Most economical/accurate hardness test

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BKT

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Feb 15, 2016
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What are you guys without the expensive equipment doing for hardness testing? Hardness files, chisels, etc? I just want piece of mind that each one of my knives is fully hardened (or fully tempered) but I dont have the $1500+ to spend on a nice hardness tester. Is there something under $500 that can be done that will give me a reading within 2-3 RC?
 
Following this thread with interest. At the moment I can only do 5hrc accuracy with hardness testing files.
 
I have been down this road and if you want to play you have to pay. If your on a budget your best bet is to did a used Wilson/Rockwell testor and fix it up. Stay away from the leeb style rebound testers. But let me ask this, do you have a reason to doubt your heat treat? If you do then maybe the money should be spent on upgrading your heat treating setup. Not meaning to be harsh just honest.
 
Sometimes there are Ames model 1 RC testers on ebay for $250 - $500. Just make sure it is the one that reads in B & C scale, they make one that reads in A scale.
 
No reason to doubt it. I have a digital oven and parks 50. Its really just piece of mind I am looking for, which is why I have a hard time investing $1500 in a machine that wont do anything but help me sleep better. I just hear those stories about that one off steel that wont harden or a bad batch or something that I would never want to leave my shop. I do the file test after quench but I was curious about more accurate ways.
 
Find a local machine shop of another maker with a good Rockwell tester. Both will likely test an occasional blade or two for free. At the most, the machine shop would charge you $5-$10 a test. Every now and then test a random blade. If it comes out around the projected hardness of your HT, all is good. If not adjust your HT and check the next few blades.

Some colleges and universities have departments with a hardness tester, too. They may be glad to test a few blades.

Even at $10 a blade, it will be a long time before you sped $1500. Also, a few dollars a month is a lot easier on the pocket than $1500 in one purchase.

Keep an eye on eBay and Craigslist. From time to time a tester comes up at a great price. Just make sure it has all the accessories, weights, a diamond indenter, Rockwell C scale , and a manual.
 
Alan Davis Knives said:
Sometimes there are Ames model 1 RC testers on ebay for $250 - $500. Just make sure it is the one that reads in B & C scale, they make one that reads in A scale.
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Does anyone own or have experience with one of these? This is the one I've been eyeballing.
 
what Stacy said, find a local machine shop that does heat treat and ask them to test a blade. a $10 bill or a can of good coffee and a box of donuts could go a long way. $750 to $1500 you could spend on a tester could go a long way in upgrading your shop
scott
 
I have a "PHR-1", which is a Chinese rip-off of the Ames tester. It can be found on eBay and elsewhere for $600-$650. It is consistent, small and light. The only downside is the lack of a calibration feature. If it reads 2 points high (as determined by testing one of the included calibration pieces), then actual hardness = measured hardness - 2.
 
P.Brewster said:
I have a "PHR-1", which is a Chinese rip-off of the Ames tester. It can be found on eBay and elsewhere for $600-$650. It is consistent, small and light. The only downside is the lack of a calibration feature. If it reads 2 points high (as determined by testing one of the included calibration pieces), then actual hardness = measured hardness - 2.
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Turn the dial on the reader back 2 points.
 
pleasanthill said:
Does anyone own or have experience with one of these? This is the one I've been eyeballing.
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I have one and test it often with test blocks, it is very accurate as you as long as you follow the procedure exact. I usually mount mine in a vise when testing, it frees up your other hand to turn the dials exact.
 
I had looked at the Ames testers and unless you find a killer deal on one (don't get the S model) thy can be as much as a good used bench top model. I have (had) been looking for one because I was questioning my hardness testor. It was giving me repeatable numbers but not what it should be as everything was high. Well I found a way to calibrate it and I'm ready to go. I got it for a killer deal but knowing what I know now I would have passed on it if it was not a steal. It's huge advantage is it makes a very tiny spot as it is a rebound testor. I know I said no rebound testors but this one was designed for thin stuff. It's s bench top modle and has a wheel that forces the blade down onto the anvil to keep it from bouncing. The mark is almost impossible to see of hardened steel that's 62hrc or greater. But if some one wanted to trade for a Wilson/Rockwell testor I would be all over it.
 
like said a few tiems i have a local tool and die shop tht has no problem now and then testing for free (when they are slow) and im sure a few bucks woudl cover any cost they woudl ask for and also like said even if its 10 bucks a blade it would take you years to get to 1500$ and more useful tools in the shop is what that $ woudl be better spent on
 
I've got a friend that works for Tupperware that tests their tooling, dies and molds that is going to help me out, but I will want my own in the future. I'd rather spend the money and do it myself when it's feasible. He says they have a benchtop one that hasn't been used in 15+ years I may see if they are willing to sell at a good price.

They use a PTC 316 portable unit now, which is a visual type you look through an eye piece and it has a scale that measures the dimple.
 
Willie71 said:
I have one of these, and am very happy with it.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-PHR-2-Small-Portable-Rockwell-Hardness-Tester-Sclerometer-/270914040758

I test it against the blocks every so often, and it's been dead on every time.
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P.Brewster said:
I have a "PHR-1", which is a Chinese rip-off of the Ames tester. It can be found on eBay and elsewhere for $600-$650. It is consistent, small and light. The only downside is the lack of a calibration feature. If it reads 2 points high (as determined by testing one of the included calibration pieces), then actual hardness = measured hardness - 2.
Click to expand...

I also have one of these. I like it very much. I'm impressed of how sturdy it feels, didn't expect that from a China-tool.

It was the best price/performance of a rockwell hardness tester I could find at that time. I've had it for about a year, and Ive done a lot of testing with it.
 
Ken H> said:
The HR150A hardness tester sold by Grizzly and others is a popular machine - right now it's $850 shipped from Grizzly:

http://www.grizzly.com/products/Hardness-Tester/G9645?utm_campaign=zPage

Of course, Grizzly has their own number on it, but it's sold by many different places.
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That's the one I have. It works great now that I have it setup and calibrated. Setup was kind of a pain, but that was because the instruction manual sucked, not the machine. You just want to make sure the pieces you're testing are finished correctly and free from oil or gunk. I'd say it's probably best to have a 220 grit finish before testing.
 
Keep your eye on Craigslist. I ended up finding a Wilson bench top model for a song and it ended up being at the die shop right across the street from the die shop I work at.

Jay
 
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