Paint Thickness Gauges

**Dave Pickett** · 06-06-2007, 08:03 AM

I see little if any mention of these being used in the States, whereas in the UK no self respecting detailer would leave home without one it seems!

So who uses a paint thickness gauge, and which makes/models do you favour?

Are they easily available stateside, I suspect they will be cheaper than in the UK!!!!

**steelwind101** · 06-06-2007, 09:17 AM

I think prehapes they are more required for some kinda cars, sports cars with thin paints more then run of the mill cars??

The thing is in the UK its been made in to such a hoo-raah upmarket kinda thing, while in the USA its much more run of the mill to get your car detailed.

**Dave Pickett** · 06-06-2007, 09:47 AM

The thing is in the UK its been made in to such a hoo-raah upmarket kinda thing, while in the USA its much more run of the mill to get your car detailed.

That explains a lot!!!!! I suspect the UK is a few years behind USA as in many trends........

**coupe** · 06-06-2007, 10:03 AM

Not many people use them, they are kinda pointless IMO

**Immaculate1** · 06-06-2007, 10:03 AM

Yea, the UK, they have Paul Dalton over there. LOL.

**porta** · 06-06-2007, 10:10 AM

Originally Posted by Coupe

Not many people use them, they are kinda pointless IMO

IMHO they are pretty useful. Lets say I am going to do a scratch and swirl removal of a car. If I have a PTG I can see where the paint is thin, for example I have only 70microns on the left front wing. Then I would never use a wool pad and a compound on that beacuse itÃ‚´s very easy to remove all the remaining clear and down to the primer.

So if the customer ask why their is still scratches on the front wing, I can tell him that the paint is so thin that I donÃ‚´t want polish it. Beacuse I could ending up burning the paint.

**Immaculate1** · 06-06-2007, 01:22 PM

BTW pro motorcar products is the one I use. Their headquarters is 4 miles from my house.

**ConglomrationAL** · 06-06-2007, 02:50 PM

I was just about to ask. I`ve tried to find a good PTG but it seems like online i can`t find any realistic prices. They`re all $400 or more. I`ll check out that company.

**ConglomrationAL** · 06-06-2007, 02:58 PM

May I also ask what model you have, Immaculate?

**Thomas Dekany** · 06-06-2007, 05:19 PM

I use it and definately USEFUL. You also want to know how much clear you are taking off.

**ConglomrationAL** · 06-06-2007, 05:28 PM

What do you use, Kany?

**99blackSE** · 06-07-2007, 07:57 AM

I wouldn`t mind picking one up but for a hobbyist such as myself it isn`t worth it right now.

**David Fermani** · 06-07-2007, 01:52 PM

Originally Posted by Coupe

Not many people use them, they are kinda pointless IMO

Me too. I`ve never had the need for one. I`ve done a countless number of major corrections on all kinds of paint and on different kinds of panels & I`ve never burned through. It might be useful for beginners that don`t have alot experience working with paint, but most average corrections that I do, don`t remove a significant amount of clear. I wonder about people that are removing that much paint on a basic correction?

I`ve had customers that bring me their daily drivers 2-3 times per year for over 5 years and we`ve wool padded and buffed them every time and there`s never a problem.

**LastDetail** · 06-07-2007, 05:57 PM

I have gone to a couple of the detailing seminars hosted by Richard Lin (OctaneGuy) at his shop and he is a big beleiver in his PTG. I can see where the unit is useful, for example it showed that the paint on my Integra is only 4 mils thick. So obviously I don`t want to do anything more aggressive than a light polish.

However his seems to constantly give him problems, bad reading, inoperative, no reading. Etc. Plus, and correct me if I am wrong here, it only works on painted ferrous material, so in other words it won`t even give you a reading on a plastic panel.

**coupe** · 06-07-2007, 05:58 PM

Originally Posted by David Fermani

Me too. I`ve never had the need for one. I`ve done a countless number of major corrections on all kinds of paint and on different kinds of panels & I`ve never burned through. It might be useful for beginners that don`t have alot experience working with paint, but most average corrections that I do, don`t remove a significant amount of clear. I wonder about people that are removing that much paint on a basic correction?

I`ve had customers that bring me their daily drivers 2-3 times per year for over 5 years and we`ve wool padded and buffed them every time and there`s never a problem.

And i agree with you :2thumbs:

Its a great marketing tool though, makes you look *pro*..........pffffff