The tester is a motor driven instrument for moving a weighted test strip over a printed specimen through an arc. The Sutherland Rub Tester has been redesigned to improve its operation. James River's corporate research and development laboratories did extensive testing of the Sutherland Rub Tester. The result of this work is an affordable abrasion testing instrument that retains all the features that made it an industry standard plus improvements that ensure it will remain the industry standard.

The stroke of the tester has been shortened which increases the precision and more closely simulates abrasion damage found in the field. James River research and other published work in the print abrasion testing arena have shown that quick strokes simulate some types of rub damage (most notably shipping damage).

A single mounting pad for the test strip is now cut to fit the weight. It was found that precision of the test is increased by using a 2 inch (5 cm) by 4 inch (10 cm) pad on the bottom of the weight . Two pound and four pound weights and scoring fixture are included.

A supply of 80 x 80 count bleached muslin cloth (cloth not included) has been found useful in testing wet smear, wet rub, and wet bleed. The Sutherland Rub Tester is designed to evaluate the scuffing or rubbing resistance of the printed or coated surface of paper, paperboard, film, etc. The test results are reproducible.

The following tests may be made with the instrument:

• Dry Rub
• Wet Rub
• Wet Bleed or Transfer

• Wet Smear
• Functional Rub

The test requires two pieces of stock, the printed test specimen and a test receptor, which is usually unprinted. Cut a test specimen, approximately six by three inches, representing average ink lay and coverage. When the printed area permits, the six inch direction should be cut across the grain of the sheet, but must not cross pressed or cut scores.

Prepare test strips of unprinted material from the same shipment of stock used in printing the test samples. Cleanly cut 2 x 7 inch strips for the four-pound weight are prepared by placing a strip face down against the end pin of the scoring device and scoring the strip at the white dot positions to facilitate bending the strip to conform to the test block.

To prepare samples for the two-pound weight, 2 x 5-1/4 inch strips are placed face down against the end pin of the scoring device and score at the red dot position to facilitate bending the strip to conform to the test weight.