Search Account Cart

Home

Time Durometer Testers

Q: Why does ASTM D2240 recommend omitting Durometer readings below 20 or above 90?

Per ASTM D2240 Section 9.3 , indentation readings below 20 or above 90 on any given Shore scale lose linearity at the extreme ends of spring travel. If your material tests above 90 on a Shore A Durometer, switch up to a Shore B or Shore D scale; if it reads below 20 on a Shore A Durometer, step down to a softer scale such as Shore O , Asker C , or Shore OO .

Q: What is the minimum sample thickness required for standard Shore A and Shore D testing?

Standard Shore A and Shore D indenters require a minimum specimen thickness of 6 mm (0.24") so the hard surface of the test table does not influence the reading ("anvil effect"). While thinner layers can be stacked (up to 3 plies) if the surfaces are completely flat, the most accurate solution for specimens as thin as 0.050" (1.25 mm) or small O-rings is a Type M Durometer ( Rex 1600-M or Rex DD-4-M ) mounted in the Rex OS-3 Type M Test Stand .

Q: What is the difference between a standard dial Durometer and a Max-Hand (Memory Pointer) model?

A standard dial gauge like the Rex 1600 has a single active pointer that shows live hardness as long as the presser foot is held against the specimen. The Rex 2000 Max-Hand Shore Durometer (which replaced the RX-1700) adds a second peak-hold pointer that locks at the maximum initial reading while the active pointer creeps downward, allowing the operator to record both peak hardness and material relaxation (creep) simultaneously.

Q: What is the difference between a Durometer Test Block and a Durometer Verifier?

Color-coded rubber test blocks (included with most Durometers) allow operators to perform a quick daily functional check to confirm the indenter and spring "feel" are operating properly, but they should not be used to recalibrate a gauge. To formally verify and certify the spring load accuracy of Shore A and Shore D probes across 10 to 90 Durometer units in-house, use the electronic load-cell-based DeFelsko SHDVERIFY PosiTector SHD Verifier Kit .

Handheld Analog & Digital Shore and Asker Durometers for Rubber, Elastomers, Plastics & Foams
ABQ Industrial offers a comprehensive range of mechanical and electronic Shore and Asker Durometers from world-renowned manufacturers Checkline, Rex Gauge, Bareiss, Imada, Asker, and DeFelsko. Engineered to measure the indentation hardness of non-metallic materials in full compliance with ASTM D2240, DIN 53505, ISO 868, ISO 7619, and JIS K 6253, our catalog covers all 12 ASTM durometer scales—spanning ultra-soft gels and cellular sponges (Shore OOO / OO), soft-to-medium elastomers (Shore A), and rigid engineering thermoplastics (Shore D).

Precision Polymer & Elastomer Hardness Testing by Application

Choosing the correct durometer model and scale depends on your material's elastic modulus, surface curvature, and whether your inspection takes place on the production floor or in a statistical quality control laboratory:

Soft Vulcanized Rubber, Elastomers, Tires, Seals & Rollers (Shore A, B & E Scales):

Shore A is the global standard for testing soft-to-medium rubbers and elastomers using an 822 gf (8.06 N) spring load and a blunt 35° frustum cone indenter.

Target Materials: Natural and synthetic vulcanized rubber, automotive tires, extruded profiles, gaskets, hoses, neoprene, EPDM, nitrile, silicone, soft PVC, and printing rollers.
Recommended Analog Solutions: The constant-pressure shell HP Shore Durometers, the magnesium-alloy Imada E2 Durometer Hardness Tester (with elongated presser foot for stable roller testing), the AD-100 Precision Analog Shore Durometer, AD-300 Shore Scale Durometers, Rex 1600 Dial Durometer, and compact barrel-style Rex 2000 Dial Durometer.
Recommended Digital Solutions: The IP65-sealed Bareiss HP-DIGITAL Basic Digital Durometer, DD-100 Digital Shore Durometer, DD-300 Digital Durometer, DeFelsko PosiTector SHD Shore Hardness Durometer, Rex 1700 Next Gen Digital Durometer, and Rex DD-4 Digital Durometer.

line

Hard Rubber, Rigid Thermoplastics, Acrylics, Nylon & Epoxies (Shore D, C & DO Scales):

When material hardness exceeds 90 Shore A, ASTM D2240 requires a high-force 4,536 gf (44.5 N / 10 lb) spring and a sharp 30° cone indenter (Shore D) or blunt/spherical indenter (Shore C / DO).

