Hardness testing service?

F

forblader

Joined
Feb 23, 2015
Messages
40
Lots of people post the Rockwell scale hardness numbers for their blades, but how they had this testing done?
I wondered if anybody knows whether there are reputable labs that provide this service: Rockwell scale hardness determined, alloy composition discovered. Basically: you send to this lab your blades: they do the test for you and ship the blade/blades back to you with their test results.
 
Last edited:
I think most people that do rockwell testing have their own machine in their shop, and some HT companies ask what hardness you want them to temper the blade to if you have them HT your blade. As to a lab, I can't say ive ever heard of one that dies stuff like that.
 
There is one in STL that will do destruction testing of unknown steels and give you composition breakdowns. Fastenal used to do it, not sure if they still do. These tests run $75+. If you buy known steels you wouldn't really need to do this. For instance, aldo keeps pretty tight controls on his steels. As for Rockwell testing, most have a Rockwell tester inhouse. There used to be a guy that would test blades for you if you paid shipping both ways, but I can't recall who it was.
 
Well, thanks. Actually nowadays there are non-destructive methods to run composition tests exist. As far as I know, HP makes such portable gadgets. The reason I posted this is to be able test knives ordered from eBay, or purchased from unknown makers, including those inexpensive Chinese knives: some of them are looking very good these days.
 
Last edited:
So you want to buy knives and just confirm the maker is telling the truth? I don't know of a way of testing Rc without causing some damage to the blade.
 
Here is link to the youtube video (in Russian) from the channel of the guy, who does chemical and physical analyzes without destroying the blades:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxKT3VWtHDA
His gadgets could be seen on that video. He is enthusiast himself and helps other hobbyists to do just that. He lives in Russia, though, I think.
I wondered if there is such service, or just a great guy, who has access to similar gadgetry and could make such analysis for an enthusiast, like me and who is living not too far from the village in Chicagoland, where I live.
 
Last edited:
Any materials testing lab will offer this service. Google "materials testing".

Last I checked, the non-destructive composition testing devices are not able to quantify carbon.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top