This paper is intended to demonstrate that in the lining of railroad tank cars the use of sponge detectors in search of pinholes has become so excessive that it is now obsessive. This obsession has resulted in greatly increased cost. It has provided little or no improvement in quality of product shipped. It has not increased the length of performance. Conversely, the search for pinholes, the resultant repair and retesting in many situations has resulted in a decrease in service life. Keywords: railcar lining, pinhole, holiday, pore, porosity, lining continuity