Target Materials: Ebonite, hard rubber wheels, bowling balls, UHMW, HDPE, ABS, nylon, Delrin, acrylic, polycarbonate, rigid PVC, fiberglass, and cured epoxy coatings.
Recommended Solutions: Shore D, C, and DO configurations of the HP Shore Durometers , DeFelsko PosiTector SHD-D, Bareiss HP-DIGITAL, Imada E2-D, Rex 1600, and Rex 4000 Digital Durometer.

line

Cellular Foams, Sponge Rubber, Shoe Soles, Medical Gels & Soft Polystyrene (Shore OO, OOO, O & Asker C / F):

Ultra-soft materials below 20 Shore A will tear or bottom out under an 822 gf cone needle. Low-force scales (113 gf for Shore OO/OOO) and large spherical/disk indenters measure delicate cellular structures without crushing the cell walls.

Target Materials: Open- and closed-cell polyurethane foam, sponge rubber, EVA midsole foam, polystyrene, silicone medical gels, prosthetic liners, and dough/food products.
Recommended Solutions: Shore O, OO, OOO, and OOO-S models from the Rex 1600, Rex DD-4, and HP Shore Durometers, as well as the specialized Rex RX-1600-A120 Skate Wheel Durometer (for EVA shoe soles and micro-cellular rubber) and the large-disk Rex 4000 Max Hand Durometer (for soft urethane foam cushions).

line

Thin Elastomers, Small O-Rings & Precision Seals (Shore Type M Micro Scale):

For rubber specimens thinner than 6 mm (down to 1.25 mm / 0.050") and cross-sectional O-rings where standard Shore A needles cannot be used, select the Type M scale on the Rex DD-4 Type M Digital Durometer or Rex 4000 Type M (must be mounted on a Durometer Test Stand).

Shore & Asker Durometer Scale Selection Guide

Scale Type	Indenter Geometry	Spring Force	Target Materials & Applications	Featured Models
Shore A	35° Truncated Cone (Ø 0.79 mm flat tip)	822 gf (8.06 N)	Soft vulcanized rubber, tires, gaskets, silicone, neoprene, soft PVC, rollers	HP-A, HP-DIGITAL, PosiTector SHD-A, Imada E2, Rex 1600
Shore D	30° Sharp Cone (0.1 mm radius tip)	4,536 gf (44.5 N)	Hard rubber (>90A), thermoplastics, nylon, ABS, Delrin, acrylic, epoxies	HP-D, PosiTector SHD-D, DD-100-D
Shore B Shore C	B: 30° Sharp Cone / C: 35° Truncated Cone	B: 822 gf / C: 4,536 gf	Medium-hard elastomers, platen rollers, semi-rigid plastics	HP Shore, Rex 1600, Rex DD-4
Shore DO Shore O	Ø 2.4 mm (3/32") Spherical Ball	DO: 4,536 gf / O: 822 gf	DO: Dense granular plastics & heavy beams / O: Soft rubbers (<20A) & bobbins	HP Shore, Rex RX-DD-MS
Asker C Shore E	Ø 5.08 mm Hemisphere	822 gf / 855 gf	EVA shoe midsole foam, cellular rubber, soft elastomers, microporous sponges	Rex RX-1600-A120, Imada E2-E
Shore OO Shore OOO Asker F	Ø 2.4 mm or Ø 12.7 mm Spherical / Ø 25 mm Disk	113 gf (1.11 N)	Open/closed-cell foam, soft sponge, silicone gels, urethane cushions	Rex 4000, HP-DIGITAL, Rex 1600-OO
Shore M (Micro)	30° Micro Cone (0.025 mm radius tip)	78 gf (0.765 N)	Thin rubber specimens (1.25–5 mm), O-rings, precision molded gaskets	Rex DD-4 Type M, Rex 4000 Type M

F.A.Q.

