Scope of this guide
Junior version: what you will see, what you record, and what you never touch. Recognise early, escalate fast.
Series: finishing.com recurring questions answered with platingclub line practice. Parameters are industry-standard starting ranges — confirm against your supplier TDS.
Triage: symptom → confirm → first move
| Symptom | Likely root | Confirm by | First move |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shiny oval spot on one face | Contact mark from dangler/door | Face map vs barrel contact points | Rotate parts; pad door contact |
| Bare kidney-shaped patch | Parts nested face-to-face | Nested pair in load sample | Media ratio up; load size down |
| Line across several parts | Barrel door edge rubbing | Track along door line | Door liner check |
| Ring at part edge | Media imprint | Media type check | Change media size/hardness |
| Mark repeats every load, same parts | Part geometry self-shadows | By-part-family pattern | Family-specific load card |
Recognise, record, escalate
| You see | You do | You never do |
|---|---|---|
| Oval shiny spot | Log which face and position | Buff it out and ship it |
| Nested pair found | Separate, add media, note in card | Force them apart dry |
| Door-line scratch | Report barrel number | Keep running to end of shift |
| Same part marked repeatedly | Flag the family for a load card | Blame the operator |
Engineer notes
- One variable per corrective action; verify with the confirm-by column.
- Records beat memory: log every trial on the tank card.
- Two failed actions in a row is a senior call — escalate with your log.
Safety: barrels pinch and loads are hot. Guards closed, hoist rated, heat gloves; lock-out before reaching anywhere near the door.
FAQ
What is a cat-eye mark?
A bare oval where the part rested against metal instead of plating. It maps to a contact point.
Two parts came out stuck together — now what?
Separate, add media to the load, log it: nesting is the cause, not bad luck.
Why log the face of the mark?
Faces map to barrel contacts and door — the pattern picks the fix.