elcometer 121 paint inspection gauge operating instructions m… · only method available to test...

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Op_121.fm Page -1 Tuesday, April 5, 2005 2:36 PM

Elcometer 121

Paint Inspection Gauge

Operating Instructions

Engl

ish

Op_121.fm Page 0 Tuesday, April 5, 2005 2:36 PM

The Elcometer 121 Paint InspectionGauge has been tested in accordance

with EU regulations governing Electro-magnetic compliance and it meets therequired directives.

is a registered trademark ofElcometer Instruments Ltd.All other trademarks acknowledged.© Copyright Elcometer Instruments Ltd.1994 - 2005.

All rights reserved. No part of this Documentmay be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed,stored (in a retrieval system or otherwise) ortranslated into any language, in any form orby any means (electronic, mechanical,magnetic, optical, manual or otherwise)without the prior written permission ofElcometer Instruments Ltd.

Doc No. TMA–0139 Issue 04Text with Cover No. 4285


CONTENTSSection Page

1 About your gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21.1 Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41.2 What the box contains . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

2 Getting started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52.1 The parts of your gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . 52.2 Fitting a cutter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62.3 Fitting the battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

3 Taking a measurement . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

5 Technical specification . . . . . . . . . . 126 Spares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137 Related equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

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hank you for your purchase of thisElcometer 121 Paint Inspection Gauge.

Welcome to Elcometer.Elcometer are world leaders in the design,manufacture and supply of inspectionequipment for coatings and concrete. Ourproducts cover all aspects of coatinginspection, from development throughapplication to post application inspection.The Elcometer 121 Paint Inspection Gauge isa world beating product. With the purchase ofthis product you now have access to theworldwide service and support network ofElcometer. For more information visit ourwebsite at www.elcometer.com

1 ABOUT YOUR GAUGEDestructive thickness measurement is theonly method available to test certain coating/substrate combinations, such as paintapplied to concrete, wood or plaster, and fortesting single coat thicknesses in a multi-coatapplication.The Elcometer 121 Paint Inspection Gaugeoffers a quick, versatile method of coatingexamination and measurement in a portable,easy-to-use gauge.The Elcometer 121 Paint Inspection Gaugeuses a principle of basic trigonometry. A cutis made at a known angle by the gauge

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cutter. The coating thickness is thendetermined from the width of the cut which ismeasured using the graticule scale in anilluminated microscope.The Elcometer 121 Paint Inspection Gaugemeasures total film thicknesses as well asindividual layers in a multi-coat system, whenthe colour or texture of the underlying coats isidentifiable. Paint film thickness can bemeasured on all substrates including steel,wood, plastic and concrete. Additionally,microscopic examination for craters, smallblisters, pores, cracks, scaling, adhesion,flexibility, adhesion of separate coats to eachother and substrate cleanliness can becarried out.Elasticity of the coating, cleanliness of thesubstrate and adhesion of individual coatscan be assessed from the appearance of thecut.

To maximise the benefits of yourElcometer 121 Paint Inspection Gaugeplease take some time to read theseOperating Instructions. Do not hesitate tocontact Elcometer or your Elcometersupplier if you have any questions.

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1.1 StandardsThe Elcometer 121 Paint Inspection Gaugecan be used in accordance with the followingNational and International Standards:• ASTM D 4138• BS EN 3900-CS-5B• ISO 2808-5B

1.2 What the box contains• Elcometer 121 Paint Inspection Gauge• 3 x Cutters (one fitted in the gauge)• Black marker pen• Carrying Case• Operating Instructions

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2 GETTING STARTED

2.1 The parts of your gauge

Figure 1. Elcometer 121 Paint Inspection Gauge

1. Cutter clamping screw2. Cutter3. Light switch and battery panel4. Microscope5. Light guide

1 3

4

2

5

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2.2 Fitting a cutter1. Loosen the cutter clamping screw (Figure

1) and remove the cutter.2. Replace the cutter with its highest point

facing the two round pins that form thefeet. The highest point of the cutter mustprotrude from the gauge by the sameamount as the two feet.

3. Tighten the cutter clamping screw.

2.3 Fitting the batteryYour gauge uses one 9 V batterya.1. Unscrew battery panel retaining screw

(Figure 2).2. Remove battery panel.3. Push battery onto clips ensuring correct

polarity.4. Replace battery panel and retaining

screw.5. Press the light switch to check for correct

operation.

a. When exhausted, the battery must bedisposed of carefully to avoidenvironmental contamination. Pleaseconsult your local EnvironmentalAuthority for information on disposal inyour region.Do not dispose of any batteries in fire.

