The surface behavior of engineering materials is crucial in many areas of modern technology, making it essential to understand the properties and characteristics of these surfaces. One important property is scratch hardness, which can be evaluated through scratch tests. This study explores a novel scratch-testing method developed in a machining center, utilizing an inclined stylus path. AISI 304 austenitic stainless steel samples were used as test specimens and subjected to different processing techniques (milling and deep rolling). A single-tip diamond dresser served as stylus. The results indicated that this new technique is promising, as the surface roughness and hardness variations among the tested samples affected the scratch hardness and friction coefficient outcomes. Additionally, this testing method may provide an alternative approach for investigating the minimum chip thickness.