Why are RC testers so costly

Fish30114

Fish30114

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Jan 5, 2014
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I have been looking at RC hardness testers recently, and they seem relatively straightforward, just wondering why they are so costly, and any recommendations you folks would make on acquiring one.

Thanks for any info/feedback--Don
 
They have two things that make them expensive.
1) They are precision machines. Tolerances and materials are critical...and costly.
2) They don't sell 1000 a week. Lower sales volume equals higher sales price.

While the principle of how they work may be "relatively straightforward", the actual mechanics are not.
 
People accustomed to buying inexpensive consumer goods get shocked when they see what "stuff" really costs.

Things you can find at Wallmart like TVs and lawnmowers are insanely cheap thanks to the wonders of modern manufacturing in high volumes.

A decent facemill can cost $1,000. It's a little bit of metal with some threaded holes etc.

An endmill that won't last one day can be hundred's of dollars

An entry level modern mill costs more than a 5 series BMW

A high end production mill costs more than a typical house.

A small industrial quality heat treat oven runs about four grand.

Things are expensive. Well made industrial quality things are very expensive.

The best way to get a deal on a quality hardness tester is to pick one up in person at an industrial auction. I've seen good units go for a couple hundred bucks.
 
Our shop just paid $700,000 for a mill and its not even 5 axis and $150,000 for new EDM wire machine. We routinely use end mills that cost over $100/each. Good quality tools an tooling are outrageous!!! People are so used to the Harbor Freight stores. It still after two decades amazes me how much things cost in this trade.

Jay
 
Good points all, I am not the kind that shops for 'Harbor Freight' level of tools, and fully recognize good quality costs, for example I have a 1/2 10,000 Mitotoyu gage arrow straightener, and it wasn't cheap, but was the best tool available at the time I bought it. I just think that something that determines hardness to a good degree of accuracy should not be so expensive, the fact that they are a very low volume item is a good reason why they stay so high in price. I know that a tool for determining the repercussion quotient of a golf driver, fancy term for springlike effect of the driver face, is highly accurate, very low volume item, and measures a much more complex thing than hardness, for a lot less money. I suppose setting up standard mediums, i.e. test blocks, and then measuring against them is more difficult than I realize
Thanks for the feedback folks.
 
Nathan the Machinist said:
People accustomed to buying inexpensive consumer goods get shocked when they see what "stuff" really costs.

Things you can find at Wallmart like TVs and lawnmowers are insanely cheap thanks to the wonders of modern manufacturing in high volumes.

A decent facemill can cost $1,000. It's a little bit of metal with some threaded holes etc.

An endmill that won't last one day can be hundred's of dollars

An entry level modern mill costs more than a 5 series BMW

A high end production mill costs more than a typical house.

A small industrial quality heat treat oven runs about four grand.

Things are expensive. Well made industrial quality things are very expensive.

The best way to get a deal on a quality hardness tester is to pick one up in person at an industrial auction. I've seen good units go for a couple hundred bucks.
Click to expand...


But it helps to be an educated buyer

You have to recognize what it would cost, evaluate condition and whether or not it includes the stuff you need to use it.

indenter tips, calibration blocks, weights

If not included, know where can you get them and what will they cost.


What other costs are there,
The local auction houses here have added auction fees

One auction had 18% fees, plus 13% sales tax on top.

That's paying a full third more than your bid price.



I missed a pair of electronic Wiltons put together in a custom setup, missing the elevating screw stages
I hemmed and hawed, missed it for $500 when they were worth $5,000 each and I NOW know where to get parts.




On the other hand, I saw a guy get over excited on the last lathe and pay $3,000 for a lathe that came from a school and must have been a parts machine
It was missing a motor, chucks, faceplate, toolppost, tooling, tailstock

He could have bought a complete working import unit for that price.
 
I've mentioned this before but, I picked up an Ames Model 1 tester on Ebay for about $325 plus shipping. It was complete and recently certified. I think they are fairly common for about $400 and are accurate for a knifemakers needs. It doesn't look as cool as a big bench tester but, I was able to carry it in the house and test every knife in my kitchen.

Bob
 
Count, good points, I will keep in mind for sure, Bob, I didn't find that info in the search I did before I started this thread, I appreciate it.
 
I have the TX Instruments tester. It's about $650.00, and I am quite pleased with it.
 
I've bought three in the last couple years. The most expensive one cost $250. I thought they were cheap...



 
Last edited:
i4Marc said:
Don,

Where are you finding these for $250?
Click to expand...
Decided I wanted one and started diggin and huntin. Found 2 at a used machine dealer two hours away and one from another maker 4 hours away. I sold one, scraped one and kept the best one. :cool:
 
Please test your hardness testers against a certified standard, or even better . . . get your hardness testers certified. There are many variables which go into what the final hardness reading is from your "machine": such as condition of the test probe, the accuracy of the linear transducer, the strain or bending of the frame, etc. One half of a thousandths penetration of the probe is a major change in hardness according the the test machine.

Mike L.
 
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