Why does ASTM D2240 recommend omitting Durometer readings below 20 or above 90?

Per ASTM D2240 Section 9.3, indentation readings below 20 or above 90 on any given Shore scale lose linearity at the extreme ends of spring travel. If your material tests above 90 on a Shore A Durometer, switch up to a Shore B or Shore D scale; if it reads below 20 on a Shore A Durometer, step down to a softer scale such as Shore O, Asker C, or Shore OO.

What is the minimum sample thickness required for standard Shore A and Shore D testing?

Standard Shore A and Shore D indenters require a minimum specimen thickness of 6 mm (0.24") so the hard surface of the test table does not influence the reading ("anvil effect"). While thinner layers can be stacked (up to 3 plies) if the surfaces are completely flat, the most accurate solution for specimens as thin as 0.050" (1.25 mm) or small O-rings is a Type M Durometer (Rex 1600-M or Rex DD-4-M) mounted in the Rex OS-3 Type M Test Stand.

What is the difference between a standard dial Durometer and a Max-Hand (Memory Pointer) model?

A standard dial gauge like the Rex 1600 has a single active pointer that shows live hardness as long as the presser foot is held against the specimen. The Rex 2000 Max-Hand Shore Durometer (which replaced the RX-1700) adds a second peak-hold pointer that locks at the maximum initial reading while the active pointer creeps downward, allowing the operator to record both peak hardness and material relaxation (creep) simultaneously.

What is the difference between a Durometer Test Block and a Durometer Verifier?

Color-coded rubber test blocks (included with most Durometers) allow operators to perform a quick daily functional check to confirm the indenter and spring "feel" are operating properly, but they should not be used to recalibrate a gauge. To formally verify and certify the spring load accuracy of Shore A and Shore D probes across 10 to 90 Durometer units in-house, use the electronic load-cell-based DeFelsko SHDVERIFY PosiTector SHD Verifier Kit.

Time TH170 Metal Hardness Tester

Discontinued Product

About this item

Time TH170 Metal Hardness Tester

Model TH170
Portable Hardness Tester for Metals with USB Port
Wide measuring range in HLD and display of converted hardness values in Brinell, Rockwell, Leebs, Vickers and Shore
Test at any angle

View More Details

Printable Order Form Shipping & Returns Costumer Ratings Privacy Notice About Us Contact Us Site Map Shop by Brand

ABQ Industrial
21 Waterway Avenue
Suite 300
The Woodlands, TX 77380
U.S.A.

Tel: 1-888-275-5772
Tel: 1-281-516-9292
Fax: 1-866-234-0451
E-Mail: info@abqindustrial.net

Printable Order Form Shipping & Returns Costumer Ratings Privacy Notice About Us Contact Us Site Map Shop by Brand

ABQ Industrial
21 Waterway Avenue
Suite 300
The Woodlands, TX 77380
U.S.A.

Tel: 1-888-275-5772
Tel: 1-281-516-9292
Fax: 1-866-234-0451
E-Mail: info@abqindustrial.net

Time Durometer Testers

Precision Polymer & Elastomer Hardness Testing by Application

Shore & Asker Durometer Scale Selection Guide

F.A.Q.

Time TH170 Metal Hardness Tester

Time TH170 Metal Hardness Tester

Links

Contact US

We Accept

LINKS

CONTACT US

WHY BUY FROM US?

WE ACCEPT