Need Help with Rockwell Tester

[FredyCro]

I've got one I use - ordered it for a spare. I can switch between them and not tell the difference, doesn't even need recalibrating. Remember, these cheap Chinese indenters are what's put in the HR-150A from the factory. No reason they shouldn't work just fine. Perhaps I lucked out? OR, you just happened to get a lemon? Does calibration take care of the difference in reading?

What do you mean by calibration? Zeroing out the setting? Unfortunately, it didnt help, no..

 

[Ken H>]

Nope, not zeroing the dial, but actual calibration with a test block. To save my test blocks I'll test a lathe tool bit, 3/8" in size perhaps and write what it reads. Use the an actual test block of known hardness and if it is a 62 Rc block, and the tester shows 61 Rc you know your tester is reading 1 unit low. So, test the lathe bit, if it reads 64 Rc, you know the actual is 65 Rc in hardness. Write 65 Rc on the tool bit. Use that tool bit for normal checking from time to time so as not to put dimples in your "high dollar" test block.

If my tester is reading 1 Rc unit off I will go thru the calibration procedure. Take a look at post #7:

Does anyone know how to calibrate a RC hardness tester?

I have a hardness tester I bought from Harbor Freight maybe 20 years ago. I have the instruction manual and also the test blocks that came with it. The tester is off maybe five points from what the test blocks read. The manual does not tell how to adjust the tester. It just tells how to use...

www.bladeforums.com

Here's a good video on setting up and how the HR-150A works.

 

[FredyCro]

Nope, not zeroing the dial, but actual calibration with a test block. To save my test blocks I'll test a lathe tool bit, 3/8" in size perhaps and write what it reads. Use the an actual test block of known hardness and if it is a 62 Rc block, and the tester shows 61 Rc you know your tester is reading 1 unit low. So, test the lathe bit, if it reads 64 Rc, you know the actual is 65 Rc in hardness. Write 65 Rc on the tool bit. Use that tool bit for normal checking from time to time so as not to put dimples in your "high dollar" test block.

If my tester is reading 1 Rc unit off I will go thru the calibration procedure. Take a look at post #7:

Does anyone know how to calibrate a RC hardness tester?

I have a hardness tester I bought from Harbor Freight maybe 20 years ago. I have the instruction manual and also the test blocks that came with it. The tester is off maybe five points from what the test blocks read. The manual does not tell how to adjust the tester. It just tells how to use...

www.bladeforums.com

Here's a good video on setting up and how the HR-150A works.

Thanks, I will look at my unit if there is something like that calibration plate. My testner reads about -1 HRC on the 64 block consistently, so I just add 1 HRC to my readings and my results are consistent with HT and tempering charts.

 

[DukeHarley]

The guy selling is asking $550, but may be negotiable. I may be able to get it setup in the cost?

Grab it. I got an older
Wilson from a die shop across the street from
The machine shop I work at for $400 and it’s been an invaluable addition to my shop. Quite a few of my knifemeker buddies stop by to use it and then stay awhile and BS so that an added bonus.

 

[CDHumiston]

Grab it. I got an older
Wilson from a die shop across the street from
The machine shop I work at for $400 and it’s been an invaluable addition to my shop. Quite a few of my knifemeker buddies stop by to use it and then stay awhile and BS so that an added bonus.

I grabbed it and set it up, now just waiting for the oven to arrive!