can I use a rockwell hardness tester to check lead?

[Tom R]

I have a access to a Rockwell hardness tester and I was wondering if any one had used one before.

[bchannell]

I used to do it many years ago, when I had easy access to a Rockwell hardness machine at work. I can't remember the ball size and the scale, but I remember it was a pain in the butt, because you need perfectly flat surfaces to get an accurate reading. If it were me, I'd bet a good lead hardness tester, unless it was just to check a sample now and again.

[armed_partisan]

We had a big industrial one at work that could work in Rockwell B or C scale. B scale was the same as Brinell from what I was told. It had a nob on the side that you'd have to switch from "100" to "10" or something like that. It worked the same at both settings, but your numbers would get wonky if you had it set on the wrong thing.

[armed_partisan]

... or maybe it was 150 to 100 setting... I can't remember.

[xr650]

armed partisan,
I'm not getting on you.
Rockwell B Scale and Brinell are not the same.
I don't know what the knob on the side of your machine was. On the one at work we change the weight and penetrator for the two scales.

Tom R,
I have a Rockwell tester at work. B and C scale.
The B scale does not go low enough for lead and as you know C scale is for harder material than B.

[Tom R]

ok that is what i needed to know

[Reload3006]

one would use Rockwell "H" scale to test lead. Using a 1/8 diameter ball penetrator and a 60KG load. but the numbers are going to still seem very high.

[eveready]

Take a look on the back side of the tester. My friend has one and he said there is a plate on the back that tells how to convert to brinell.