Recommendation? Rockwell C

[gipelprup]

Anybody familiar with the old-time "gravity" Rockwell C testers (diamond tip drops onto the steel and bounces back(?) to a reading)? Can't see shucking out $700 and up for a "modern tester." - gip.

 

[danbot]

Anybody familiar with the old-time "gravity" Rockwell C testers (diamond tip drops onto the steel and bounces back(?) to a reading)? Can't see shucking out $700 and up for a "modern tester." - gip.

You can buy hardness testing files. Obviously not as precise, but much cheaper.
http://www.fowlerprecision.com/Products/Hardness-Testing/527600000.html

 

[Mo2]

Post your knife making threads in the correct subforum please.

https://www.bladeforums.com/forums/shop-talk-bladesmith-questions-and-answers.741/

 

[gipelprup]

Post your knife making threads in the correct subforum please.

https://www.bladeforums.com/forums/shop-talk-bladesmith-questions-and-answers.741/

I thought "general knife discussion" pretty well covered it . . . - gip

 

[Mo2]

I thought "general knife discussion" pretty well covered it . . . - gip

Nope. You will get far more replies relating to knife making from knife makers in the correct subforum.

 

[scott kozub]

I haven't seen a diamond impact tester but once tried an impact tester a friend had. The results were wildly inaccurate. Ended up buying a used ames which was way better.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Rebound/Impact testers are fine for soft stuff, like testing rubber, but not accurate in Rockwell C.

 

[JTknives]

My first hardness tester is a vintage diamond tiped rebound tester. It’s good on softer stuff but the harder it gets the larger the swing in inaccuracies get. Honestly not worth the money thy are asking for them now adays.