How may of you own a Paint Thickness Gauge

Theostoubos

Theostoubos

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Hi All,

I would be interested to know how many of you either part time and/or Professionals actually own a Paint Thickness Gauge in order to know for sure what you are dealing with before you put your polisher down on a car ....

Thank you.

Feed back please
 
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Also please let me know which one...

Very much appreciated.
 
I own this one and I am very happy with it. It is very reliable and accurate. For the money it can't be beat! I wouldn't attempt serious correction work with out a PTG.

HighLine Meter II Paint Thickness Gauge

hl-ii-angled.jpg
 
Same as Dark Horse. Only drawback was the requirement for Paypal (don't have and don't want account). Used a friend's.
 
So do you take before and after readings?

If so, how much does a compound and polish usually remove?
 
toycar18 said:
That is about 50% off compared to one of the top meters out there.
Click to expand...

Better do more research. Some $1000 and up...even $2000+

That said, pricing is all I know about them. I need to buy one yet as well. I think there's more to it than price, however. I've heard a meter measuring 3% or less is what you want. I'd say there are lots of variables that I need to take into consideration before buying.

I did watch a nice video on this model. Watched a fella take a reading, drop it on the concrete four times, and again got the same readings. Take a look here:Defelsko Paint Thickness Gauge, Paint thickness meter, coating thickness gauge, auto paint meter, car paint meter

One question I'd have is can a given model be recalibrated by the user should it need to be recalibrated?
 
Thanks for the responses. I do agree that if you get to serious paint correction the only and safest way is to use a PTG.

I was looking at the Defelsko Gauges and the Positest DFT which retails for $695 Here in AG. It can measure only on metal panels and only the total thickness from the clear coat to the bare metal. Should you want to get really serious, being able to measure primer, paint and clear coat seperately, as well as measuring on plastic panels then you need one of those.

PosiTector 200 - Ultrasonic coating thickness gage measures coating over concrete, wood, composite and more. Conforms to ASTM D6132 and ISO 2808 and SSPC PA9

But for a retail price between $1795.00 to $2895.00 depending on the model I feel that most of us will pass and settle with measuring just total coating thickness and just on metals.

Thank you Dark Horse for the alternative suggestion of the HighLine Meter II Paint Thickness Gauge. :dblthumb2:I'll have a closer look.
 
Theostoubos said:
Should you want to get really serious, being able to measure primer, paint and clear coat seperately, as well as measuring on plastic panels then you need one of those.

PosiTector 200 - Ultrasonic coating thickness gage measures coating over concrete, wood, composite and more. Conforms to ASTM D6132 and ISO 2808 and SSPC PA9

But for a retail price between $1795.00 to $2895.00 depending on the model I feel that most of us will pass and settle with measuring just total coating thickness and just on metals.
Click to expand...
I don't think the PosiTector ultrasonic models will work on any metal, check before you run out and buy one.

I have and use a FenderSplendor 502. I chose this one because it measures in Microns AND Mils. I have used the Delfesko meter sold on AG and it is excellent.
 
Theostoubos said:
Thanks for the responses. I do agree that if you get to serious paint correction the only and safest way is to use a PTG.

I was looking at the Defelsko Gauges and the Positest DFT which retails for $695 Here in AG. It can measure only on metal panels and only the total thickness from the clear coat to the bare metal. Should you want to get really serious, being able to measure primer, paint and clear coat seperately, as well as measuring on plastic panels then you need one of those.

PosiTector 200 - Ultrasonic coating thickness gage measures coating over concrete, wood, composite and more. Conforms to ASTM D6132 and ISO 2808 and SSPC PA9

But for a retail price between $1795.00 to $2895.00 depending on the model I feel that most of us will pass and settle with measuring just total coating thickness and just on metals.

Thank you Dark Horse for the alternative suggestion of the HighLine Meter II Paint Thickness Gauge. :dblthumb2:I'll have a closer look.
Click to expand...

