Lee Hardness Testing Kit

[Brassman66]

Some time ago I purchased a Lee Lead Hardness Testing Kit. Last Week I thought its time to check it out and found it almost impossible to get a repeatable reading while holding the included Pocket Microscope.
A quick internet search indicated I was not the only one having this problem. Some build a little Jig to hold the Microscope still. In my Shop I found a 2" long piece of 1" Aluminum Round stock which I chucked in the Lathe drilled a snug Hole to hold the Microscope and put a Tread on to fit my RCBS RC Press. This works like a charm as the Press lets me adjust the proper Hight in a second and now the Microscope being steady as a Rock I can see and measure the Indent very easily.

If somebody knows how to post a Picture on this Forum I would be happy to email a Picture of my little Jig to his/her email address.

Thanks - Cheers

 

[hunter64]

I feel your pain brother. I saw a picture of a guy that bought an old kids microscope from a goodwill store and took the guts out of it and mounted the little microscope on it. It has a flat base and you can move it up and down just like the regular microscope.

 

[zuke]

I feel your pain brother. I saw a picture of a guy that bought an old kids microscope from a goodwill store and took the guts out of it and mounted the little microscope on it. It has a flat base and you can move it up and down just like the regular microscope.

Exactly what I did. Cost me $10 for the microscope, brand new in the wooden box with all the extra's

 

[HIGHRPM]

Home made rig, can test a bullet or a ingot with no issues. https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?366065-New-Lee-Hardness-Tester

 

[bandanaman]

I like the press idea ,probably too easy...... I made a one along the the lines of what is shown previously .The dollar store lamp helps a lot !