<p>I'm sure there are cheaper versions for it. But to answer your question, it's more of a investment for a lifetime and no need to worry about buying new ones in the next 20-30 years.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-03-21T19:38:29.983Z
2023-03-21T19:38:29.983Z
user28724
<p>I am considering buying a set of Mohs hardness scratch pens (aka hardness picks). As a hobbyist the price is quite high, starting at 300 USD and upwards for a complete set. I can accept this price if I can expect them to do their job for a lifetime, or at least for a decade.</p>
<p>I assume that the tip of these picks are machined to have a sharp edge, probably a single point.</p>
<p>All cutting tools, like drill bits or saw tooths loose this sharp edge with use, so I assume the same will happen with these scratch pens. But when googling for this, I havent found a single source that talks about how to maintain/sharpen these pens, and I haven't found a single source that talks about how long they last or if they will need replacing.</p>
<p>So let me try and put this into a few questions:</p>
<ul>
<li>How long can I expect such a pen to last and how long will it do its job well?</li>
<li>Do people sharpen or otherwise maintain their scratch pens?</li>
<li>Do people replace their scratch pens?</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-07-19T11:54:58.103Z
One thing you could do, if you do not get a satisfactory answer here, is to contact the manufacturers of the pens & ask them how the pens should be maintained for optimal use.
Fred
<geology><field-measurements>
Will a Mohs hardness scratch pen need to be replaced or resharpened?
Mads Skjern
# Will a Mohs hardness scratch pen need to be replaced or resharpened?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-07-19)

I am considering buying a set of Mohs hardness scratch pens (aka hardness picks). As a hobbyist the price is quite high, starting at 300 USD and upwards for a complete set. I can accept this price if I can expect them to do their job for a lifetime, or at least for a decade.

I assume that the tip of these picks are machined to have a sharp edge, probably a single point.

All cutting tools, like drill bits or saw tooths loose this sharp edge with use, so I assume the same will happen with these scratch pens. But when googling for this, I havent found a single source that talks about how to maintain/sharpen these pens, and I haven't found a single source that talks about how long they last or if they will need replacing.

So let me try and put this into a few questions:

* How long can I expect such a pen to last and how long will it do its job well?
* Do people sharpen or otherwise maintain their scratch pens?
* Do people replace their scratch pens?

**Tags:** geology, field-measurements

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: One thing you could do, if you do not get a satisfactory answer here, is to contact the manufacturers of the pens & ask them how the pens should be maintained for optimal use.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2023-03-21. Score: 1

I'm sure there are cheaper versions for it. But to answer your question, it's more of a investment for a lifetime and no need to worry about buying new ones in the next 20-30 years.


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