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The Elcometer 1540 Cross Cut Tester (K0001540M001) is a hand cutter for quickly determining the adhesion of a coating to its substrate on a wide variety of paints up to 50 micrometres thick.
Poor adhesion is a common cause of premature coating failure, and the cross cut test gives a fast, repeatable way to grade it. Made from steel, the Elcometer 1540 cross hatch gauge has 11 tapered teeth at 1mm spacing. Two sets of cuts are made at right angles to each other, producing a lattice of 100 squares in the coating.
The cut area is then assessed against a classification scale, from edges that are completely smooth with no squares detached, through small flakes lifting at the cut intersections, to progressively larger percentages of the cross cut area flaking away in ribbons or whole squares. This grading lets an inspector report a consistent adhesion result rather than a subjective impression.
The Elcometer 1540 Cross Cut Tester is supplied with a plastic storage case. It is used by coatings inspectors and quality control teams across protective coating, industrial painting and manufacturing where coating adhesion must be verified. Supplied by BAMR, South Africa's authorised distributor.
Elcometer 1540 Cross Cut Tester
The Elcometer 1540 Adhesion Tester is a simple instrument for quickly determining the coating adhesion of a large variety of paints up to 50µm thickness. Made from steel, this cross hatch gauge has 11 tapered teeth with 1mm spacing. Two sets of lines are cut at right angles to obtain a pattern of 100 squares.
When to use the Elcometer 1540 Cross Cut Tester
Use the 1540 when you need a quick check of coating adhesion on a wide range of paints up to 50µm thick. Two passes at right angles cut a pattern of 100 squares whose edges show how well the coating holds. It is a simple steel cross hatch gauge with 11 tapered teeth at 1mm spacing.
- 1Fast pass or failCutting a 100-square grid and reading the edges gives a quick adhesion result on the line without setting up a pull-off test.
- 2Fixed 1mm gridThe 11 tapered teeth at 1mm spacing suit coatings up to 50µm thick, the range this single-spacing tool is built for.
- 3Certificate availableA certificate can be ordered as an option, which matters when your quality system needs traceable evidence for the gauge.
Lower-budget alternatives
Ten minutes on a call with one of our specialists usually saves you from buying the wrong instrument.
Book a 10-minute callOr , our product assistant, for an instant answer.
When to use this
When to use the Elcometer 1540 Cross Cut Tester
Use the 1540 when you need a quick check of coating adhesion on a wide range of paints up to 50µm thick. Two passes at right angles cut a pattern of 100 squares whose edges show how well the coating holds. It is a simple steel cross hatch gauge with 11 tapered teeth at 1mm spacing.
- 1Fast pass or failCutting a 100-square grid and reading the edges gives a quick adhesion result on the line without setting up a pull-off test.
- 2Fixed 1mm gridThe 11 tapered teeth at 1mm spacing suit coatings up to 50µm thick, the range this single-spacing tool is built for.
- 3Certificate availableA certificate can be ordered as an option, which matters when your quality system needs traceable evidence for the gauge.
Lower-budget alternatives
Ten minutes on a call with one of our specialists usually saves you from buying the wrong instrument.
Book a 10-minute callOr , our product assistant, for an instant answer.
Specifications
Specifications
- Part Number
- K0001540M001
- Description
- Elcometer 1540 Cross Cut Adhesion Tester (11 x 1mm)
- Certificate
- Available as an option
Classification of Cross Hatch Test Results
| Classification | Typical description of result |
|---|---|
| 0 / 5B | The edges of the cuts are completely smooth, none of the squares of the lattice is detached. |
| 1 / 4B | Detachment of small flakes of the coating at the intersections of the cuts. |
| 2 / 3B | The coating has flaked along the edges and/or at the intersections of the cuts. A cross cut area significantly greater than 5%, but not significantly greater than 15%, is affected. |
| 3 / 2B | The coating has flaked along the edges of the cuts partly or wholly in large ribbons, and/or it has flaked partly or wholly on different parts of the squares. A cross cut area significantly greater than 15%, but not significantly greater than 35%, is affected. |
| 4 / 1B | The coating has flaked along the edges of the cuts in large ribbons and/or some squares have detached partly or wholly. A cross cut area significantly greater than 35%, but not significantly greater than 65%, is affected. |
| 5 / 0B | Any degree of flaking that cannot be classified even by classification 4 (1B). |
What's in the kit
What's in the kit
Frequently asked questions
What coating thickness does the Elcometer 1540 handle?
The Elcometer 1540 is designed for coatings up to 50 microns thick. It has 11 tapered teeth with 1mm spacing and cuts two sets of lines at right angles to produce a pattern of 100 squares.
How are cross-hatch test results classified?
Results are classified on a 0 to 5 scale (equivalent to 5B to 0B). Class 0/5B means no detachment. Class 5/0B means flaking beyond what Class 4 can describe. Intermediate classes reflect increasing percentages of the cross-cut area affected, from under 5% up to 65%.
Is a calibration certificate available for the 1540?
Yes, a certificate is available as an option on the K0001540M001.
What is the cutter construction of the 1540?
The instrument is made from steel and uses 11 tapered teeth with 1mm spacing. Two cuts at right angles produce a lattice of 100 squares for classification.
Quote on the Elcometer 1540 Cross Cut Tester by close of business.
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Tell us about your application and we will send a quote with lead time and accessories.