How To Use Hardness Tester Files

A must for most any machine shop!
An easy-to-use, dramatically less expensive alternative to a Benchtop Hardness Tester, the TTC Hardness Tester File Set allows you to quickly ascertain the hardness of your material. Watch resident tech expert Kurt Repsher demonstrate how to use Rockwell Hardness Tester Files in this video, and subscribe to our channel to see more exclusive application videos like this one!
WHY SHOULD YOU TEST MATERIAL HARDNESS?
Hardness testing allows you to evaluate a material's properties, including strength and wear resistance. This helps you to determine whether a material is suitable for the application or purpose you require, and also whether a material treatment (like heat treatment, for instance) achieved the desired results. Ascertaining a material or workpiece's hardness allows you to select the right tool for your application and work more efficiently. Moreover, knowing the material or workpiece hardness and using the right tool for the application can help you avoid reduced tool life, poor finish, tool breakage and having to potentially scrap the part you are working on.
MATERIAL HARDNESS TESTING PROCEDURE
The TTC Hardness File Set provides an easy-to-use method for ascertaining material hardness, which can be determined by sliding the files across the surface of the material you are testing. The set includes six color coded files, which indicate hardness ranging from 40 to 65 HRC. As illustrated in the video, simply run the file across the surface of the object, starting with the hardest (65 HRC) file. If the file marks the surface, the material is less than 65 HRC. You would then proceed to the next hardest file (60 HRC) and repeat the process as needed until the hardness file is unable to mark the surface of he object you are testing. The approximate hardness of the material will be between the file that marks the surface and the most recent file to slide over the material without leaving a mark.
Check out the kit yourself here:
www.travers.com/product/ttc-h...
Color File Hardness Material Hardness Indication
Red 40-42 HRC
392-412 HV 40 HRC
Yellow 45-47 HRC
446-471 HV 45 HRC
Lime Green 50-52 HRC
513-544 HV 50 HRC
Green 55-57 HRC
595-633 HV 55 HRC
Blue 60-62 HRC
697-746 HV 60 HRC
Black 64-66 HRC
800-865 HV 65 HRC
WANT TO INCREASE YOUR ALUMINUM MACHINING EFFICIENCY?
By downloading the FREE Aluminum Machining Guide you'll also find information on:
Milling approach angles
Insert substrates, coatings & post treatment
Troubleshooting insert failure
Pros & cons of solid carbide vs. indexable tooling
How to choose the right tool for your aluminum milling application
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[@cemmy410]

For anyone watching this: It's better to start with the lower hardness files and work your way up. That way you don't have to make so many marks in the piece.
Look at the chromoly piece, he had to make six sets of marks in it just to determine that it's so soft it doesn't even register with this file set. If he'd have started with the 40 he would have only had to make one mark.
Same with the carbon steel, he put 4 sets of marks in it working down from 65. If he'd started at the low end, the 40 and 45 wouldn't have made any marks at all, then when the 50 bit he'd know it was between 45 and 50 *and* leave only one mark in the piece.

[@reallydonotdo]

No. That's not correct. Tool guy did it properly. Starting with the lowest rated file and working up could ruin your files. To preserve them, you must work from the hardest, to the softest.

[@JamesJones-yj8ku]

Very good. Just bought a set of files. Most of the knife blades I buy to put handles on them are not close to hardness there claimed as

[@sdriza]

Same here....