A device for testing adhesive tape including a sample holder located in a first plane and a movable platen having a major surface located in a plane perpendicular to the plane in which the sample holder is located. The platen and the sample holder each have an edge adjacent to the edge of the other, where the platen and the sample holder are moveable with respect to each other such that the movement of the platen with respect to the sample holder separates the adjacent edges and thereby applies a load to a length of tape that is secured to the surface of a sample in the holder and secured to the surface of the platen during testing.