Hardness tester

adamthaggan

adamthaggan

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North of Canadas stabbing capital, MB
Hey all I’ve been looking for a hardness tester, preferably LEE to test some cast bullets. Aside from eBay I can’t seem to find anywhere else that has them. Cabelas is a no go, also I don’t know of any other shops in Winnipeg MB that would carry reloading gear. Any advice?

Also I’m currently unauthorized to access the buy and sell forums otherwise I’d be posting this over there. If you know a place or maybe a guy please do let me know.

Thanks in Advance
 
Try Western Metals, Budget Shooter Supply or Rusty Wood Trading Company. All site sponsors I believe. Also, Higginsons Powders.

M
 
What others have mentioned, rusty wood, Higginson, BSS, western metals.... amazon.

Manitoba has sweet FA for bullet casting, and most of the gun shops have zero interest in carrying casting supply's and with the exception of cabelas, Lee is a four letter word to most gun counter guys. I order stuff from Higginson, amazon, and BSS, I have yet to order from RWTC but I'm going to soon. Mail order is a fine western Canadian tradition, get used to it if you want to cast or reload beyond the basics, it's also the way to get the best reliable powder coat paint if you are into that.
 
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The places mentioned should have the Lee or be able to get it for you. There is no issue with ordering one from the US either.
I haven't used any tester yet but have heard the LBT is better than the Lee. ht tp://lbtmolds.com/hardtester.shtml
 
I have seen a lot of homemade items on CGN including case tumblers, annealers, case feeders etc. Has anyone made a lead hardness tester that can be used without any special tools like comparators?
 
270 totheend said:
I have seen a lot of homemade items on CGN including case tumblers, annealers, case feeders etc. Has anyone made a lead hardness tester that can be used without any special tools like comparators?
Click to expand...

There are some examples online of diy hardness testers.

I was planning to make my own, just like this one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZj9j36emHA
but then I ran into a near new Saeco / redding harness tester at the Tavistock gunshow for only $50 so saved me from spending a few hours putting something together :)
 
That’s a brilliant idea! One of the sites mentioned had a “holder” for the tester but no tester itself. Essentially a block of wood with a hole drilled in it. All that aside I did order one from budget shooter. Payment system is a little bizarre but hey budgetters can’t be choosers. Thanks all for the quick replies!
 
This is how I rigged mine. Used a surplus Lee powder through die. Needs a light source. I use a small flash light.

LeadTester.jpg

M
 

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270 totheend said:
I have seen a lot of homemade items on CGN including case tumblers, annealers, case feeders etc. Has anyone made a lead hardness tester that can be used without any special tools like comparators?
Click to expand...

I made a Cabin Tree type lead tester this winter that works quite well. I just watched a # of Youtube vids on people using the store-bought version and adapted a lot of nuts & bolts & scrap metal already laying around the shop to make it. I think the only store-bought piece that cost me any money was a hardware spring ($2.50). Of course I don't have the "factory calibrated chart" to use for a reference but with some "known" lead alloys on hand such as a sample of pure lead (5-7 Bn), clip-on wheel weights (11-12 Bn) and a supply of "hard cast bullets" (Manuf advertised hardness of 24-25 BN) I can come very close with my estimates as to hardness.

It took me a couple or three hrs to build with a shop full of appropriate tooling (lathe, milling machine, thread taps etc.) but anyone with a bit of mechanical aptitude should be able to make a usable facsimile in a day with only a drill press and appropriate thread taps for the size of bolts you have to use.


Edit: I also had the dial gauge already on hand so saved $40 there also
 
Never got around to buying a tester.
I have a block of pure lead from a metalurgical lab. Put it into a press with a block of my bullet lead and a ball bearing between them.
Bit of math after measuring the two dents will get the hardenss of the alloy.
 
The Pocket Microscope that comes with the Lee Tester is a PITA to use, so I rigged this up.

LeadTesterII.JPG

M

And I just noticed the split in the upright LOL..
 

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The Frogge said:
Never got around to buying a tester.
I have a block of pure lead from a metalurgical lab. Put it into a press with a block of my bullet lead and a ball bearing between them.
Bit of math after measuring the two dents will get the hardenss of the alloy.
Click to expand...

That will give you a ratio. How do you convert the ratio to Brinell? I don't think it is a direct correlation.
 
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