Pencil Hardness Testing

Pencil Hardness Tester | Elcometer 501

The pencil hardness test, also referred to as the Wolff-Wilborn test, uses the varying hardness values of graphite pencils to evaluate a coating’s hardness.

The Elcometer 501 Pencil Hardness Tester has been designed to ensure that the cylindrical pencil lead is maintained at a constant angle of 45° and exerts a force of 7.5N (1.68lbF).

The pencil lead, prepared beforehand using the special sharpener and abrasive paper, is inserted into the Elcometer 501 hardness tester and pushed over the smooth, flat coated surface.

The lowest hardness value of the pencil which marks the coating determines the coating’s hardness rating.

6B to 6H Pencil Hardness Test with Stand | Elcometer 3080

The set of Elcometer 3080 Hardness Testing Pencils is a simple but effective technique to evaluate the hardness of many coatings.

The pencil lead, prepared beforehand by using the special pencil sharpener and rubbing it on fine abrasive paper (400 grade), is maintained at an angle of 45° and pushed with uniform pressure on to the sample, leaving either a superficial trace or causing destruction down to the substrate.

The Elcometer 3080 Pencil Hardness Test consists of a heavy duty milled and anodized aluminum pencil stand fitted to hold, identify and protect the leads of a series of 14 pencils ranging from 6B to 6H.