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Figure 2. Fitting the battery

1

2

3

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3 TAKING A MEASUREMENT1. Mark the surface to be tested with a

stroke of the black marker pen providedwith your gauge. There should always bea distinct contrast between the colour ofthe pen ink and the coating. Different penink colours may therefore be required.

2. Cut the coating at right-angles to the penmark:Place the gauge on the specimen asshown (Figure 3). Pull the gauge in thedirection shown by drawing the gaugetowards you and applying a little pressure.

Figure 3. Cut coating across pen markSlight pressure is normally sufficient topenetrate through to the substrate. Heavierpressure may be required for very thickcoatings and very hard surfaces.

3. Position the gauge so that themicroscope lens is over the cut with the

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feet touching the surface as shown(Figure 4).

Figure 4. Measure scratch4. Press and hold the light switch to

illuminate the cut.5. Focus the microscope; gently pull or

push the microscope barrel from thebody of the gauge until the cut is clearlyvisible.

6. Focus the graticule; rotate the eyepieceuntil the graticule is clearly visible.

7. Align the graticule scale at right-angles tothe cut so that the scale divisions areparallel to the cut. Note that one side ofthe cut will have a straight edge and theother side is likely to be ragged - seeFigure 5.

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8. Measure the width of the cut coating (orcoatings) by counting the number ofgraticule divisions (Figure 5).

Figure 5. Typical view through microscope

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Exposedsubstrate

Cut coating

Coating(uncut)

Count number of graticule divisions

Penmark

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9. To convert the width of the cut coatinginto coating thickness, multiply thenumber of graticule divisions by thefactor given below:

In the example given in Figure 5, with aNo. 6 cutter, the coating thickness is:34 divisions x 2 = 68 microns34 divisions x 0.08 = 2.7 mils

Multi-layer coatings: The thickness ofindividual layers can be calculated bymeasuring each layer (Figure 6).

Figure 6. Typical multi-layer coating

Cutter No.Multiplication factormicrons mils

1 20 0.84 10 0.46 2 0.08

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4 MAINTENANCEYour Elcometer 121 Paint Inspection Gaugeis designed to give many years reliableservice under normal operating and storageconditions.The Elcometer 121 Paint Inspection Gaugedoes not contain any user-serviceablecomponents. In the unlikely event of a fault,the gauge should be returned to yourElcometer supplier or directly to Elcometer.Details of Elcometer offices around the worldare given on the outside cover of theseoperating instructions. Alternatively, visit theElcometer website, www.elcometer.com

5 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION

5.1 PhysicalScale Range: 2mm (0.08")(maximum)Dimensions: 110 x 85 x 25 mm

(4.3" x 3.4" x 1")Material: AluminiumMicroscope: 50 x magnificationWeight: 610 g (1 lb 5 oz)(incl. cutting tips, marker pen, carrying caseand operating instructions)

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5.2 CuttersThis gauge is supplied with three tungstencarbide cutters; Nos. 1, 4 and 6. The No. 6cutter is fitted to your gauge at the time ofdispatch from the Elcometer factory.

5.3 Carrying CaseMaterial: Tan leatherCase Dimensions: 148 x 125 x 42 mm

(5.8" x 4.9" x 1.6")5.4 Power supplyType: Internal battery, 9 VBattery type: PP3/6LR61/MN1604

5.5 PackagingThe Elcometer 121 Paint Inspection Gauge ispacked in a cardboard and foam package.Please ensure that this packaging isdisposed of in an environmentally sensitivemanner. Consult your local EnvironmentalAuthority for further guidance.

Cutter No.

Resolution of graticule (microns)

Maximum thickness (microns)

Cutting angle (degrees)

1 20 2000 454 10 1000 26.66 2 200 5.7

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6 SPARESThe Elcometer 121 Paint Inspection Gauge iscomplete with all the items required to getstarted and take measurements, howeverover the life of the kit replacements may berequired The following items are availablefrom Elcometer, or your local supplier.Cutter No. 1 T1214426-Cutter No. 4 T1214429-Cutter No. 6 T1214430-

7 RELATED EQUIPMENTIn addition to the Elcometer 121 PaintInspection Gauge, Elcometer produces awide range of other equipment for testing andmeasuring the characteristics of coatings.Users of the Elcometer 121 may also benefitfrom the following Elcometer products:• Elcometer 157 Coating Thickness Gauge• Elcometer 195 Säberg Drill• Elcometer 456 Coating Thickness Gauge• Elcometer Coating Adhesion TestersFor further information contact Elcometer,your local supplier or visit our website atwww.elcometer.com

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