Does anyone have links for a Rockwell Teater?

Brian, just be sure you don't go to the Starrett website to look at theirs. They are simply excellent, but at twice the price of the imports. Still... you can rest-assured they'll have parts and calibration available for it for the next 500 years! At $1700, they had better! :eek:
 
MAn - this turned out to be good thread. I have all the info to look for what I need and not be scratching what hair I have left ;)

On a side note - my ekg and chest x rays came out A okay! I think work stress is giving me chest pains :mad:

Glad I like making knives :D
 
:) I just bought a used handheld, an Acco/Wilson Model 51 on E-Bay. I just didn't have the room for a bench model. These are good machines that are still in production and sell new for around $3600.00. They also make a model 52. The same tester just has a larger throat opening. This particular model appears on E-Bay on a regular basis. Just make sure if you go this route that it has the diamond indenter. I checked the price on a new indenter and about fell out of my chair, $590.00.

I just checked it with a test block and was within a 1/2 point of the block.

You might check out this web site www.martinmetallurgicalsupply.com or 770-418-0506.
 
Texas knifemaker supply has a file set for testing Rc. 6 files from 40-65 Rc. I think its about $125.00. If your just looking to test your own blades these might be worth a try verses the $600-700 for a bench Rc tester.
 
how do you use the files? I have thought of this route but what would be different than using the files I have now to simply "feel" how hard the steel is?
Thanks for any help.
 
I thought about the files too. They are in 5-C scale increments. I don't think that tells you much. In the knife blade there's a huge difference between 55 and 60! I doubt you can get more accurate than 4 or 5 points with those things.

Repeatedly using the same file is probably just as good. Files are just above where where want things anyway. If you use the same triangular file over and over, you'll get a feel for how that file acts on annealed steel, hardened untempered steel, and tempered steel. (I know I did.) Probably just as accurate at the file set. In otherwords if you use your 'testing' file just after quenching and it skips good news. Then after tempering it should bite, but only a little - good news.

However, if you want to know if you got 56 or 59 HRC you're gonna have to have a tester.

Just my thoughts,

Steve
 
Thats what mine do steve!!

I am lucky I made test pieces that came back at 57.5, 58, 58.5, and 59.5 so I have something to compair to. I also have a few 53, and 56 in there to. Looks like I have what I need for a while then huh?
 
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