Hardness tester

[gnappi]

I no longer have access to a BHT but I found out something just as good for bullets.

I found that if I use my thumbnail (Thumbnail is Mohs hardness scale is 2.5 Vs. pencil lead @ 1.0 on same scale) works pretty darn good... it's always "handy" and it NEVER gets lost . I've "tested" a lot of cast bullets I did not cast and would not buy them. My home made cast bullets are plenty hard enough.

I wish someone with a BH tester would compare it to their thumbnail and a pencil!

[AndyC]

Thanks to the info on this thread, I ordered - and just received - a Carbine Tree tester:



I'm looking forward to playing with it.

[Mitch]

I have the LBT tester and have had good luck with it.

Ok now another thought.With the modern day we can get out lead analized there is not much need for a hardness tester maybe got a double check.I have found that the lead i had analized and use for my alloys checkes realy close to what it should with the LBT.

[AndyC]

I've been piddling around with it a little this evening - seems the metals I bought years ago on eBay sold as Linotype (4% tin, 12% antimony) is actually Electrotype (2.5% tin, 2.5% antimony), based on the hardness results - only 11 Bhn instead of 19.

Not that I blame the seller - hell, everyone seems to sell printing-press letters as "Linotype" as a generic term and I'm sure they genuinely don't know the difference - but it's annoying when you're trying to reach a certain hardness in your alloy and assume that what you have is one alloy when it's actually a much softer one.

For that alone this was an excellent purchase.

[dtknowles]

I have the LBT tester and have had good luck with it.

Ok now another thought.With the modern day we can get out lead analized there is not much need for a hardness tester maybe got a double check.I have found that the lead i had analized and use for my alloys checkes realy close to what it should with the LBT.

Hardness is more than a function of composition. Heat treatment and aging have an effect as well.

I have and use a Lee, it works, I have the scope in a microscope stand. You can use it to measure other things too. I do have to take my glasses off to use it as I am near sighted. It might not be the best but it is what I have and it works.

Tim

[Mitch]

I guess basic metallurgy not longer matters.

but then my fault for getting off topic in the fist place.

Just my opinion to help out for what is is worth.

[Lead pot]

I have the Lee and Saeco but I use the Lee because the dimple is more precise for comparison of the alloy temper. I don't care what a BHN reading is because all of these under 100 dollar testers are not precise enough.
I use the Lee for comparison. I cast a bullet with my alloy mix and take a sample of the known alloy mix. Lets face it, it's almost impossible to get lead in a pure form anymore. Most is recycled that has WW and other stuff in the mix and the asme goes with tin.
Every batch of new alloy I make and that is usually 200 lbs but I can only make one batch of around 50 lbs because this is how big my dutch oven holds so I end up making 4-5 batches. Each batch I take a sample and if the Lee dimple is above or below 7.8 I add tin or lead till it measures 7.8 because this is the alloy I use for my Sharps for the long range matches.
When I get the 4-5 batch ingots that are stacked so not to get them mixed, usually 4 stacks, I take one ingot off each stack and remelt them and get them fluxed and blended so all are the same temper. Yes it's a lot of extra work but I want precise bullet hardness and weight. When I cast my black powder bullets the weight variances are less than 1 grain, 5/10 usually with bullets that range 400 gr to 700 gr for my calibers I shoot.
As far as holding the Lee tester I just take a sizing die that is the closest to the lee tube and mount it in the in the press and stick the scope through the die body and I have a LED light mounted for a light source.
It's just my way but it gives me the confidence knowing that it was not the bullet that kicked up the dust missing the target.........

[slasher]

So, in researching over the last couple of days I watched a video or two about using pencils. This seems to be so simple and also very cheap. I'm really leaning towards this now.
Am I missing something?

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

[Petander]

I use the Saeco. I cast a few wad cutter bullets as I'm making ingots then mark the hardness.

This is my technique with the Saeco tester,too.

Some bullet sizes/profiles are just very hard to get straight in there.

[725]

I use the Saeco, too, and at times it gives different readings, which, of course, I attribute to my hands having nothing but thumbs. Still with repeated tests, I come to an average that seems to reflect the real world. When not interested in such precise measurements, I drop an ingot on the concrete floor and if it rings, it's hard; if it thunks, it's soft.

[hermans]

Another vote for Cabine Tree!

[dale2242]

I have the Saeco.
I just file a flat spot on top of a pointy bullet to use it with this tester.