The Elcometer 1538 DIN Scratching Tool is a specimen preparation device that cuts a controlled scratch through a coating down to the substrate, producing the standardised scribe required for corrosion testing. Cabinet corrosion tests such as salt spray and CASS assess how far rust and coating breakdown spread from a deliberate defect, so the scribe must be made to a defined width and depth for results to be comparable and valid; a hand-cut line is not repeatable enough.

The tool uses interchangeable carbide cutters and is supplied complete with either a 0.5mm or 1mm cutter, allowing it to match the scribe specified for different test regimes. The variants cover this directly: K0001538M201 has a 1mm cutter for the CASS test, K0001538M202 has a 0.5mm cutter for the salt spray test, and K0001538M004 (0.5mm) and K0001538M005 (1mm) are the Renault versions. An adjustment device for accurate blade setting is available as an optional accessory. The tool weighs 113g and is supplied with a hexagonal wrench and a cutter storage case.

The Elcometer 1538 DIN Scratching Tool can be used in accordance with BS EN ISO 4628-8:2012 and DIN EN ISO 4628-8:2012, which govern the assessment of degradation around a scribe, as well as DIN 53167. It is used in coatings laboratories and automotive corrosion testing. Supplied by BAMR, South Africa's authorised Elcometer distributor.