So a while back I started mixing up 1:20 tin:lead alloy for my Sharps, 'cause some folks said it was the thing to do.
I thought, "Gee, it would be nice to use wheel weights instead of tin, 'cause I have a lot of wheel weights and tin is expensive!"
So, I got one of those Lee Hardness Testers. According to the web, it is among the most accurate. Basically, it's a little pocket microscope that has some lines etched in it that correspond to .002" increments on whatever you are looking at. It's got a little spring-loaded dimple maker you put in a regular press.
Problem is, I could not hold the little microscope still to save my life. I found it almost impossible to count the number of tick marks to measure the dimple.
So, I 3D printed a nice stand for it. But in addition, I printed an adapter so that I could mount a cheap USB microscope to it. It does not fully view the entire scale of tick marks, but it works very well. Now I can gently ease the thing into position and count the tick marks on the screen with ease.
I'm not sure I'm getting great results just yet - my 1:20 alloy is measuring out for hardness like 1:30 alloy should, and I'm pretty certain about my alloy. Gotta do some more testing.
Steve
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