Craigslist find - Well worth $150 and 9 hours of drive time!

J

jawilder

Joined
Jun 27, 2006
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While searching on Craigslist on Monday for Hardness Testers I came across this Wilson Rockwell 4JR and after a few emails and great advice from Don Hanson and Stan Buzek I figured it was worth the 4.5 hour drive to Oklahoma City to pick it up.

While there I got a tour of a massive machine shop (my first one) and picked this up for only $150. It has the weights, diamond tip, one test block, and manual. It needs to be calibrated and some oil, then I'm in business.

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Any advice on calibrating it and what oil to use? I haven't had much time to play with it, but I did test the tester block, which says HRC 44 and it read out at 38. Do I just move the dial to where it should be when still under load on the test piece?
 
Clean the thing up real good first. You want clean flat mating surfaces under the anvil, on top the anvil, etc. Make sure the diamond point isn't chipped or damaged. Make sure the leaver that moves the dial is free and clean. Your manual will tell you how to adjust it.

I bought another yesterday for $50, but not as good as a Wilson... :)
 
Thanks Don, I will try to clean it later this evening before I play with it again. What kind of oil did you use in yours? Also on yours, does the glass in front of the dial spin freely, or does the zero adjuster (dial) move as you spin the glass. While quickly looking at mine, I noticed that the glass spins freely and the top cover has to be taken off to move the dial. Just curious which way it should be.

I do have a lot of reading to do. So very glad they gave me the manual for it. It seems very detailed.
 
Yours is missing the wheel at the bottom that spins the dial, it has cables that run on pulleys up to the dial. Only time you need to turn the dial is to zero it, but if you are careful as you raise your piece, you can stop on the zero mark. Otherwise you'll need to left the cover to turn the dial. For oil you want a 5 weight synthetic in the oil cup inside, yours may not need any. I use a light machine oil on the moving parts.

I would have had trouble if I didn't have the manual when getting the Wilson going. It didn't work at all.
 
Don Hanson III said:
Yours is missing the wheel at the bottom that spins the dial, it has cables that run on pulleys up to the dial. Only time you need to turn the dial is to zero it, but if you are careful as you raise your piece, you can stop on the zero mark. Otherwise you'll need to left the cover to turn the dial. For oil you want a 5 weight synthetic in the oil cup inside, yours may not need any. I use a light machine oil on the moving parts.

I would have had trouble if I didn't have the manual when getting the Wilson going. It didn't work at all.
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OK, I see what you're talking about. Thanks.
 
If you will look at my Wilson, all the stuff that's under the crank wheel, including the peddle, leaver thing across the front and the cover behind the crank. Pretty sure the same parts fit yours and mine... Send me your address and I'll send you those parts. I have extras. :D
 
I did actually. Smokin' Joes BBQ between Paul's Valley and Davis, OK had some great food. I tried the smoked Bologna... Tasted like, well... Smoked Bologna. Ribs were great though.
 
Congrats Jason! Sweet deal. You and Darrin just about got me surrounded now. Maybe y'all will think about a block swap eventually?

Show it some love and take notes as you go.

Best to you,
Andy
 
congrats on the great deal. I keep an eye on Craigs list for tools, mainly for a surface grinder. But, there are only 3 cities around 100,000 within 5 hours one way drive time in any direction. Montana is a great place, just far from anywhere and spread out itself. Nearest big city is Denver which is near 10 hours, Seattle is about 850 miles.
 
You'll learn a lot with a hardness tester. I got by for over 20 years without one, but now wish I'd have got one years ago.

Mike Malosh said he was getting 68 Rc on my W2. I was getting 66-67, but I was checking the bevel. Tried a flat piece yesterday and got a consistent 68-68.5. I'm now able to adjust my temper cycles to get 61-62, where I was getting 63-64. :eek:

I checked a couple old knives I made from 01 16+ years ago and got 50 Rc on them, no good! I also checked a few old factory carbon steel pocket knives, range from 42-52. A new Case carbon steel folder tested 58.

It's just interesting that's all. :cool:
 
Dude, nice steal! That one was practically in my back yard! I use to search Craigslist for stuff, but hardly every found stuff like that and gave up. And now here you are carting your loot back to Texas! LOL Hope you enjoy it!
 
I just picked this up a while back and have not had time to trouble shoot it.Can someone tell me what is wrong with mine?? Here is a pic. It looks like something is missing as the one piece will not stay up in that housing and I don't know what it is supposed to look like when it is right.


 
Bobby, that's an older one, but looks to be in great condition.

I don't know what I'm looking at in that close up? Maybe back the camera out a little bit.
 
Well, Bobby, I've never messed with one like that. But I wonder if the arm (with the tit that goes in the hole) is supposed to rotate or pivot on the screw it's attached to? Maybe if it can't rotate, it pops out of the hole?

It is a very nice tester and these things are simpler than the look. You can fix this thing! :)
 
Don Hanson III said:
Well, Bobby, I've never messed with one like that. But I wonder if the arm (with the tit that goes in the hole) is supposed to rotate or pivot on the screw it's attached to? Maybe if it can't rotate, it pops out of the hole?

It is a very nice tester and these things are simpler than the look. You can fix this thing! :)
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Don, If I can see one like it and understand exactly how it works, I can fix it. I am just curious to see if something is missing first.
 
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