TQC SHEEN SPIRAL BAR APPLICATORS

TQC Sheen Spiral bar applicators (drawdown bars) for consistent and reproducible wet film application of coatings, paints, inks and liquid materials, featuring a spiral profile for smooth, even distribution.

Description

The TQC Sheen Spiral (Wire) Bar Applicators are precision drawdown tools designed to apply uniform wet films of paints, coatings, inks and other liquid formulations onto test panels and substrates. The spiral bar design helps create smooth, reproducible films with excellent edge control, making them ideal for quality control, viscosity evaluation, visual assessment and formulation testing. These applicators are available in a range of sizes to match different film thickness requirements and provide dependable sample preparation for performance testing, adhesion studies and curing evaluations.
Whether used in laboratory environments, production settings or field testing, spiral bar applicators deliver high-quality film layers that support accurate and repeatable test results.

How It Works

  • Place the test chart or substrate on a flat, stable surface or on the bed of an automatic film applicator.
  • Apply an appropriate amount of coating sample along the edge of the test chart or substrate.
  • Select the correct spiral bar applicator for the desired wet film thickness.
  • Position the bar so that the spiral surface contacts the sample.
  • Draw the applicator steadily across the panel in one smooth motion.
  • The spiral profile distributes the coating evenly, producing a uniform wet film.
  • Allow the applied coating to level or dry before performing subsequent testing or inspection.
This method ensures a consistent wet film layer that is suitable for a wide range of testing and evaluation procedures.

Key Features & Benefits

  • Spiral profile design for smooth and reproducible film application
  • Produces consistent wet films for quality control and performance testing
  • Available in multiple sizes to suit different wet film thicknesses
  • Ideal for viscosity, visual evaluation and curing studies
  • Suitable for manual application or use with automatic film applicators
  • Durable construction for frequent laboratory and production use

Range of  Spiral bar coaters / drawdown bars

The TQC Sheen Spiral Bar Applicator is also known as wire bar coaters, drawdown bars, drawdown rods, rakel bars, or coaters – and there are a number of sizes to choose from.

Our range of spiral bar applicators and drawdown bars is available in film width options from 180, 230, 250, and 320 mm, with gap sizes from 0 through to 300 µm.

All are made from stainless steel, so they are built to last and with extreme care.

Spiral Bar Applicators
Film width
Gap sizes 180 mm 230 mm 250 mm 320 mm
0 µm CSTSH0632 CSTAB3742 CSTAB3070
4 µm CSTSH0168 CSTAB3720 CSTVF0100 CSTAB3050
6 µm CSTSH0232 CSTAB3721 CSTVF0101 CSTAB3051
8 µm CSTAB3722 CSTVF0102 CSTAB3052
10 µm CSTSH0631 CSTAB3723 CSTVF0103 CSTAB3053
12 µm CSTSH0676 CSTAB3724 CSTAB3054
14 µm CSTSH0700 CSTAB3725 CSTVF0120 CSTAB3055
16 µm CSTSH0728 CSTAB3726 CSTAB3056
18 µm CSTSH0751 CSTAB3743 CSTAB3082
20 µm CSTSH0799 CSTAB3727 CSTVF0106 CSTAB3057
24 µm CSTSH0856 CSTAB3728 CSTVF0107 CSTAB3058
26 µm CSTSH0897 CSTAB3744 CSTAB3083
28 µm CSTSH0921 CSTAB3745 CSTAB3084
30 µm CSTSH0941 CSTAB3729 CSTVF0108 CSTAB3059
32 µm CSTSH0965 CSTAB3746 CSTAB3085
34 µm CSTSH0978 CSTAB3730 CSTVF0109 CSTAB3060
36 µm CSTSH0994 CSTAB3747 CSTAB3086
38 µm CSTSH1018 CSTAB3731 CSTVF0110 CSTAB3061
40 µm CSTSH1042 CSTAB3732 CSTVF0111 CSTAB3062
46 µm CSTSH1091 CSTAB3748 CSTAB3087
48 µm CSTSH8007 CSTAB3749 CSTAB3088
50 µm CSTSH1144 CSTAB3733 CSTVF0113 CSTAB3063
56 µm CSTSH1216 CSTAB3734 CSTVF0114 CSTAB3064
60 µm CSTSH1231 CSTAB3735 CSTVF0115 CSTAB3065
66 µm CSTSH1266 CSTAB3750 CSTAB3089
70 µm CSTSH1280 CSTAB3751 CSTAB3094
76 µm CSTSH1314 CSTAB3736 CSTVF0118 CSTAB3066
80 µm CSTSH1341 CSTAB3752 CSTAB3095
88 µm CSTSH1372 CSTAB3753 CSTAB3096
100 µm CSTSH0326 CSTAB3737 CSTVF0116 CSTAB3067
120 µm CSTSH0797 CSTAB3738 CSTVF0119 CSTAB3068
128 µm CSTSH0919 CSTAB3754 CSTAB3097
150 µm CSTSH1686 CSTAB3739 CSTAB3072
200 µm CSTSH0329 CSTAB3740 CSTVF0117 CSTAB3069
300 µm CSTSH0338 CSTAB3755 CSTAB3099
Custom µm* CSTSH2005* CSTAB3741 * CSTAB3071*

*Check out our range of Custom-sized Spiral Bar Applicators here and request a quotation.

All applicators are made from high-grade stainless steel, with an accuracy of ± 2 µm.

Total dimensions of 180 mm film width applicator: 10 x 280 mm

Total dimensions of 230 mm film width applicator: 10 x 290 mm

Total dimensions of 250 mm film width applicator: 8 x 335 mm

Total dimensions of 320 mm film width applicator: 10 x 440 mm

Due to physical reasons, the maximum film thickness applied is not equal to the gap size. The deposited film thickness may vary from 40% to 80% of the gap size. Also note that the dry film thickness will be lower than wet thickness due to solvent or water evaporation.

Scope of Supply

•1 × Spiral Bar Applicator (selected size)
•Protective storage sleeve or pouch

Accessories

Manufacturing and Standards

Spiral bar applicators are manufactured by TQC Sheen, part of Industrial Physics, and engineered to deliver consistent, high-quality wet film application for coatings testing and evaluation. Their precision design supports standard sample preparation practices in laboratories, quality control departments and industrial production settings.

According to the following standards:

Video | TQC Sheen Applicators