Finally got a hardness tester!!!

T

Taz

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Apr 28, 1999
Messages
2,494
I found an older Wilson 1R on Facebook Marketplace yesterday! Pictures showed all the weights needed for the 150kg load, multiple penetrators, test blocks, anvils, manuals, etc, so I went to see it and check it out. The owner hadn't used it in 20 years, but had a different penetrator and only the 60kg load on it when I got there. Fortunately, I had done some research and knew how to use it properly and verify it was still accurate! I had to swap the penetrator and add the extra weights. He thought the HRC was measured with the major load still on the piece, too, which isn't right. Long story short, it is about 2 HRC low on average, but I gotta do some cleaning and stuff since it's been sitting for 20 years, but I am super excited! Not bad for $325!!

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I have a manual for the "early models", JR/JR and 3R models; I snapped pics if anyone needs them! They have parts schematics for several models!
 
that's a good score!
 
I cleaned the top of the elevation screw and the bottom of the anvil and found a smidge of grease. The weights fell in about 3-3.5 seconds with no sample being indented, so I slowed it down to around 4.5-5 seconds. It shows 62.5 consistently on a 63.6 test block, but previous owners tested both sides. On a 60 hrc cruwear blank from Bos heat treating that had been flattened to 220 grit, it showed 60, 59, 60 for 3 tests. Testing hardness chisels from Dragons Breath Forge, they now showed dead on or 1 hrc lower than the rating on the chisel.
 
That is a cute Rockwell tester didn’t know they made them that small. I picked up a full size Wilson for $400 it was great score. I’ve noticed mine sometimes when it hasn’t been used in a while it takes a few tests to get consistent accurate reading on the test block.
 
Yeah, it's probably less than 100# without the weights attached. Much more manageable size than the full size ones and I can put a piece around 3" thick into it if needed, so I could check hammers if I made them. I think the weights were dropping too fast, which led to softer test results. Slowing it down seemed to help get it to test better.
 
I got my cheap $20 amazon indenter today. I was reading thru the manual about the dashpot adjustments and the lever indicator adjustments and it mentioned it may need to be redone after shipping and told you how to test it to see. Yup, mine was off, so I adjusted it and it got close, so I tweaked it a bit more and got it dialed in pretty close! The 63.6 test block now usually hits between 63 and 64. A s90v piece I had Bos heat treat to 61 measures right around 61 and some 62 nitro v from Bos hits right under or above 62. I am going to clean off decarb and prep some 80crv2 blanks I just heat treated tomorrow and test! I used the 1650 for 10 min normalize, 1400 DET anneal, 1525 for 10 min, parks AAA between 85 and 100 degrees for the quench and my oven at 360. Hoping for aound 62 or so?
 
2 of the 80crv2 blades check in at 61-62, but there was thick decarb to grind through. 1/8" steel ended up .107-.110" after grinding. Njsb stuff is usually around .135-.140" when I get it. Gotta do something for the decarb next time!
 
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