Lead Testers

[Blacktail 8541]

Who makes the best lead hardness tester? I'm going to purchase a new tester but have no ideal who makes the best one.

[chunkum]

This is a somewhat controversial issue, or seems to have been. from my observation. I first bought a Redding/Saeco. The best I can say for it is that it's easy to use on a bullet with a flat meplat and it's reasonably accurate until you get over 18 BRN. Of course it measures in Saeco Units that you can convert to Brinell on a graph they provide. I have since acquired a new Lee Hardness tester that pushes a standard size steel ball at 60# of force (determined by a spring compression so calibrated at a certain degree of compression). The Lee microscope has a gradient image in its optics that, when the indentation on the test object is in focus, allows you to measure the diameter of the indentation and then correlate it to a Brinell Hardness number from a chart. If you can anchor the microscope in some sort of stand (they only provide the hand held barrel/scope), then it is extremely accurate. Of these two, the Lee can be considerably more precise if steadied and correctly read.
chunkum

[Dale53]

I first bought the Saeco and was very disappointed with it. Then I got the LBT hardness tester and have been extremely pleased. You might want to look at the Cabine Tree hardness tester. It looks good, also.

Dale53

[Quantrill]

The LBT works for me. Quantrill

[Blacktail 8541]

Thanks for the comments so far, hope to get a few more.

[MT Gianni]

I have a cabin tree and find it east to use and repeatably accurate. Mine was from the first run and as improvements were made Gussy let us know and gave us a new bolt for shipping cost. Great tool. Gianni.

[Blacktail 8541]

Any body else had experience with the cabine tree?

[waksupi]

Blacktail, I also have a Cabin Tree, and like it. I can get more reliable readings with it, than the others I have tried.

[drinks]

I have both a Cabine Tree and a Lee.
The Cabine tree is easier and faster to use, but the documentation with it is not nearly as detailed as the documentation with the Lee.
The Lee seems to be a duplication of the original tester designed by Brinnel and seems to be limited only by the skill and expertise of the operator.
I believe, if you follow the instructions, without variance, you will get the best readings from the Lee.
Don

[Blacktail 8541]

Thanks for the responses, Still a little undecided but alot closer than before.

[GLL]

I have a Cabine Tree and a custom "Buckshot MarK II Supreme".

Although the Cabine Tree is the easiest to use [fast] and results are very reproduceable I feel Buckshot's gives the most accurate actual Hardness value. His works on the original Brinell principle and is "Very Heavy Duty". I use a stereo microscope to read the results of the indentations.

Jerry

[475/480]

Cabintree all the way,easy to use and very consistent BHN

Sean

[Springfield]

I have an LBT and it seem to be very consistent if you follow the directions. I haven't used any other testers but from what I have seen the LBT is the easiest to use, and the fastest. And you can sorta use it on ingots. It isn't accurate but gets you close if you have some unknown alloy.

[robotek]

I have testers from LBT and Carbine Tree. I also had the Lee tester for a day. Either they improved the Lee tool or you guys have better eyes than I do. I found it extremely difficult to use.
The LBT is the easiest to use but the Carbine Tree is the most accurate. If I could only have one it would be the Carbine Tree.

[threett1]

What is Cabintree's web addy? Used to have it but....

[drinks]

Cabinetree.com will do it.

[threett1]

Don't seem to work for me. Takes me to some kitchen cabinet place. Thanks anyways.

[GLL]

Try;

www.castingstuff.com

Jerry

[threett1]

Thats the one! Thanks much.