Let's discuss paint thickness meters...

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Rez90

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Who uses em? What's the one to buy? Is there an affordable one on the market that's not hundreds of dollars?

Please discuss :xyxthumbs:
 
The DeFelsko PosiTector 200 Advanced is the best one, as it can detect up to 3 layers. Primer, base coat and clear coat. It's also $2700.00USD

Anything else is just going to give you 1 number, the thickness of all the layers together, which doesn't really tell you how thick the clear alone is unless you already know how thick the other 2 layers are.

Also most PTGs don't work on materials other than metals. Not useful for plastic bumpers or fiberglass bodies.
 
ForceField said:
The DeFelsko PosiTector 200 Advanced is the best one, as it can detect up to 3 layers. Primer, base coat and clear coat. It's also $2700.00USD

Anything else is just going to give you 1 number, the thickness of all the layers together, which doesn't really tell you how thick the clear alone is unless you already know how thick the other 2 layers are.

Also most PTGs don't work on materials other than metals. Not useful for plastic bumpers or fiberglass bodies.
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The multi-layer ones are ultrasonic and ONLY work on plastic. If there is a multi-layer meter that works on metal panels please let me know.
 
The highline meter II is by far the best for the money. IT doesnt tell you individual layers, but, it is good at telling you total thickness. I own it, use it and trust it.
 
I have the old, cheapo, Harbor Tool & freight meter. Now long discontinued.

Since it was only (I think) $75.00 I can't complain at how limited it is.

I just use it to check on total paint thickness at various places around a car. It lets me know what areas are already incredibly thin, which ones are about what you expect on a factory paint job, and which areas may have been repainted.

It has prevented me from making some very costly mistakes.
 
oldmodman said:
I have the old, cheapo, Harbor Tool & freight meter. Now long discontinued.

Since it was only (I think) $75.00 I can't complain at how limited it is.

I just use it to check on total paint thickness at various places around a car. It lets me know what areas are already incredibly thin, which ones are about what you expect on a factory paint job, and which areas may have been repainted.

It has prevented me from making some very costly mistakes.
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Why would they discontinue such a good product?!?!?
 
Jomax said:
Why would they discontinue such a good product?!?!?
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Probably due to nobody buying them.

A couple of guys on here lucked out. They happened to be in the store when they showed up in the discontinued bin for about $10.00
Now that was a screaming deal.
 
Good thread!

I'm thinking of getting one of these so ppl will think I know what I'm doing. I would imagine I could up my price if I whipped out one of these in front of my customer
nerd.gif
 
oldmodman said:
Probably due to nobody buying them.

A couple of guys on here lucked out. They happened to be in the store when they showed up in the discontinued bin for about $10.00
Now that was a screaming deal.
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Who wants to to sell one?? I'll pay 40bucks!!
 
Ive never used one and have never burned through paint - but then again safety for the paint and myself is always a concern..... with that said it seems like it is pretty obvious what you can and cannot cut heavily into when it comes to clears. I will and have passed on jobs that have obviously either thin "paint" or have some extreme holograms - with that said I must be the luckiest detailer of all lol. BUT - If it came to detailing exotics (which are extremely rare in my neck of the woods) then a paint thickness gage would be used...... and if you are going to get one I would say go all in and get the top notch PTG that tells the whole story :props:
 
Flash Gordon said:
Good thread!

I'm thinking of getting one of these so ppl will think I know what I'm doing. I would imagine I could up my price if I whipped out one of these in front of my customer
nerd.gif
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Flash is back? Did i miss out on a thread somewhere? Glad to have you back. :xyxthumbs:
 
I've been wanting one of these for a whole now. I'll probably get one in the next month or two. Even though I'm part time I would still appreciate the piece of mind that I won't cut through the clear.
 
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