Paint gauges

Ryry11

Ryry11

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I'm looking to buy a paint gauge, but I am completely lost as to what I'm looking for. Detailing is my hobby, not my profession, so this isn't something ill be using day in and out. I'm definitely not looking to break the bank either. Preferably I'd like to spend as little as possible, obviously I realize they're not cheap at all, but would like to spend less than $200 if that's even possible. Does anybody have/know of a reliable brand that makes a reliable gauge? Again this is just for personal use. Any and all feedback is appreciated
 
i just bought the highline paint gauge, for personal use i think 200-250 is very well priced. its a lil off gotta keep re calibrating it though is my only complain about it
 
psynx said:
i just bought the highline paint gauge, for personal use i think 200-250 is very well priced. its a lil off gotta keep re calibrating it though is my only complain about it
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Don't expect perfect numbers all the time.
 
Try searching a "popular auction site" for this: CM8801FN. I own one, it works perfectly. It looks almost exactly like the Highline Meter II. I would be willing to bet the internals are identical...

If you choose this model make sure you get the one that reads "FN" because there are cheaper ones that are only "F" or "N" which means they don't measure coatings on all types of metals. The "FN" unit will measure Ferromagnetic and Non-Ferromagnetic surfaces.
 
psynx said:
i just bought the highline paint gauge, for personal use i think 200-250 is very well priced. its a lil off gotta keep re calibrating it though is my only complain about it[/QUOTE
How do you recalibrate it and how do you know it's off?
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I bought this one on EBay for $110 bucks. Seems to work well. I use it infrequently, so each use requires a quick calibration.

sedapequ.jpg
 
Just about the time a person may feel comfortable using their "price-point choice" of
magnetic, eddy current (or a combination of both) EPTG's...

They may realize that many OEM's do not use 'metals' for many vehicle components...
Such as: bumpers and mirrors. (Many horrific-tales of CC-gaffs on bumpers)

Also...
One may also be confronted with vehicles that are mostly comprised of painted plastics, resins, and composites panels.

What, then, is the remedy for measuring the paint-film thicknesses applied to'Non-Metal' vehicle panels??

-The price-points of reliable ultrasonic paint thickness gauges (UPTG) vary from ~ $2,000-$4,000!! :eek:

:)

Bob
 
Ryry11 said:
psynx said:
i just bought the highline paint gauge, for personal use i think 200-250 is very well priced. its a lil off gotta keep re calibrating it though is my only complain about it[/QUOTE
How do you recalibrate it and how do you know it's off?
Click to expand...

By using the shims that comes with the gauge.
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What about the Defelsko PosiTest DFT Combo Electronic Paint Thickness Gauge? It is $695.00. Is it reliable and accurate? AG sells this brand so I am assuming it is of good quality. Who ever has one please comment on it. Thanks.
 
Kevin Cullen said:
What about the Defelsko PosiTest DFT Combo Electronic Paint Thickness Gauge? It is $695.00. Is it reliable and accurate? AG sells this brand so I am assuming it is of good quality. Who ever has one please comment on it. Thanks.
Click to expand...

I have one of these for my detailing work. They are expensive, but I mainly got it because I know defelsko is a good company and if I have a problem I can take it back to where I bought it and get a new one.

I also bought it because it is accurate within +/-5%. According the Mike Phillips detailing bible; the one you choose should be less than +/-5%.

I love this little tool and it has really saved me a few times.

Only problem with paint thickness gauges, irregardless of the accuracy, as the paint heats up (from polishing) it expands and get thicker (talking microns here). So you can take a measurement, start cutting, take another measurement on the warm panel and see it is the exact same as your first.

For personal use, get the ebay one. You know how many times you have polished your car, and how its cared for. Also for the amount of times it will be used, not worth dropping $700+ on one. For professional use definitely get a defelsko that can measure non metal panels.
 
Andr3wilson said:
I have one of these for my detailing work. They are expensive, but I mainly got it because I know defelsko is a good company and if I have a problem I can take it back to where I bought it and get a new one.

I also bought it because it is accurate within +/-5%. According the Mike Phillips detailing bible; the one you choose should be less than +/-5%.

I love this little tool and it has really saved me a few times.

