06-14-2018, 09:22 AM
Thanks to Ed for asking the question and it's far from the first time it's been asked. I think the question must be based in what we have learned about cutting things our entire lives. If you want to cut a piece of rope, string, twine etc. it really helps to tension it out to make it cut easier so there is just something inside us that screams "you must really stretch this test media out if you're going to cut it". While the severing action of test media is much different than string or twine, it is still subject, to a much smaller degree, to the effects of tensioning. This is why questions/comments like Ed's are always welcome because we generate new users around here everyday and they simply haven't heard the news yet.
There are a few people running around here with BP issues as well Bud and the author of this post is one of them. Your analogy with regard to taking accurate blood pressure readings is just pretty much to the point. Correct tensioning of test media may be even simpler than gauging arm position when taking blood pressure. As you say, apply only enough tension to remove the slack and then tighten the tensioning screw. You may like the sharpness number you get better if you over tension just as you like your bathroom scale number better if you rest one hand on the wall while weighing but if you want accurate numbers, don't over tension test media and don't lean against the wall when you're weighing yourself.
You're right on the 100 grams Bud and you're right that it is "practically nothing". 100 grams is enough to remove the slack from the test media across the ATF measuring slot. So the short answer to "how much tension should I place on the test media?" is "none" or perhaps more accurately and as Bud would put it "practically none".
There are a few people running around here with BP issues as well Bud and the author of this post is one of them. Your analogy with regard to taking accurate blood pressure readings is just pretty much to the point. Correct tensioning of test media may be even simpler than gauging arm position when taking blood pressure. As you say, apply only enough tension to remove the slack and then tighten the tensioning screw. You may like the sharpness number you get better if you over tension just as you like your bathroom scale number better if you rest one hand on the wall while weighing but if you want accurate numbers, don't over tension test media and don't lean against the wall when you're weighing yourself.
You're right on the 100 grams Bud and you're right that it is "practically nothing". 100 grams is enough to remove the slack from the test media across the ATF measuring slot. So the short answer to "how much tension should I place on the test media?" is "none" or perhaps more accurately and as Bud would put it "practically none".