Bullet hardness tester

[Kurt]

For what we use for lead alloys we don't need testers that run from $800. and up for accuracy. The testers for less than $100. like the Sayco, Lee or cabin tree will do what we need. I would choose a Cabin tree for #1 and the Lee for #2 because I can get a comparison of a true know sample for comparison. The weight scale paper you get with all three of these testers really don't give you the true calibrated hardness of the alloy. Make a sample of known pure lead and tin ingot and save it for future comparisons. Using aged alloy ingots you need to remove the surface a little to get rid of the age hardening surface to get a reliable test as it was first cast.
The Saeco tester your limited to small cores like bullet sizes. I have two Saeco testers and they don't give you the same reading off the same core.
The Lee and Cabintree are calibrated by the maker and are spring tenchion with a indention ball or pin and there again springs get week or the eniticnal setting changes. I use a Lee but I just rely on comparison from a known pure mix, and again the Rotometal lead and tin that is sold as pure does not give me the same impression when I mix the alloy. Or even a sound drop test with a 10# ingot on concrete does not ring the same as pure vergin foundry lead has with a dull sound and not a ringing sound.

Kurt