OP...Don't you believe: There really is the need for measuring painted "plastic" bumpers, and vehicle panels/bodies made of composite-materials, per your: "if you get to serious paint correction the only and safest way is to use a PTG"?

Are you saying: If a person has no access (too costly, perhaps) to all of the "proper tools", such as EPTG's for various materials' values besides "metal", perhaps, then, some 'types of detailing' should not be performed?

Or, perhaps you may believe I am over-thinking this; and, shouldn't worry about any of this EPTG rig-a-ma-row too much.
I don't, though.

Even if a person has "detailers-insurance" for immediate vehicle paint damages...It can't repair a person's reputation for the long-haul.


Bob
 
You bring up a good point Bob. The Positest model I seen in a video reads steel, and aluminum. However, what about painted plastic and fiberglass? If I'm going to spend money I'd rather have a meter that will read on those materials as well. I honestly don't know if there's anything out there that will read steel, aluminum, and plastic/fiberglass for under $700 because I haven't spent the time to look.

I do think these are important tools to have.
 
Hoytman said:
One question I'd have is can a given model be recalibrated by the user should it need to be recalibrated?
Click to expand...

Yes, it comes with calibration disks and a calibration mode.

Hoytman said:
You bring up a good point Bob. The Positest model I seen in a video reads steel, and aluminum. However, what about painted plastic and fiberglass? If I'm going to spend money I'd rather have a meter that will read on those materials as well. I honestly don't know if there's anything out there that will read steel, aluminum, and plastic/fiberglass for under $700 because I haven't spent the time to look.

I do think these are important tools to have.
Click to expand...

Yes, to do non-metallic surfaces you pretty much have to go ultrasonic which is very pricey. Even if you go that way, a metal thickness meter would be nice to have because ultrasonic units require a coupling gel and, if you don't need it,.... And when you can get the lower cost unit for $225, it will recover its cost in materials and cleanup at some point.
 
I am not a pro or part time. I am just a hobbyist. I just got the Highline II for Christmas. I love it. I am dabbling in wetsanding and rotary polisher use. I feel a lot better about what I am doing by checking first.
 
DARK HORSE said:
I own this one and I am very happy with it. It is very reliable and accurate. For the money it can't be beat! I wouldn't attempt serious correction work with out a PTG.

HighLine Meter II Paint Thickness Gauge

hl-ii-angled.jpg
Click to expand...

I have the same one! And it has saved me a couple of time when dealing with thin panels etc. Actually just yesterday I used it in quoting a customer. He was looking to have a door panel wet sanded and polished out due to the previous owner having rubbed the side of the car against a garage door (or similiar). After taking some paint readings I came the conclusion that wet sanding the area would be too risky. As the paint was extremely thin.
 
Again, thanks for all the responses and the different views. When I refer to going to serious corrections I'm referring to heavy compounding and/or wet sanding small areas or isolated deep scratches. That's where I believe a PTG is essential, useful, necessary or what else you wanna call it. I don't see the absolute necessity of a PTG when you do an AIO.

I'm not a pro and I still feel that for the few friends cars that I might do, is definitely more safe and helpful to be able to read the Paint Thickness and know what you re dealing with.

I think that a professional should invest in something really good and able to measure all layers in any surface. I can't imagine sanding a Ferrari or even a DD for that matter without bein able to read the paint.

For a hobbyist though something like the Highline II is a great addition to the arsenal of tools.
 
While your at it, why not get one that reads the individual paint thickness.:xyxthumbs:
Hoytman said:
You bring up a good point Bob. The Positest model I seen in a video reads steel, and aluminum. However, what about painted plastic and fiberglass? If I'm going to spend money I'd rather have a meter that will read on those materials as well. I honestly don't know if there's anything out there that will read steel, aluminum, and plastic/fiberglass for under $700 because I haven't spent the time to look.

I do think these are important tools to have.
Click to expand...
 
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