Decent Paint Thickness Gage?

[Bill D]

I'm not in the market for one any time soon, but I was wondering if this is a decent paint thickness measuring device. If so, seems like Ebay could be a good source to find one:


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...sPageName=WDVW

[Dennis H.]

I've got that one too. It works okay but is kind of a pain cause you constantly have to recalibrate. I think there are other types that do not need same type of calibration but they are big bucks. 150 bucks seems like a good price.

For your needs it may be a perfect addition to your arsenal. It's pretty fun to use. The hard part is the difficulty of knowing how much of each layer, the only way to tell that is by taking measurements of each layer when painting.

BTW it's a great way to check for potential unknown body work.

[Bill D]

Originally posted by Dennis H.
For your needs it may be a perfect addition to your arsenal. It's pretty fun to use. The hard part is the difficulty of knowing how much of each layer, the only way to tell that is by taking measurements of each layer when painting.

BTW it's a great way to check for potential unknown body work.

He he, I'm going to turn a deaf ear to that recommendation for a while ( just got a Cyclo)

Could you recommend a range of mils that you would say might be too dangerous to polish using a rotary?

Thanks!

[Dennis H.]

That's the hard part. Unless you have painted the panel you have no idea how much of each layer you are working with. There could be .25 clear 1.5 color 3.5 primer. In this case .25 is way too thin to work on. In fact you would probably see it thinning.

Your question is difficult to answer but based on my experience once you start getting thinner that 1 mil you're starting to get into the danger zone with the UV inhibitors built into the paint. While you may not see the damage instantly the UV starts to break down the color coat. At that point fading and delamination begins.

From what I have been told OEM coatings can range from about 1.5 to 3 but you can never be to sure of that.

[Bill D]

Dennis


Thanks very much. At a seminar this past weekend a paint thicknes gage was demonstrated and I believe readings varied up to 4 in some spots , edge of a fender of a Ford Expedition, would you believe that? Anyway, thanks for the pointer on the danger zone of 1 mil

[Dennis H.]

Let me clarify that one a little. Clear coats, I am told, range from about 1.5 to 3.

If we take your example of a reading of 4. The E coat is about .25, the primer might be 1.5 and the color coat could be 1 leaving about 1.25 or less of clear, if it is a clear coat. Of course your layers may vary but makes you think twice about what method to use.

[Setec Astronomy]

Originally posted by Bill D
I'm not in the market for one any time soon, but I was wondering if this is a decent paint thickness measuring device.[/url]

Bill, they sell that brand at www.mscdirect.com, which is an industrial supply place, but civilians can order from there, also (unlike Grainger). At least you can see what the new price is, or for similar.

[Bill D]

Setec,

That link isn't working for me.

[Setec Astronomy]

Originally posted by Bill D
Setec,

That link isn't working for me.

I dunno...try it this way http://www.mscdirect.com/