Riehle Portable Hardness Tester ???

Promoting an auction for something that you could be potentially interested in bidding on, I would think, generally be a bad idea.

I can't find much info on it except that it does RC testing.
 
I may or may not choose to bid on this particular hardness tester. There seems to be more portable testers, at an affordable price, then bench units. Also, shipping portable hardness testers into Canada would also be a lot cheaper then bench units.

My question is are these portable testers usable for testing knives?

Dennis
 
I have an Ames one that I have been completely unable to get reliable readings on. It may be that I'm just an incompetent user or it may be that tester needs to be calibrated or something. The readings are not consistently off, they bounce around almost randomly which leads me toward the incompetence explanation.
 
I have an Ames tester that seems very reliable. Always reads within 0.5 of test block. Just need to be sure to test a flat portion. Might not be as exact as an expensive bench model, but good enough for my purposes with knives.
Chip Kunkle
 
I keep hoping to meet someone around here who can either teach me how to use it correctly or know that it need work (and give some idea what and cost). Brought it to a couple of local hammer ins but no one had a clue.
 
I have an Ames also and like it. Dan do you have the directions for yours. If not next time I am home I will copy mine and post them. Using a flat spot is important as the tip slips before loading on anything angled. Jim
 
Could an angled shim be super glued to one side of the blade to make the other side 'seem' flat to the tester? I forge full flat grinds and don't usually harden the ricasso so if that won't work then a tester will not work for me.
 
Through hardening your knives and testing a flat would be the best way to get a reliable reading.

I scrolled down and finally saw the ad, this is not the type I have experience with.
 
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You gotta have parallel sides with the Ames and most testers. (or round with a "V" anvil.)

Shimming the opposite side "might" work, but only if was absolutely rigid.
No movement at all.

These things are basically measuring the depth of an indention made by a diamond.
Tenths makes a difference.

With inconsistent readings, odds are a bad diamond or the part moving around while under load. (like trying to measure a bevel...)
 
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I also have an Ames #1 and have been getting good consistant readings on the blade flats. One thing I did notice however is that it takes several as in 8-10 test readings before they become consistant if you remove the diamond penetrator and put it back. On my unit at least it takes that number of readings to fully seat.
Another thing to check, which you probably have already done, is to make sure your not using the Ball penetrator instead of the diamond. Penetrators do wear out and need to be replaced as well depending on how much your tester has been used.
 
Dan Pierson said:
I keep hoping to meet someone around here who can either teach me how to use it correctly or know that it need work (and give some idea what and cost). Brought it to a couple of local hammer ins but no one had a clue.
Click to expand...

Have you contacted the company to see if you can get a users manual or instructions.
 
Hey bubbas55. Do you realize this question is over 6 years old?
 
Hello Ray.
You've always been a "giver". I'm anxious to pass this along to a maker friend who is marvelous in making mechanical equipment.
Thank you for this, Ray.
Frank
 
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