So it begins... Rockwell Hardness Tester

I purchased a Rockwell hardness tester to augment my blade steel research efforts.
firecreekforge...
/ firecreekforge
#steel #testing #rockwellhardness

[@RevMikeBlack]

Nice acquisition! Can't wait to see it in action. If I owned one, I would know the hardness of every object in my house within the first week. Testing gear can be very addictive.

[@Babymoonblades]

I can’t find any more videos from you after this one using the tester. Can you give me some feedback on its usefulness?

[@FireCreekForge]

@@Babymoonblades yeah I need to do that

[@minnesotatomcat]

It might not be something you use every day but I bet you use the hell out of it for the first couple weeks 🤣 that’d turn into an obsession real fast if I had that thing! Can’t wait to see some tests 👍

[@HeavyForge]

Grab a copy of Bains book “The functions of alloying elements in steel”

[@FireCreekForge]

Thanks I'll check it out

[@SiliconeSword]

Idk if you follow his site or channel, but take a look at Knife Steel Nerds, he does steel stuff for a living and has tons of info about maxing out steels in every possible way.

[@FireCreekForge]

Yep I use some of Larrens resources

[@GibsonCutlery]

Exciting addition to the shop! Looking forward hearing your feedback on getting it set up etc. I've heard they can be a bear.

[@sopronidemon]

Gratulations! If you don't mind to share the brand/company that you have purchased the Hardness Tester from that would be great, because I am right in the middle of ordering one form China as well and that would be a great help. Also do you think having the preload lever is crucial? I have seen some that don't have this. and are a bit cheaper.

[@FireCreekForge]

Honestly don't know, I thought the pre load lever was standard

[@sopronidemon]

@@FireCreekForge thanks for the feedback! :)

[@I-Universe-369]

This hardness tester can help in changing specs for your heat treating formulas. You can go from a +-25 HRC to a +-5 HRC, especially if your going from draw to cryogenics back to draw. TheRockwell machine is 100 times better than the hardness files.

[@knifesharpeningnorway]

You should really try out magnacut its a fantastic steel i have a outdoor blade made from it hrc 63 its very dang good

[@FireCreekForge]

Thanks, I have heard good things about it

[@knifesharpeningnorway]

@@FireCreekForge it sharpens to me like good carbon steel and is pretty dang tough too but is very very stainless. But its a costly steel compared to carbon steels both to buy and grind

[@SiivaKlamer]

So does it need to get a calibration and how often? 😊

[@bobjoncas2814]

...THAT SHOULD GET 'ER DONE, KEEP SAFE...

[@FireCreekForge]

Thanks!!

[@TyrellKnifeworks]

I have the same one. Great machine!

[@FireCreekForge]

Nice!!

[@gregs7519]

Where did you get it from?

[@NelsonJ1]

​@@gregs7519Grizzly

[@SuperSteelSteve]

Hi 👋 Sheriff of the HRC Police here . Please be advised you will now be inundated by hundreds of metallurgy geniuses who will tell you 1. You don't know what your doing 2. HRC doesn't matter 3. "But it's the heat treat that matter" 4. You haven't been trained properly 5. Your machine isn't calibrated properly 6. "Make sure you......" 7. It takes tremendous amounts of technical training to properly operate a Rockwell tester And many ,many , many more. Oh, almost forgot. Your now a member of the "HRC police" because you have interest in the hardness of your knives. I don't make the rules, I just follow them. Sorry.

[@FireCreekForge]

Haha, ok thanks!

[@rickmoore]

Nice buy!

[@erikcourtney1834]

I would love to see the differences in 1095 quenched in warm canola vs p50 and a 150* brine quench. I know the results but would love to see the actual numbers. I say 1095 because it’s a water (fast) quench steel and it’s what so many people have recommended for a beginner steel which I do not agree with.

[@FireCreekForge]

Yep I agree

[@jasonrankin7110]

As a beginner, who is open to any advice I can get, what type of steel would you recommend for my first blade.

[@FireCreekForge]

@@jasonrankin7110 I'd recommend starting with 1075, 1080, or 1084, which are all basically the same thing since they are within .05% of each other in carbon content. These can be heat treated effectively with simple methods.

[@therory6888]

Another good tool for testing and results of heat treating. Congrats!

[@ГеоргийЗубиташвили-с3я]

congratulations on your purchase🤝

[@Gman1024]

Ooh, tons of fun and awesome data to come, haha.

[@nicholaseedy3244]

Excited to see you put this to use.

[@jwspock1690]

first

[@MarleneSB]

Look forward to hearing the results of your tests. Have you considered adding a Rockwell Retro Encabulator to your shop?

[@jbaileyknives7282]

Which tester did you go with? I’ve been looking and wanting to get one as well.

[@FireCreekForge]

Chinese import model

[@jbaileyknives7282]

Ok thanks. I would imagine they are about like anything else. Made in the same place and then sold under different name brands.

[@FireCreekForge]

@@jbaileyknives7282 I think so. I've talked to someone who's used one for years, and with the relatively minimal amount of testing I'll be doing I think it's going to work just fine

[@jbaileyknives7282]

@@FireCreekForge awesome. Once I get ready to buy, I might reach out and ask some particulars if you don’t mind.