High-End Paint Thickness Gauge Users Chime In!

BeachZone

BeachZone

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Hello My Friends,

I am looking to purchase a High-End PTG that will accurately tell me how much clear I have on ANY surface. I do have the Defelsko PosiTest DFT Combo Electronic Paint Thickness Gauge, which I purchased off AG, but I am bothered by having a vague idea of how much clear I am working with and I need to upgrade asap. Another issue is that it'll only produce readings off of metal panels and many of my clients have Carbon Fiber panels along with a gang of Fiberglass Vettes I tend to.

So, how many on here actually have or use the higher-end PTG's?

I would like to get your thoughts on these tools along with any other info/opinions/suggestions you could provide!

The Defelsko PosiTector 200 Series (Advanced) Paint Thickness Gauge is what I have been looking at


TIA :)


-Beach
 
Are you should this one measures metals?

It will read composite/fiberglass.
 
Good catch Mark! Not sure about that lol... Gonna have to do some searching!


-Beach
 
If I recall correctly, even the 200 cannot read individual layers on metal panels, only composites. However it will still read an overall thickness on metal panels. Marc Harris of Auto Lavish has one as does Bryan Burnworth of Peachstate Detail. I asked Bryan about it some time ago, but I'm 99% sure that is what he said.
 
It can be used on ferrous/non-ferrous metals...
but an ultrasonic EPTG's best use is on composites/fiberglass/"non-metals".

But you already have the Defelsko Combo (magnetic and eddy)
So why worry...

Bob
 
I remember hearing a while back that the new 6000 and/or 200 can Bluetooth the readings to an iPad. Not too sure how useful that would be. Also there is a special tip for the 6000 to read CF.
 
Ok well that's a bummer! :(

Thanks for the info guys...

I will be selling my PosiTest DFT if the Advanced 200 does in fact measure metals so that it will help pay for it.

Ok so I get individual layers on plastics, Carbon Fiber, Fiberglass etc and a entire thickness on metals... Hmmm

Do we not have a way of reading individual layers on metal panels?


-Beach
 
Andr3wilson said:
I remember hearing a while back that the new 6000 and/or 200 can Bluetooth the readings to an iPad. Not too sure how useful that would be. Also there is a special tip for the 6000 to read CF.
Click to expand...

Thanks for sharing Andrew,

*Edited*

Would the 200 need this special tip as well?

-Beach
 
I have the Positector 200 Adv model and it reads non-metals only. You have to buy the 6000 probe for it in order to also be able to read metals. However, you can use the body of the gauge for both probes.

ETA:
As he said you can transfer the thickness readings to another device through wifi. Also, the 6000 probe only gives you the total thickness as someone mentioned. As far as I know, there isn't a gauge or probe that can read individual layers on metal.
 
Back when I fortunately had access to, and use of, various EPTG's...
I found the following to be of great value:

After using an ultrasonic PTG that's capable of measuring individual film layers, (as does this Defelsko Advanced model);
and, finding that it's: A MUST...to take multiple readings on each vehicle's "non-metal"-panels---which, in turn,
will give thickness-readings of the top film layer: The Clear-Coat, in this case;
thus allowing a person to formulate, through mathematical interpolation:
What the thickness of the Clear Coat-paint the OEM's should be spraying
on vehicles that have ferrous/non-ferrous/"metal" panels.

Safe bet, then, will be to always go with the lowest reading.
'Strike-throughs' are known to happen at those points, as everyone knows.

EPTG's are useful guides. They can be fallible.
As such: Their readings are often left up to "interpretations".

:)

Bob
 
FivePoint.0 said:
That sucks.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Concur! Well guess that makes my Highline worthwhile for the overall reading it gives. I'd love a 200 Positech though for bumpers. Be safe everyone!
 
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