seriously when your flashlight keeps falling apart.

Chet Guilford

By tito

Date 11-04-2005 19:54

I don't know why I didnt mention GAL Gage co specifically. I think the most useful, multipurpose single tool I use is the "bridge cam gage". That little thing can check almost everthing; fillet size, throat, depth of undercut, reinforcement, mis-match, bevel angle. I highly recomend this one.

By thirdeye (***)

Date 11-06-2005 01:43

tito,

I agree about the "bridge cam" gage that GAL offers, a great tool. I own many of their gages. They have some of the nicest fillet weld blades because you can get sets with markings on BOTH sides. And as Chet mentioned they sell kits, I think you can customize your own kit too.

This is sort of a tangent, but 20 or 25 years ago, I owned gages from The Welding Institute of Cambridge, England that were just like the "bridge cam". We called them Cambridge gages. When I made my first order with GAL, I thought the catalog had a typo when it referred to "bridge cam" instead of "Cambridge" and I pointed out the error to them. They said they had never heard of a Cambridge gage. Does anyone else remember these???

~thirdeye~

By - Date 11-07-2005 13:15

This type of gauge was first offered by the IIW. They are located in Cambridge so that became the nickname of the gauge. GAL's "Bridge Cam" came along later and is an obvious rip-off of the "Cambridge" gauge.
I prefer GAL's gauge, however. The main feature that sets them apart in my mind is the "theoretical throat" scale. You just set this to the specified fillet weld leg size and you can measure the throat without having to do any calculation.
Mankenberg

By CHGuilford (****)

Date 11-07-2005 17:24

I remember that GAL Gage used to advertise the "Bridgecam" gauge as the Cambridge gauge. They renamed the gauge and made improvements to appeal to the welding public.

Around 1992, I purchased my skewed fillet gage from GAL Gage and it came stamped with MQ&S as the manufacturer. GAL had recently acquired the manufacturing rights and bought the remaining inventory, including the companion slide cards.
Extrapolating from that, if the Cambridge gauge was developed by someone else then I would assume GAL bought the rights to that gauge as well.

Chet Guilford

By mraschis (*)

Date 11-05-2005 01:33

I have two welding inspection kits. I have pictures if you what to see it send me your e-mail