Abstract: A manually portable fluid ink tack tester (10) for sampling and testing the tack of printing inks during press runs has two engaged, rotating rolls (25,26) mounted on parallel axes and in rolling contact on the tester frame (15). One (26) is extended outwardly from the frame (15) to expose the surface of the roll for contacting an ink coated surface and receiving an ink sample therefrom. After receiving the ink, the tester (10) is removed from the ink coated surface and a motor (35) in the tester (10) rotates the rolls (25,26). The force necessary to split the ink between the two rolls (25,26) is measured (13,40) and displayed (13,48), giving an indication of the tack of the ink.