--- title: Magnaflux Crack Inspection, Reno NV | Wolf Machine url: https://wolfmachinenv.com/services/magnaflux-inspection/ business: Wolf Machine & Fabrication, Inc. address: 4812 Longley Ln, Reno, NV 89502 phone: (775) 359-5570 hours: Shop Monday-Friday 7:00 am-3:30 pm; closed Saturday and Sunday type: Metal and plastic fabrication and machining (custom and CNC machining, welding, metal and plastic fabrication, gearbox and part repair, align boring, metal spray) --- [Photo: Stock photo: measuring a part with a caliper at an inspection bench] - [Home](https://wolfmachinenv.com/) - [Services](https://wolfmachinenv.com/services/) - Magnaflux crack inspection # Magnaflux crack inspection for iron and steel parts Magnaflux is magnetic particle inspection. It shows surface and near-surface cracks in iron and steel parts so you know the part is sound before you weld it, rebuild it or put it back in service. Stock photo: measuring a part with a caliper at an inspection bench A crack you cannot see is the most expensive kind. We do magna fluxing at our Reno shop and use it ahead of repairs where a crack would change the plan: a shaft that failed, a housing that took a shock load, a weld repair on a casting. The method works on magnetic metals, which covers most steel and cast iron parts that come through the shop. ## At a glance - Finds surface and near-surface cracks - For iron and steel parts - Done before repair welds and rebuilds - Finds cracks at or just under the surface Love working with these guys, and gal. Great customer service and knowledgeable skill base. They have helped with many big projects and have always pulled though when our machines went down. JoHannah W. ยท Google review, March 2017 [Leave us a Google review](https://search.google.com/local/writereview?placeid=ChIJVWVOfCI_mYARibcFMPsDEKc) ## How magnetic particle inspection works The part is magnetized. A crack at the surface interrupts the magnetic field and makes it leak out of the metal. Fine iron particles, applied dry or in a liquid, gather at that leak and draw a line right over the crack. Under good light, a crack that was invisible shows up as a clear mark. Magnetic particle testing finds cracks at or just under the surface of iron and steel. It does not size a crack deep inside a thick part, so when a crack shows up we look at the part with you and decide whether to repair it or make a new one. ## Magnetic metals The method relies on the metal carrying a magnetic field, so it is for iron, carbon steel, alloy steel and tool steel. That is the bulk of industrial shafts, pins, housings and gear parts, which is where inspection earns its keep. ## Where it fits in a job Inspection comes first, because it decides the repair. A crack at a keyway or a shoulder may call for a new shaft instead of a rebuilt one. A crack in a casting is ground out and welded before any machining. Our guide on [repair or replace](https://wolfmachinenv.com/guides/repair-or-replace/) uses crack checks as the first step. The check is part of the rebuild for [pump and turbine shafts](https://wolfmachinenv.com/services/pump-and-turbine-repair/), [gearbox parts](https://wolfmachinenv.com/services/gearbox-repair/) and [crusher parts](https://wolfmachinenv.com/services/crusher-and-screen-parts-repair/). ## Reading the result A crack shows up as a sharp, narrow line of particles. A scratch or machining mark shows up less sharply, and a change in the shape of the part can show up as a broad fuzzy band. Telling them apart comes from looking at many parts. You get a plain answer on what was found, where it runs and what it means for the repair. ## What to send Leave the part unwashed if the break is fresh, or note how it failed. Photos, the part name and what it does help us plan. Call [(775) 359-5570](tel:(775)%20359-5570) or attach them to the quote request. ### Sources - [Magnetic particle inspection (Wikipedia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetic_particle_inspection) (2026-10-18) - [NDE-Ed.org (Iowa State University Center for NDE), Magnetic particle testing](https://www.nde-ed.org/NDETechniques/MagParticle/index.xhtml) (2026-10-18) ### When to have a part checked - Before weld repair