All portable testers are not created equal, and there are several factors that buyers should consider when selecting a portable device: the size and type of the material to be tested and the scale needed.
Portable hardness testers have the advantage of being able to test raw material specimens, or materials used in products or parts that are too large or awkward to be moved to a benchtop model, or which can't be easily supported for benchtop testing, says Bill O'Neill, who does hardness marketing and testing applications for Instron Corp. (Canton, MA).