Hi there,
Regarding an automotive modification project I would like to test if some steel pieces would have been heat treated or not. Apart from this I plan to have a lab do an XRF analysis as well to find the material composition. Someone on another forum suggested me a Hardness Tester File Set. The most common seems to be a 6 piece set which can provide an indication of a hardness between Rockwell C40 to Rockwell C65. Just now I was looking around at McMaster-Carr on the various steel types to learn what kind of hardness I might encounter. For example they sell 4140 in annealed state which is at HRC10, but also 4140 in a hardened state. After the hardening they have done a stress relief process which brings the hardness to HRC25. This would mean that the softest HRC40 file will put a mark on both types of steel. I might not exactly have 4140 on the car but I would need to be able to tell apart the softer hardness ranges.
Would there be another file set or method to tell apart between HRC10 to HRC30? While still being affordable for a hobbyist?
Regarding an automotive modification project I would like to test if some steel pieces would have been heat treated or not. Apart from this I plan to have a lab do an XRF analysis as well to find the material composition. Someone on another forum suggested me a Hardness Tester File Set. The most common seems to be a 6 piece set which can provide an indication of a hardness between Rockwell C40 to Rockwell C65. Just now I was looking around at McMaster-Carr on the various steel types to learn what kind of hardness I might encounter. For example they sell 4140 in annealed state which is at HRC10, but also 4140 in a hardened state. After the hardening they have done a stress relief process which brings the hardness to HRC25. This would mean that the softest HRC40 file will put a mark on both types of steel. I might not exactly have 4140 on the car but I would need to be able to tell apart the softer hardness ranges.
Would there be another file set or method to tell apart between HRC10 to HRC30? While still being affordable for a hobbyist?
