Update and monolog after. Went by during my lunch break to check it out. It had a very heavy duty table under it and a shop built counter spring cover to keep it clean. It had a box with a few test plates, some anvils, an old manual, and some extra weights. Turns out the guy who had it, wasn't all that familiar with it either, but we managed to measure a test plate several times and it was very consistent. I couldn't find anything wrong with it, so I paid the man. Went back after work to pick it up, man that thing was heavier than I expected, but guy had an overhead crane, so loading was easy. Just got home, I'll unload tonight and give a better report tomorrow on what I got.
Now, monolog. Or explanation of why I wanted this. I had a conversation with a pro maker about purchasing this before I went out there and he just wanted to make sure I understood how or if this was even necessary for me as a newb. I say it absolutely is not! It will not make my knives better, I know that. I don't "need" this. I "want" this though, and thought I should share more about why I want it. I also really want a surface grinder, but....
My employment background started mainly around construction and factory work when I was first out on my own. But at about 22 years old, went in the military and ended up in an avionics technician job where I spent everyday documenting, repairing, testing, etc. After the military, I ended in an R&D lab for a few years where I spent every day documenting, testing, destructive testing etc. Now in the electric company, I'm a meter technician, I spend everyday documenting, testing, repairing, etc. See where this is going?
Why did I tell you all that? I guess I just have a thing for knowing and proving the details of everything. I hate not knowing something and I guess its just my personality, but I like seeing things for myself. I like experimenting with different things and techniques, I'm an amateur machinist, hot rodder, welder, etc. So, I can see myself using this for other things too. I'm the kind of guy that uses 4 decimal points when everybody else uses 2. Wife says I'm weird.
Anyway, I was sort of looking for an Ames portable tester when I saw this one listed locally, so I figured why not. May not even use it that much, but when I have those moments when I'm not sure about something, it will be nice to have the option of checking it for myself. The other plus is I'm buying it with other peoples money too! The money for last 4 knives I've sold was still in my wallet, burning a hole in it! More tomorrow maybe.