Primarily used for coating systems thicker than five mils, the X-cut test is a field test that evaluates the adequacy of a coating’s adhesion. During the procedure, technicians use a sharp cutting tool to make an “X” shaped cut in the film. The two cuts are about 1.5 inches long and intersect near the middle of the ‘X’ shape at an angle between 30 and 45 degrees. Technicians repeat the process until the incision penetrates the coating and reaches the substrate. Next, technicians apply a three-inch piece of tape to the intersection of the X for 30 to 90 seconds before removing the tape. Technicians rate the adhesion on a scale of 0 to 5, with zero being the weakest and five being the strongest. For example, a new coating should have little to no peeling, earning the coating a rating of 4 or 5, whereas coatings that suffer from excessive peeling or removal will be rated closer to 0.