Lee Hardness Tester

[marshhawk]

I have a Lee Lead Hardness Tester and find it difficult to use, has anybody come up with a mounting plate to make it easier to operate, looking for some Help!

Marshhawk

[slim1836]

Cut the top off of a 2 liter bottle, drill a hole in the cap, and stick the hardness through the cap. You can use a clip on the tester above the bottle cap to hold the tester to whatever height you need.

Slim

[Mk42gunner]

Also use a bright light for illumination.

I found it helpful to rest everything on my tractor when trying to measure the impression. I was outside in the bright summer sunlight, and the pickup would rock gently on its springs playing havoc with getting a steady view, hence the tractor.

Lots of people have cannibalized a children's microscope for a stand.

Robert

[daloper]

After filing your flat spot, go over it with a yellow high lighter marker. Makes it much easier to see. Just make sure you color it before you test it.

[marshhawk]

Thanks for the help! I think coloring the flat spot will help as well as a source of bright light!

Marshhawk

[OS OK]

Over at Thereloadersnetwork.com they sell a great little device for holding that scope...makes all the difference in the world.



https://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/...casting/tools/



They even have a flashlight stand too...check it out.

[GregLaROCHE]

I’ve never been happy with mine. My son can do it, I find it most difficult and therefore lack confidence in my measurements. However, a lot of people are happy with them. Maybe it just takes practice. It definitely needs something to hold it. I put a hole in a clear plastic cup to hold mine.

[Conditor22]

I made mine out of scrap wood, the Lee hardness tester is a pain to use without some kind of stand, good light source, and a way to easily move the test object around. (stick the test object to an index card or ? to help for easier alignment.

some members use cheap microscope stands from fleabay, others poke a hole in the bottom of a paper cup and cut part of one side out.

[John Boy]

Yes, there are all kinds of stands for holding the hardness tester. Been using mine for many years to test bullets and ingots. I only use my 2 hands and tilt it above a strong ceiling light on the dipression mark. Don’t find this to be hard at all

[Mal Paso]

Gatoraid bottle.

[mdi]

Yep, lots of good "tools" for holding the 'scope. I used a sizing die (sorry, can't remember the caliber and drilled it through. Put O-ring on the scope to hold it in place and used it in a single stage press. But I soon tired of that and got out my magnifying visor and dial calipers. With the visor I can easily "bracket" the indent with the jaws of my dial caliper and use that dimension with the Lee chart.

[W.R.Buchanan]

Holding the scope is the only problem and that is easily solved. They work just fine and are arguably the best tool out there below a real Laboratory Hardness Tester.

I use my Optical Comparator in my shop to take readings after I use the Lee Tool to make the indent. It has a digital Readout that reads to 50 millionths. I can do readings to fractions of a point due to the accuracy of the comparator. I usually do 2-3 tests to make sure they repeat and I/m not getting phony readings.

The Hash Marks on the Lee Optic are .002 apart and this makes for somewhat coarser readings, but with a decent way of holding the optic steady like one of these holders you can interpolate between the lines and get closer. Really the Lee Tool is close enough for anything we'd ever do with boolits.

Randy

[Mk42gunner]

In all actuality, I don't think a hardness tester is needed for the vast majority of casters. I think they fall into the nice to have, but not really necessary category. Right along with a thermometer.

I had a SEACO that I couldn't get repeatable measurements with, so I passed it along to another member here. Then I got the Lee and tested my batch of WW at 12.5 BHN.

The tester has sat on my shelf for several years because I am still using that batch of WW. When I make up my next big batch, I will probably test it.

Robert

[sharps4590]

I have a Lee Lead Hardness Tester and find it difficult to use, has anybody come up with a mounting plate to make it easier to operate, looking for some Help!

Marshhawk

Which is why I bought the Saeco. Unlike Mk42's experience mine has always read consistently. For.....a decade, over smokeless powder my alloy was 50/50, lead/lino and I could easily duplicate it. The Saeco always read the same. A friend loaned me his Lee to try. I quickly returned it.

[Mk42gunner]

Different strokes for different folks.

I'd like to get one of the LBT testers, but after I saw just how little I actually use one, I can't justify the expenditure.

Robert

[marshhawk]

I went to the reloadingnetwork and bought their set, on sale for 29.95 and it came with the flashlight, it really made using the Lee tester a snap, I also took the advise of coloring the test area and what a big difference it made, Thanks to all of you for your advice, I now have a tool that I can use.
Marshhawk