Designation: D 1814 – 70 (Reapproved 2000)

Standard Test Method for

Measuring Thickness of Leather Units1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 1814; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope 6. Apparatus
1.1 This test method covers the measurement of the thick- 6.1 Gage, Spring-Type, graduated in 0.1 mm or 0.5 oz,
ness of units of all types of leather. It is not suitable for having a flat presser foot 0.4 6 0.025 in. (10.2 6 0.6 mm) in
measuring the thickness of test specimens. diameter and a flat anvil 0.4 6 0.025 in. (10.2 6 0.6 mm) in
1.2 The thickness of leather units may be reported in diameter. The spring shall exert a force of 1 lbf (4.45 N) on the
millimetres, ounces, or irons. Ounces are generally used when foot when the gage reads 2 oz, and 2 lbf (8.9 N) when the gage
referring to the thickness of shoe upper leather. Irons are reads 12 oz.
generally used when referring to the thickness of sole leather. 6.2 Gage, Standard Wedge-Type, having the two legs gradu-
(One ounce equals 1⁄64 in. or 0.0156 in. or 0.396 mm. One iron ated alternatively from 1 to 14 and from 11⁄2 to 131⁄2 iron,
equals 1⁄48 in. or 0.0208 in. or 0.53 mm.) enclosing an angle of about 4° and 0.425 6 0.005 mm thick,
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the preferably made from stainless steel.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- 7. Procedure
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- 7.1 Leather Other than Sole Leather—Place the portion of
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. the specimen to be measured between the anvil and presser foot
of the spring-type gage (6.1) in such a manner that the
2. Referenced Documents specimen is in contact with the whole area of the anvil. With
2.1 ASTM Standards: the specimen held in this position, compress the thumb lever of
D 1813 Test Method for Measuring Thickness of Leather the gage so that the gage reads approximately 15 oz. Allow the
Test Specimens2 thumb to slide off the lever so that the gage presser foot snaps
onto the leather. Read the thickness to the nearest 0.1 mm or
3. Terminology estimate it to the nearest 1⁄4oz. Measure the thickness at not less
3.1 Definition: than five approximately equally spaced places along and
3.1.1 unit—a piece of leather in the form in which it is approximately 6 in. (150 mm) from the backbone. Space the
purchased, such as a single hide, skin, or part thereof; or a measurements from an initial point of measurement approxi-
single fabricated-leather article in the form in which it is mately 5 in. (130 mm) in from the root of the tail and the final
purchased, such as a counter, a pair of shoes, a gasket, etc. place of measurement, which shall extend no farther than 130
mm into the neck area.
4. Significance and Use
NOTE 1—If the dimensions of the specimens are such that the gage will
4.1 This test method is designed for the routine measure- not reach from the edge to the point at which the thickness is desired, the
ment of the thickness of leather units as a means of production specimen may be folded upon itself with the flesh inside. Measure the
control and determining conformance to specifications. It thickness of the folded specimen, and take one half of this value as the
utilizes a secondary type of gage that is capable of rapid thickness.
measurement. 7.2 Sole Leathers—Insert the cut edge of the specimen
5. Specimen between the legs of a standard wedge-type gage (6.2) so that
the plane of the leather is perpendicular to the plane of the gage
5.1 The specimen for measurement shall be the full unit. and bisects the angle formed by the legs. Push the gage over
the edge of the leather to make firm contact with the leather so
1
that the gage will stay in position when inverted but not cause
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D31 on Leather
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D31.07 on Physical Properties—
any visible deformation of the specimen. Read the thickness to
General. This test method was developed in cooperation with the American Leather the nearest 0.5 iron at the point where the specimen contacts
Chemists Assn. (Standard Method E 3–1963). the legs of the gage. Measure the thickness as follows:
Current edition approved April 13, 1970. Published June 1970. Originally 7.2.1 Bellies—Gage the specimen at two locations approxi-
published as D 1814–60. Last previous edition D 1814–64.
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 15.04.
mately 6 in. (150 mm) to either side of the point opposite the

Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

1
 D 1814
pizzle, or the center of the main width of the belly. 8.1.1 Thickness of each unit, reported as the average value
7.2.2 Shoulders, Double—Gage the specimen at two places of the measurements taken,
on the cut edge opposite the neck and 6 in. (150 mm) on each 8.1.2 Thickness of the sample, reported as the average
side of the backbone. thickness of all the units measured, and
7.2.3 Shoulders, Single—Gage the specimen at one place on 8.1.3 Range of the thicknesses measured.
the cut edge opposite the neck and 6 in. (150 mm) removed
from the backbone line. 9. Precision
7.2.4 Bend Butts—Gage the specimen at two places on the 9.1 If the spring-type gage has been adjusted to read the
cut edge at the shoulder end and 6 in. (150 mm) on each side correct value and is of suitable construction, then the results
of the backbone. will have only small errors (60.05 mm) when used to measure
7.2.5 Bends—Gage the specimen at three places along the leather up to 5-mm thickness.
backbone starting 12 in. (300 mm) from the root of the tail and
at 6-in. (150-mm) intervals from that point toward the shoulder NOTE 2—Test the gage periodically by measuring with it the thickness
end. of a rigid material that has also been measured with a standard micrometer
7.2.6 Backs, Sides, and Crops—Gage the specimen in at or with the instrument described in Test Method D 1813. If the spring gage
gives a reading that is higher or lower than that of the micrometer-type
least five places along the backbone, starting 12 in. (300 mm) instruments, adjust it to give the same reading. Readjustment may be
from the root of the tail and at 6-in. (150-mm) intervals from necessary if leather to be measured is much thicker than 5 mm.
that point.
7.2.7 Cut Soles—Gage the specimens on the fore end (toe), 9.2 The wedge-type gage gives readings reproducible to 0.5
on both sides of the largest width and optionally at the end of iron when proper precautions are taken during positioning for
the heel (unless the specimens are half soles). uniform pressure and avoidance of edge effect.

8. Report 10. Keywords

8.1 Report the following information: 10.1 leather; thickness

The American Society for Testing and Materials takes no position respecting the validity of any patent rights asserted in connection
with any item mentioned in this standard. Users of this standard are expressly advised that determination of the validity of any such
patent rights, and the risk of infringement of such rights, are entirely their own responsibility.

This standard is subject to revision at any time by the responsible technical committee and must be reviewed every five years and
if not revised, either reapproved or withdrawn. Your comments are invited either for revision of this standard or for additional standards
and should be addressed to ASTM Headquarters. Your comments will receive careful consideration at a meeting of the responsible
technical committee, which you may attend. If you feel that your comments have not received a fair hearing you should make your
views known to the ASTM Committee on Standards, at the address shown below.

This standard is copyrighted by ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
Individual reprints (single or multiple copies) of this standard may be obtained by contacting ASTM at the above address or at
610-832-9585 (phone), 610-832-9555 (fax), or [email protected] (e-mail); or through the ASTM website (www.astm.org).