Pfund Thickness Gauge

Operating Instructions

EnglishElcometer 3233

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is a registered trademark of Elcometer Instruments Ltd.
All other trademarks acknowledged.
© Copyright Elcometer Instruments Ltd. 2006.
All rights reserved. No part of this Document may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored (in a retrieval
system or otherwise) or translated into any language, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical,magnetic, optical, manual or otherwise) without the prior written permission of Elcometer Instruments Ltd.
Doc.No. TMA-0343 Issue 02
Part No: 19686

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SectionPage

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About this gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

2Measuring film thickness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

3Film thickness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Technical specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

Related equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

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Thank you for your purchase of this Elcometer 3233 Pfund Thickness Gauge. Welcome to Elcometer.
Elcometer are world leaders in the design, manufacture and supply of inspection equipment for coatingsand concrete. Our products cover all aspects of coating inspection, from development through application
to post application inspection.
This Elcometer 3233 Pfund Thickness Gauge is a world beating product. With the purchase of this productyou now have access to the worldwide service and support network of Elcometer. For more information visit
our website at www.elcometer.com

1 ABOUT THIS GAUGEThe Elcometer 3233 Pfund Thickness Gauge is a simple but effective gauge which is used to determine thewet film thickness of paints and similar products The gauge is ideal for measurement of translucent products(varnish, oil, etc.)
The gauge consists of two concentric cylinders, one sliding inside the other. A spherical glass lens is fitted
to the bottom of the inner cylinder.
When the gauge is pressed down onto the surface being tested
the lens becomes immersed in the wet film. The thicker the film,
the greater the diameter of the paint spot left on the lens.
For ease of use, the gauge includes a stainless steel rule formeasuring the diameter of the paint spot. A conversion table inthese instructions allows the diameter to be converted into film
thickness.

2lens
wet film
substrate

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1.1 STANDARDSYour Elcometer 3233 Pfund Thickness Gauge can be used in accordance with the following Standards;
ASTM D 1212 - Test method B, NFT 30-125.
1.2 WHAT THE BOX CONTAINS•Elcometer 3233 Pfund Thickness Gauge•

Stainless steel rule•

Storage case•Operating instructions

Your Elcometer 3233 Pfund Thickness Gauge is packed in a cardboard and foam package. Please ensurethat this packaging is disposed of in an environmentally sensitive manner. Consult your local Environmental
Authority for further guidance.
To maximise the benefits of your new Elcometer Pfund Thickness Gauge please take some time toread these Operating Instructions. Do not hesitate to contact Elcometer or your Elcometer supplierif you have any questions.

2 MEASURING FILM THICKNESS
2.1 BEFORE YOU STARTEnsure that your Elcometer 3233 Pfund Thickness Gauge is clean and dry.

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2.2 PROCEDURE
1. As soon as possible after the coating has been applied, place the gauge onto the surface being tested.
2. Press down firmly on the top flange of the gauge to force the lens
into the wet film.
3. Release pressure on the top flange and then remove the gauge
from the surface.
4. Use the steel rule to measure to the nearest millimetre thediameter of the paint spot on the lens.
5. Look up the film thickness using the table in paragraph 3, or
calculate film thickness using the following formula:2

D Film Thickness = ----------4000
where D is the diameter of the paint spot and all measurements are in millimetres.
2.3 AFTER APPLICATION
Clean your gauge.
Do not use very aggressive solvents orwire brushes, metal scrapers, metal files orother metallic tools for cleaning.

Clean the gauge using a suitable solvent
only.

After cleaning, ensure that all materials are removed and that the instrument is dry. Store the gauge in theplastic case provided.
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3 FILM THICKNESS
Spot diameter(mm)Film thickness(mm)

Coverage(m²/litre)

Coverage(ft²/US gallon)

Coverage(ft²/imp. gallon)

34
5
6
78
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23

0.002250.004
0.00625
0.009
0.012250.016
0.020250.025
0.03025
0.036
0.04225
0.049
0.056250.064
0.072250.081
0.090250.1
0.110250.121
0.13225

445
250
160
111
81.6
62.5
49.5
40
33
28
24
20
18
15.6
13.8
12.3
11
10
9.07
8.26
7.56

18088
10175
6512
4522
3321
2543
2009
1628
1350
1130
963
830
723
636
563
502
450
407
369
336
307

21800
12250
7840
5440
4000
3340
2425
1960
1640
1372
1176
980
880
765
676
603
548
490
443
405
370

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Spot diameter(mm)

Film thickness(mm)

Coverage(m²/litre)

Coverage(ft²/US gallon)

Coverage(ft²/imp. gallon)

24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38

0.144
0.156250.169
0.182250.196
0.210250.225
0.24025
0.256
0.27225
0.289
0.30625
0.324
0.34225
0.361

6.95
6.4
5.92
5.49
4.1
4.76
4.44
4.16
3.9
3.67
3.46
3.26
3.08
2.82
2.77

282
260
241
223
207
193
180
169
158
149
141
133
125
117
113

340
313
290
268
250
233
218
204
192
180
169
160
152
138
129

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4 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Material:

Aluminium (3233/1)
Stainless steel (3233/2)

Lens radius of curvature:

250 mm (9.84")

5 RELATED EQUIPMENT
In addition to the Elcometer 3233 Pfund Thickness Gauge, Elcometer produces a wide range of othercoating testing equipment.
Users of the Elcometer 3233 Pfund Thickness Gauge may also benefit from the following Elcometerproducts:•Elcometer Surface Profile Gauges•Elcometer Surface Cleanliness Test Kits•

Elcometer Climatic Condition Testers•Elcometer Dry Coating Thickness Gauges

For further information contact Elcometer or your local supplier.
Details of Elcometer offices around the world are given on the outside cover of these operating instructions.
Alternatively visit the Elcometer website, www.elcometer.com

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