Paint thickness gauge

PM5C

PM5C

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I only detail my own cars and those of a few friends. Since my current car was six years old when I bought it a year ago as the third owner, I have no idea how the paint was cared for or possibly corrected, I'm thinking that a pain thickness gauge would be a good tool to have for my own car and those of friends who don't know the history of how the paint was cared for, if it was ever polished, etc.

As a non-professional, I have a hard time justifying spending $250 or more for a gauge as seen on AG. But I have seen some online for under $100.

I'm interested in knowing if any forum members have invested in one of these budget gauges and if they do they job as unexpected.

Thanks!
 
AGO suggested some similar threads to me (much better than my own searching!) so I am good to go on this topic. I have all the info I need.

No need to reply.
 
I bought a gauge from an online store for 12$ it reads magnetically won’t work on plastic, fiber or carbon. Only gives single reading. I test interior door panel, trunk and under hood get base reading because they usually have 1 layer of clear then test rest of car. I minus the reading from the normal polishing area paint from the average of interior trunk paint, under hood and interior door panels and get a reading how much clear I’m playing with. Not 100% accurate but not a hit to wallet just a useful guide when to tell me to be careful.
 
Mine was $125 on another Amaz...ing site and it works just fine. Great in fact. I've seen it compared to one costing a lot more with little variance. Calibration targets, etc. were included. Only measures metal panels but I'm good with that.
 
Amaz...is a forbidden word which is worse than a curse word. I got my pee pee smacked when said
 
Mgavin1985 said:
Amaz...is a forbidden word which is worse than a curse word. I got my pee pee smacked when said
Click to expand...
I never said it. I said another Amaz...ing site.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
 
PM5C said:
AGO suggested some similar threads to me (much better than my own searching!) so I am good to go on this topic. I have all the info I need.

No need to reply.
Click to expand...

Any chance to hear what suggestions ago gave you?
 
PEAD19 said:
Any chance to hear what suggestions ago gave you?
Click to expand...

after reading this...scroll down, and you will see something called "Similar Threads" - they should have about 4 threads related to the topic.

I think that's what OP was referring to.
 
JustJesus said:
after reading this...scroll down, and you will see something called "Similar Threads" - they should have about 4 threads related to the topic.

I think that's what OP was referring to.
Click to expand...

These instructions should be a sticky .... everywhere
 
JustJesus said:
after reading this...scroll down, and you will see something called "Similar Threads" - they should have about 4 threads related to the topic.

I think that's what OP was referring to.
Click to expand...

Absolutely correct!

And here's one more thread that helped me understand what these devices are with wildly varying prices.
 
JustJesus said:
after reading this...scroll down, and you will see something called "Similar Threads" - they should have about 4 threads related to the topic.

I think that's what OP was referring to.
Click to expand...

I’m on my phone and no article’s on bottom. I don’t buy to much online.... just AG and from Jeff bezo’s wife.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Paint thickness gauges can get quite expensive and for most of us hobbyists, it is not worth the high dollar units. I found one on Amazon for $125 and it was an Elcometer. It works quite well.
 
The newest similar thread is pushing 4 years old at this point. I had also read the thread PM5C referred to. Just looking for specific brands People might have tried. I have no problem spending a couple hundred if I can find one that works well enough to help avoid issues.
 
I wound up buying the NicetyMeter model CM8801FN. I had seen Brian from Apex Detail use it online, and he seems to be pretty rigorous (IMHO) about his test gear. I paid under $100 for it, but as noted elsewhere, it took forever to here here from China. Like three weeks+. Based on the calibration pieces that comes with it and measurements from various sections of my car, it's telling me what I want to know about the amount of paint left here and there.
 
Hit the wrong damn button! I really did like this post even though there is a thumbs down next to my name ��
 
Troda said:
Hit the wrong damn button! I really did like this post even though there is a thumbs down next to my name ��
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No worries.

I have done this as well. Horrible layout on VBulletin's part. (Amongst many others......)
 
My cheap is still working I whip it out for new customers here and there give “that professional feel” sometime you got to fake to you make.
 
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