Basic experimental applications of the Surface Force Apparatus (SFA) to vapours, pure liquids and mixtures of simple liquids are described. The interpretation of the simplest possible measurement, that of adhesion in air or nitrogen, is discussed with examples of possible complications. The use of the SFA to measure adsorption isotherms at isolated surfaces in vapours and to study capillary condensation of vapour between two surfaces in or close to contact is detailed. The measurement of solvation forces in pure liquids, including non-polar, dipolar and hydrogen-bonding liquids and mixtures of liquids is described. General features of the experiments and possible pitfalls are discussed throughout.