Anyone Using The Cabine Tree HT?

[metweezer]

I don't hear much about people using the Cabine Tree hardness tester. Are a lot of you guys using it? I just got my 6 banger from Lee and I want to test the hardness of my ingots and boolits. Is it worth the money?
Thanks, Steve

[Bret4207]

Absolutely, positively and most assuredly. Love mine, built like a Swiss tank. You won't be disappointed.

[metweezer]

OK Bret, Now you know I have to ask you this... Are you wearing gloves and a face shield? :bigsmyl2:

[Bret4207]

No, but I did change my socks. It's Monday, right?

[Treetop]

Absolutely, positively and most assuredly. Love mine, built like a Swiss tank. You won't be disappointed.

Bret, where did you buy yours? Could you possibly provide us with a link? Thanks, Tt.

[metweezer]

Hi Treetop,
I am not Bret but I think the only place you can get the Cabine Tree is from his website. http://www.castingstuff.com/cabinetree_loading_products.htm.
Take Care,
Steve

[fredj338]

I had the Saeco, the CT is much easier to use & can do ingots. Do I really need a BHN tester, nope, but if you are one that likes to know instead of guess, they are useful.

[Walter Laich]

I like my Cabin Tree HT. Well worth the $$

walt

[warf73]

Absolutely, positively and most assuredly. Love mine, built like a Swiss tank. You won't be disappointed.

+1 On what Bret said I love mine

[Trifocals]

Yep, I own and use one. I love it. It's much better than a SAECO or LBT.

[Lloyd Smale]

hands down the best tester out there. Ive owned the seaco and the lbt and sold both after using this one.

[Bret4207]

Also remember that the maker of the Cabine Tree, Gussy, is a long time member and poster here. Keep the $$ in the family, ya know?

[bpratl]

What is the function of the small brass rod, shown in the photo of the tester, on the Cabintree's web site?

[captaint]

tweezer -
Bought one, used it a lot. I would definately buy it again. Great tool. Mike

[FN in MT]

Add me to the list of happy users.

It's nice to know WHERE your at versus guessing.

[Dan Cash]

bp rat, the small brass rod is a stop to position a cartridge case when using the machine to check bullet or case runout. I use my CT tester every time I refresh my pot of lead. It helps keep my bullets consistant. I discovered that the bullets may be of the same seight but vary in hardness. I don't know if it makes a difference for long range BP cartridge shooting but it makes me feel better if all things are uniform.

[WildmanJack]

Absolutely the best, bar none, most fantastic, accurate, easiest to use, made to last a million years piece of equipment you could own. Guaranteed !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can't go wrong if u buy one...( and I live from paycheck to paycheck but bought one anyway!!)
Jack

[PacMan]

The brass rod extending from the end that turns is used as a marker on the numbered nut so you know when you have turned the nut/bolt one complete turn.

[waksupi]

I put a pencil mark where the pointer lines up, for a better reading.

[idahoron]

I have a CT and I couldn't make my Muzzleloader bullets with out it. I make my lead mix to be .035 to .038 on the dial. That gives me a bullet that shoots sub 2" groups at 100 yards. I would be just guessing with out it. Ron

[1Shirt]

One of the best investments I have made. Rugged and dependable!
1Shirt!:coffeecom

[Adam10mm]

When I casted commercially I used it a lot. Now I only use it when mixing alloys.

[crabo]

I don't have time to look it up right now, but if I remember correctly, there was a group comparison made of the different testers. It was done using the same alloy, but different testers, and sent to members on this board.

If someone who has more time than I do, could find that study, it would be interesting to read again.

[Adam10mm]

Right here. I was a member of the test team.

http://www.lasc.us/Shay-BHN-Tester-Experiment.htm

[idahoron]

I was too. Ron

[6.5 mike]

My cabin tree tester let me go from "I think" to I know what alloy I'm working with. One of the best tools I own. :Fire:

[metweezer]

I just ordered one. Thanks to all for the recommendations. Can't wait.

[mpmarty]

I'm not convinced testing hardness is of any great value. I have the LEE hardness tester and when I got it set up to test some slugs. The instructions say to file a flat on the sample for making the impression. I filed a flat on the shank of a boolit and it showed a BHN of about 12. I then turned the boolit over and tested on a driving band without filing a flat and got a BHN of 22. By varying the depth of the filing I can vary the BHN results so I'm not a believer in these testers.

[Adam10mm]

I'm not convinced testing hardness is of any great value. I have the LEE hardness tester and when I got it set up to test some slugs. The instructions say to file a flat on the sample for making the impression. I filed a flat on the shank of a boolit and it showed a BHN of about 12. I then turned the boolit over and tested on a driving band without filing a flat and got a BHN of 22. By varying the depth of the filing I can vary the BHN results so I'm not a believer in these testers.
The test equipment is sound. The method varies and the tester (person) varies as well.

I'm consistent and accurate in my process and my equipment.

[Gussy]

I'm not convinced testing hardness is of any great value. I have the LEE hardness tester and when I got it set up to test some slugs. The instructions say to file a flat on the sample for making the impression. I filed a flat on the shank of a boolit and it showed a BHN of about 12. I then turned the boolit over and tested on a driving band without filing a flat and got a BHN of 22. By varying the depth of the filing I can vary the BHN results so I'm not a believer in these testers.

If you keep filing and retesting, the tests would show the same hardness. This is the alloys "green" hardness, not the aged hardness or what it will become as it ages.

I would bet your alloy has antimony in it (as in WW). What you found was surface hardening on the bullet which will continue in. The hardness is also what you get when water dropping but it usually is deeper. Time will harden WW to a point and then soften slightly. The same hard alloy will be soft if you melt that bullet down and recast it, then it will start hardening again.

[cajun shooter]

I will say that after starting casting in 1969- 70 that in those years my alloy was purchased in graded form .
When I had to start buying lead from different sources is when you need a tester. I had people tell me that the alloy was BHN10-12 and after testing found it to be in the 18-22 range which is much too hard for BP. The same applies to the use of commercial alloys sold on flea bay which are all over the place. Gussy has made a machine that will last for many generations and it is fast and easy to use. If you are a target shooter then you may also check your run-out which is a big plus. Buy one and you will not be sorry. Later David

[Moonman]

I just received my CABINE TREE TESTER yesterday. I put it together in about one minute, after reading the instructions.

I put a known piece of RAW, not an ingot, "LINO" in it for a checkout and BINGO, right on at 22 Brinell. I like it.

"GUSSY" makes a nice unit and it's built like a tank too. Congratulations GUSSY!!!!:cbpour:

[warf73]

Grats on the new tool, they are built like a tank lol I love it.

[1Shirt]

Had mine for 3-4 years. Can't beat it!
1Shirt!:coffee:

[Mak Rov]

I got mine and I'm very pleased with it. No regrets what-so-ever.