on a cracked casting or frame - After a shaft, pin or housing has failed in service - Before a costly rebuild, so you do not rebuild a cracked part - After a repair weld, to confirm the crack is gone - Parts that carry shock or fatigue load ### Typical parts - Shafts and pins - Housings and castings - Housings and castings - Welded repairs ### Materials [Steels and steel alloys](https://wolfmachinenv.com/materials/steel-and-steel-alloys/) [Tool steels](https://wolfmachinenv.com/materials/tool-steels/) [All materials we machine](https://wolfmachinenv.com/materials/) ### How to send us the job Have a print? Attach it to the quote request. No print? Photos of every face, the sizes you know and the machine the part came from are a good start, and you can bring the part in. [Request a quote](#quote) [What to put on a drawing](https://wolfmachinenv.com/guides/what-to-put-on-a-drawing/) ### Talk to the shop [(775) 359-5570](tel:(775)%20359-5570) | Monday to Friday | 7:00 am - 3:30 pm | |---|---| | Saturday and Sunday | Closed | [Request a quote](#quote) ### Related - [Welding, all types](https://wolfmachinenv.com/services/welding/) - [Cast iron welding repair](https://wolfmachinenv.com/services/cast-iron-welding/) - [Repair or replace: deciding what to do with a worn part](https://wolfmachinenv.com/guides/repair-or-replace/) - [Tool steels](https://wolfmachinenv.com/materials/tool-steels/) ### Questions about this service - [Is metal spray as strong as new metal?](https://wolfmachinenv.com/faq/is-metal-spray-as-strong-as-new-metal/) ## Work from the shop [Photo: A grinder assembly: machined cutter housing between thick plate end flanges, coupled to an electric motor on a fabricated base] Job 02 A grinder assembly: machined cutter housing between thick plate end flanges, coupled to an electric motor on a fabricated base. [Photo: An inline grinder unit: bolted cutter housing with threaded ports, coupled to its electric motor on a steel base] Job 03 An inline grinder unit: bolted cutter housing with threaded ports, coupled to its electric motor on a steel base. [Photo: An industrial gearbox housing (speed reducer)] Job 11 An industrial gearbox housing (speed reducer). [See all our work](https://wolfmachinenv.com/gallery/) ## Related services - [Gearbox repair and rebuilding](https://wolfmachinenv.com/services/gearbox-repair/) - [Hydraulic cylinder repair](https://wolfmachinenv.com/services/hydraulic-cylinder-repair/) - [Pump, shaft and turbine repair](https://wolfmachinenv.com/services/pump-and-turbine-repair/) - [Electric motor shaft and endbell repair](https://wolfmachinenv.com/services/electric-motor-shaft-and-endbell-repair/) - [Rotary valve and airlock rebuilding](https://wolfmachinenv.com/services/rotary-valve-and-airlock-rebuilding/) - [Rock crusher and screen parts repair](https://wolfmachinenv.com/services/crusher-and-screen-parts-repair/) ## Magnaflux crack inspection questions Still have a question? Call [(775) 359-5570](tel:(775)%20359-5570), Monday to Friday, 7:00 am to 3:30 pm. ### Does Magnaflux find cracks inside the part? It finds cracks at the surface and just under it. It is the right method for surface-breaking cracks in steel and iron. ### Do I need to strip the paint off first? Heavy coatings, rust and grease are cleaned from the area being checked. Send photos of the part as it is and we will say what needs to be done. [Photo: Stock photo: a lathe turning a bar, hot chips flying] ## Request a quote Tell us what you need, attach a drawing or photos of the part, and we will get back to you during shop hours. Free consultations; prompt estimates. [Call (775) 359-5570](tel:(775)%20359-5570) - From your specifications, drawings or samples. We can also assist you in designing your product or part. - Free consultations and prompt estimates - Stands behind the work: Our rates are very competitive and our quality is second-to-none. Wolf Machine stands behind the work we perform. - Company accounts: all major credit cards, or we can open an account for your company Shop hours Monday to Friday, 7:00 am to 3:30 pm. Send your request any time and we will get back to you during shop hours. Stock photo: a lathe turning a bar, hot chips flying