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Thread: Hardness tester Stand for Lee Precision 20x Microscope

  1. #1
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    Hardness tester Stand for Lee Precision 20x Microscope

    I was recently discussing hardness testing with a member here. Having a way to hold the Lee scope steady and be able to move the boolit into the measuring grid with small and steady movements, make taking measurements fun and painless.

    I got the idea of modifying a cheapo microscope from Larry Gibson a few years ago. I got lucky and found this child's toy Microscope kit at a thrift shop...It was marked $4, IIRC & I bought it on a Tuesday, when everything is 50% off.

    After Modification





    Here is a Before picture





    First, I removed the eyepiece by turning counter clockwise til it comes off, then remove the one screw that holds the multiplier lenses on.





    Then, find a drill bit the size of the Lee scope, and drill out the tiny bit of plastic, necessary to install the Lee scope.





    I used some beeswax based boolit lube to "hold" the scope in place





    I used a piece of card stock as a 'slide', with some soft/tacky boolit lube on it, to hold the boolit sample for ease of adjustment.



    That was about as easy of a Modification on anything that I have ever cobbled together.

    Now, there are many other solutions, many simple ones. Feel free to post them here.
    Last edited by JonB_in_Glencoe; 08-24-2016 at 10:22 AM.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    “If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun.”
    ― The Dalai Lama, Seattle Times, May 2001

  2. #2
    Boolit Grand Master OS OK's Avatar
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    Pretty dang good idea there...is the scope perpendicular to the boolit?
    a m e r i c a n p r a v d a

    Be a Patriot . . . expose their lies!

    “In a time of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” G. Orwell

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    Quote Originally Posted by OS OK View Post
    Pretty dang good idea there...is the scope perpendicular to the boolit?
    Perpendicular enough... I suppose it's as perfectly perpendicular as ScienceTech had the Chinese factory make it
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    “If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun.”
    ― The Dalai Lama, Seattle Times, May 2001

  4. #4
    Boolit Grand Master OS OK's Avatar
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    I've noticed that when I don't hold the scope at 90* to the side of the boolit it gets slightly out of focus and one side of the crater rim gets fuzzy to some extent. Could be that I lean to one side more than that setup does...maybe it's negligible.
    a m e r i c a n p r a v d a

    Be a Patriot . . . expose their lies!

    “In a time of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” G. Orwell

  5. #5
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    well then, it must be pretty close to perpendicular...when I adjust the up-down adjustment so the Lee Mic just touches the boolit, the whole area is in focus.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    “If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun.”
    ― The Dalai Lama, Seattle Times, May 2001

  6. #6
    Boolit Grand Master OS OK's Avatar
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    Yes, so long as it touches it should be correct. I'm going to have to come up with an aid like this too, just too many things that I need to attend to that comes first...by the time I have a break I've forgotten all those 'light bulb in the brain ideas' that I intended to do!
    a m e r i c a n p r a v d a

    Be a Patriot . . . expose their lies!

    “In a time of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” G. Orwell

  7. #7
    Boolit Mold

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    I recently modified a "toy microscope" I scored on eBay for $ 6 in almost the exact same way. The only difference in my modification is that in place of using beeswax lube to hold the Lee scope in place I made a wooden collar that press fit around the Lee scope body and into the toy microscope.

    I am having difficulty finding the proper light source to illuminate the bullet to be able to clearly see the indentation crater and read the scope scale. I first tried a LED flashlight. The bright light clearly showed the crater but washed out the scale and had a very bright reflection off the bullet that made it difficult to see anything through the scope. I then tried an old school incandescent flash light. That was better as the light was softer and the reflection much less. I could see the crater clearly and it was easy to find the scale and move the zero mark on the scale to the left edge of the crater. However, I am still having difficulty reading the value of the scale on the right edge of the crater. Anyone have suggestions on better lighting. I tried measuring the diameter of the crater with a digital caliper, but these old eyes just couldn't get an accurate reading. I will try the calipers again under a magnifying glass.

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by LiveSteamer View Post
    I will try the calipers again under a magnifying glass.
    Not only is it useful for a LOT of things when your eyes start needing extra help, a headband magnifier works well for the 'caliper and indent' game.
    I bought this model ...
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-Lens-Head-...AAAOSw-jhUGNw6
    Retired...TWICE. Now just raisin' cows and livin' on borrowed time.

  9. #9
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    I use a cheap Harborfrieght nine LED flashlight...usually on sale for $1.
    I hold it at an angle, then the shine/reflection isn't in the area I'm trying to line up with the scale marks.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    “If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun.”
    ― The Dalai Lama, Seattle Times, May 2001

  10. #10
    Boolit Master trapper9260's Avatar
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    This is what I made to use the tester scope.
    Click image for larger version. 

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    Life Member of NRA,NTA,DAV ,ITA. Also member of FTA,CBA

  11. #11
    Boolit Buddy mike69's Avatar
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    I use a .452 lee sizing die in my press to hold it move ram up and down to focus Click image for larger version. 

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  12. #12
    Boolit Grand Master OS OK's Avatar
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    Pure genius Mike...everything you needed was right there all along and provided for by Lee. I wonder if they know about this little adaptation?

    I hope you are slow and careful raising the ram...If you 'sneeze' you might just poke yourself in the eye with too much force on the ram...
    a m e r i c a n p r a v d a

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    “In a time of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” G. Orwell

  13. #13
    Boolit Buddy
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    Mike thats a modification that even I can do . Thanks

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    This is my no cost option.

    ukrifleman

  15. #15
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    This is my no cost option.
    ukrifleman
    +1 I also created different tools to hold my Lee microscope, including modifying a toy microscope among the various efforts. I saw a post a few years ago about the bottle top. Just drill the hole small enough for a snug fit. Mine doesn't include the wooden piece to hold the boolit, but it looks like a nice addition.

    Amazingly simple, lets lots of light in from every angle, and holds steady... go to your fridge for the necessary ingredient.

    Randy
    Plata o plomo?
    Plomo, por favor!

  16. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by ukrifleman View Post
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    This is my no cost option.

    ukrifleman
    Well hell, even I can make that!

  17. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by ukrifleman View Post
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    This is my no cost option.

    ukrifleman
    That is too funny as I did the same thing trying to stay with the K.I.S.S. rule of what I had.


  18. #18
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    I stickied this thread due to a suggestion from W.R.Buchanan.

    http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...test-kit/page2
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    “If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun.”
    ― The Dalai Lama, Seattle Times, May 2001

  19. #19
    Boolit Buddy Liberty1776's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ukrifleman View Post
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    This is my no cost option.

    ukrifleman
    Well. Will have to wait until I drain my next bottle of tonic water. But perhaps a Gatorade bottle would be a bit more structurally sound.

    Great idea to solve a tricky control problem.

  20. #20
    Boolit Mold LynP's Avatar
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    Try this one, I have ordered one, have not received it yet. Will post a review after I use it for a week or so.
    https://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/...ness-test-kit/

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