Improved the Lee hardness tester

[dudel]

Neat tool; but a pain to use. Used a couple scraps of wood to build this:

http://picasaweb.google.com/donudel/...82900613792706

Sure makes it much easier to keep the boolit in focus and read the scale.

Don

[edsmith]

that is simple,cheap and brillant

[RobS]

excellent and it looks nice too

[TCLouis]

holding the measuring device and staying out of the light so one can see is the hardest part. This solves that issue.

I feel a weekend project coming on.

[303Guy]

That's inspiring, thank you dudel.

[gunrunner8]

My lead hardness tester is free and couldn't be any simpler. I had 3/4" dia steel ball from old ball bearing ( 1" dia will do to). I position it between 2 different bars of pure lead and unknown alloy (casted in my Lee 1lb mold) and squeeze the set up in the vise in my garage. Let say the pure lead bar (stick on ww) got .300" dia imprint and unknown alloy got .200" dia imprint. Pure lead hardness is 5BHN. The unknown alloy hardness will be .300 squared divided by .200 squared and the result multiplay times 5 BHN and the result is 11,25 BHN. Works for me every time.

[cheese1566]

Nice! Good job and thanks for sharing!

Too bad though, I guess now I have to buy a tester so I can build one![smilie=2:

[smoked turkey]

Two excellent tips. Thanks for sharing. Either tip will make the process so much more accurate than the old finger nail scoring the base of the boolit! I also have the Lee tester and will give the "holder" a try.

[qajaq59]

I do it the same way gunrunner8 does, but that little rig for the Lee tester is a clever idea.

[509thsfs]

This is what I put together. I drilled a hole in the bottom to insert the "shell holder" to hold boolits too. Still need to place a small flashlight to the side to read the scale though.

[IMG][/IMG]

[reloader28]

Excellent. Think I'll go build me a microscope. Looks much better than trying to hold everything just right.

[Ed Gallop]

I use a fly tying vise by removing the jaws. After slipping a thin plastic tubing over the scope it fits perfectly into the vise and can be easily adjusted to various heights and angles. You fly tiers out there may want to see if your vise will work. Ed.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I am plaqnning on ordering a Lee Hardness tester setup, and did a search for any issues.
great ideas here...
Thanx, Jon

[kbstenberg]

I have recently made a stand for my Buddie. I found if i drilled the hole for the microscope with a drill bit just a shade bigger than the tube than put a strip of paper between the tube an the hole sides so that you can raise an lower the tube by hand but it will stay in place without being held. So if you are measuring bullets of the same size all you have to do is replace the bullet.
I also made mine so that the tube is strait up an down. We both mark our bullets on the top or bottom so that is the easiest for us. I will try to get over to his house to get pictures.
Kevin

[captain-03]

Here is my modification -- please excuse the "dust!"









Still working on a light to add the needed brightness of view ...

[deerslayer]

A friend of mine did this with his press and I must say it was rather ingenious. I believe he modified a die to allow the scope through it and inserted a flat plate shell holder to hold the lead. The part that was the most brilliant was the O ring put on the scope to allow you to move it up and down and just slide the O ring to hold it. Worked great.

[AZ-Stew]

I expected full-burl French walnut.

Regards,

Stew

[kenjuudo]

[HeavyMetal]

I just found a toy microscope at the thrift store gutted the inside and fitted the scope into the body.

Boolits lay on the platform and the adjustment still works so I can focus as needed depending on Boolit size.

All the Ideas look great should give a lot of newbie's food for thought!

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I got my LEE tester a week ago, I thought about the designs others here have made for a stand. I thought simple is best, and small for ease of storage. one piece of 1x4 OAK, about 6" long. Drill a couple holes and use the bandsaw to make the cut out. I came across these little LED flashlights 2 years ago from Harbor Freight, they are exactly 1" in diameter and uses 3 cheapo AAA batteries , it mounts on your standard scope mounts.
Jon






edited: I built a new improved version, photos following...