How is hardness determined?
How is “hardness” determined? |
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When purchasing chisels, some of them may be given a hardness rating. | |||
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This indicates that the hardness of the chisel has been determined through a test, such as a Rockwell hardness test. | |||
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For a cold chisel made from some types of steel, the Rockwell C rating (HRC) may be approximately 54 – 60 for the cutting edge… | |||
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…and approximately 36 – 44 for the head. | |||
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The higher the number, the harder the material.
This will of course vary depending on several factors, including the type of steel. For cold chisels made from other metals and other types of builders’ chisels this rating may also be different. |
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To test how hard a piece of steel is at home, the user can run a file across the steel’s surface. The harder it is, the easier the file will run off the metal. | |||