Only problem with paint thickness gauges, irregardless of the accuracy, as the paint heats up (from polishing) it expands and get thicker (talking microns here). So you can take a measurement, start cutting, take another measurement on the warm panel and see it is the exact same as your first.

For personal use, get the ebay one. You know how many times you have polished your car, and how its cared for. Also for the amount of times it will be used, not worth dropping $700+ on one. For professional use definitely get a defelsko that can measure non metal panels.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the info. The shop is getting busier and i need a good gauge. The combo says it can do ferrous and non- ferrous surfaces so it should be good to go.:xyxthumbs:
 
Kevin Cullen said:
Thanks for the info. The shop is getting busier and i need a good gauge. The combo says it can do ferrous and non- ferrous surfaces so it should be good to go.:xyxthumbs:
Click to expand...

Except for these scenarios:
FUNX725 said:
...many OEM's do not use 'metals' for many vehicle components...
Such as: bumpers and mirrors. (Many horrific-tales of CC-gaffs on bumpers)

Also...
One may also be confronted with vehicles that are mostly comprised of painted plastics, resins, and composites panels.

What, then, is the remedy for measuring the paint-film thicknesses applied to'Non-Metal' vehicle panels??

-The price-points of reliable ultrasonic paint thickness gauges (UPTG) vary from ~ $2,000-$4,000!! :eek:
Click to expand...

Time for purchasing either the:
-DeFelsko PosiTector 200 B/Standard; or, DeFelsko PosiTector 200B/Advanced

Economically priced ~ $2100 or so.


:)

Bob
 
FUNX725 said:
Except for these scenarios:


Time for purchasing either the:
-DeFelsko PosiTector 200 B/Standard; or, DeFelsko PosiTector 200B/Advanced

Economically priced ~ $2100 or so.


:)

Bob
Click to expand...

Here is my next toy Rhopoint IQ Gloss Meter
Very economical at $3700 :D

Kevin Cullen said:
Thanks for the info. The shop is getting busier and i need a good gauge. The combo says it can do ferrous and non- ferrous surfaces so it should be good to go.:xyxthumbs:
Click to expand...

Basically steel, iron, and aluminum panels. Unless you are solely doing corvettes and CF supercars, you are good! Albertans gotta stick together in this confusion ;)
 
Ryry11 said:
psynx said:
i just bought the highline paint gauge, for personal use i think 200-250 is very well priced. its a lil off gotta keep re calibrating it though is my only complain about it[/QUOTE
How do you recalibrate it and how do you know it's off?
Click to expand...

yea what rsurfer said, it comes with 2 metal shims and some plastic samples with the thickness written on them. theres 4 of them
Click to expand...
 
Basically steel, iron, and aluminum panels. Unless you are solely doing corvettes and CF supercars, you are good! Albertans gotta stick together in this confusion ;)[/QUOTE]

Yes we do. :dblthumb2:
 
Andr3wilson said:
Basically steel, iron, and aluminum panels. Unless you are solely doing corvettes and CF supercars, you are good! Albertans gotta stick together in this confusion ;)
Kevin Cullen said:
Yes we do. :dblthumb2:
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

Doesn't at least some of the Albertans': non-Corvette/non-CF Supercar vehicles...
have "plastic" bumpers/mirrors or other composite-material panels??
Aren't there any: GM Saturns, C/H Body; Chrysler LH's; Honda CRX's...for example...Up that way? ;)

Just curious.

Bob
 
Kevin Cullen said:
What about the Defelsko PosiTest DFT Combo Electronic Paint Thickness Gauge? It is $695.00. Is it reliable and accurate? AG sells this brand so I am assuming it is of good quality. Who ever has one please comment on it. Thanks.
Click to expand...

The Defelsko is a very high quality paint thickness gauge that is very accurate and very easy to use. If you want to recalibrate it that's easy too, just push the two side buttons in three times at the same time and it runs through its own internal recalibrating program.

Easy to use out of the box too, just place it where you want to measure and it turns on and measures. Large, easy to read screen and flipable display.


I'll show it this Thursday during the live broadcast when we wetsand, cut and buff the 1965 Mustang.


:)
 
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