Review Tsubosan HRC Hardness Tester Files

O

old4570

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Yeah , this is not a BS review with file photos ................ No Sir !
Came today ..
And since I was playing with my Kizer Domin Mini ..........................
It gets to be the first knife to be bitten by a HRC tester File !

Now the way the files work is
A) If the file is softer than the blade steel , it will skate harmlessly off the steel .
This means the blade steel is harder than the file .
B) If the file bites the steel , it means the file is harder or as hard ( Near as ) as the steel . Just depends on the strength of the bite .. The harder the bite , the harder the file or the softer the steel ..

This is very much ball park testing ...
As the files go : 65 - 60 - 55 - 50 - 45 - 40 in HRC hardness ..
This should cover most knives out there and you should be able to determine which file is harder than the blade steel . There by establishing a ball park hardness for your blade steel .
So which file bit the Kizer ? It was the 55 HRC file .
I will make a list of disappointing knives ... For testing purposes !
 

Invalid tests :
These files should only be used on a flat surface ... Not an edge / corner ...
So some of the tests are invalid and skipped over ..
Some of the results are an eye opener and begs more questions ..
And some of the results are kind of expected .

I will add to this the results for my Hultafors ( Carbon and Stainless )
Not in the video ..
Both knives were bitten by the 55 HRC file and the 50 HRC file skated .
 
List ..............
TwoSun TS134 14c28n - 55 / 50 ( 55 Bites / 50 skips )
TwoSun TS208 D2 - 65 / 60
TwoSun TS09 D2 - 65 / 60
TwoSun TS321 14c28n - 55 / 50
Marbles D2 - 65 / 60
RR Classic Carbon - 55 / 50
Tuna Fire D2 - 60 / 55
Ruike 661B 14c28n - 60 / 55
Ruike 662B 14c28n - 60 / 55
Real Steel Luna Lite D2 - 65 / 60
 
More Knives tested :

80's German Carbon Bowie 55/50 ( Bites / skates )
Brother F005 D2 65/60 ( hmmmm )
Robust Carbon 55/50
Elk Ridge ER-555 SS 55/50 ( I thought it might be harder )
Puukko Carbon 55/50
Morakniv SS 55/50
Bahco Laplander 55/50
Mora SS 55/50
70's Mora Carbon 55/50
80's Mora Carbon 55/50
Frosts Early 80's SS 55/50

Again First Number is the HRC file that bites the steel and the second is the one that does not bite the steel .
 
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Left to right ..

Columbia SA40 / Muela 90007 / Muela 90057 / Old Bowie / Finish Knife early 80's

First number is what bites and the second is what skates . The Bowie is even softer than I thought .
 
Very interesting testing, have you continued to use these, any more results?
Perhaps re d2 hardness may not be issue in lack of edge holding, the geometry or the steel composition in terms of structure at an edge may be to blame. Smarter men than me may answer that.
 
Yes , every time I test a knife I try to do a HRC file test ..
Laminated steels are (?) , cos it's soft steel on the outside ..
But some of my best knives are Hard ( 60+ ) and I have also gotten some softer knives to perform by some careful sharpening and use of Grit .
Generally speaking , the softer steels tend to roll over ..
And harder steels require more careful sharpening / de burring .
 
Very simila files seem to be available in Aliexpress. Anyone have experience if they are the real thing or cheap knockoff.
As in the EU the files seem to be smth like 170€ compared to Ali <100€

Secondly O old4570 , have you compared the tests with the HRC which the manufacturers advertise their blades?
 
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