Highline vs Positest DFT

W

white gecko

New member
Seems to me that both these gauges do the same thing. I was curious why one is 225 and one is 695?



What feature is separating them? I searched a bit but couldn't find anything to answer this.
 
gofast908z said:
I have read through 15+ pages of that stuff and haven't found a comparison between these two.



back up top.
Click to expand...

OK, well, short version:



Highline is great bang for the buck, but not nescessarily 100% accurate. Positest is more accurate and is built to ISO standards. Highline reads on ferrous material (steel and aluminum), Positest reads on non-ferrous as well.
 
I just purchased a HGII and it's a really nice unit ...



I also own the HF paint meter and it's also a decent unit for amateurs (even though they don't make them anymore). The HGII is more accurate and sensitive to clearcoat thickness. The readings on the HF paint meter were 5-6 microns off (give or take) compared to my highline.
 
well I like my highline meter II alot, but one day I will make it up to the Ultra sonic one that reads on any surface. and shows each layer's thickness. which one does paul dalton use?
 
Tru_Shine said:
well I like my highline meter II alot, but one day I will make it up to the Ultra sonic one that reads on any surface. and shows each layer's thickness. which one does paul dalton use?
Click to expand...



not to trash Paul Dalton but there are better detailers out there. He is simply bar none one of the best at marketing for the detailing industry. If you want to look at truly amazing detailers simply look at people like Rydawg, Todd Cooperider, Todd Helme and some of the other great detailers you can find on here. Just my .02. In regards to paint meters, I use a High Line and have no problems with it.
 
toyotaguy said:
soooo....



basically posi for corvettes and ferrari, etc

and highline for a general basis on metal cars





is that basically it?
Click to expand...

Well, or spoilers of course, spoilers are rarely ferrous.



In a jist, yes, those are the main differences between the two meters. There is a LOT more to it than that though, folks who have researched in depth paint meters will have a lot more to say. Basically the Highline is the cheapest paint meter that, well, works. There's a bigger margin of error on accuracy, and it can't read on non-ferrous surfaces, but it's cheap. The Positest is more accurate, and it can read on more surfaces, but it's much more expensive.



Then you get into the really expensive meters that can tell you the readings on each layer, such as how much base coat there is vs clear coat. IMO, these are the real meters, and what we would all want. A total reading of "122 microns" doesn't help me if the clear is only 1 micron thick... I'd personally want to know the depth of every single layer... But again, it all comes down to cost and what you're willing to spend.
 
Jeff and DJ, Sorry I didn't get to this thread earlier before all the misinformation was posted. As you guys might know, I've done quite a bit of research on topics like this.



The answer is: Very very little.



First off, allow me to undo the false information that WAS seems to be spilling all over this thread.

1. The Highline II reads on both types of metal - in our case for automotive use: aluminum and steel - just like the PosiTest "Combo" gauge.

2. Neither of these tools will read on fiberglass Corvette's like a C6

3. Neither of these tools will read on carbon fiber (like many wings are made of) nor plastic (think bumpers/mirrors).

4. The Highline II (and "I" for that matter as well) is very accurate. If i remember the spec sheet correctly, it is actually listed as being just as accurate as the Positest.



When you get to higher end gauges, they usually have nicer housings/bodies (metal/rubber/better fitting), a more durable probe, can take readings faster, can store more readings, and may have a backlit LCD screen display.



Ultrasonic thickness gauges are very inaccurate are are in a different league. Feel free to search my name and thickness gauges together in a search here to read some of the other things I've posted.

Hope this helps -Marc
 
Thanks Marc. Now I will skip the Positest and get the Highline. I'm not paying $475 more for a nicer body and a backlit screen. What a ripoff.
 
MuttGrunt said:
Jeff and DJ, Sorry I didn't get to this thread earlier before all the misinformation was posted. As you guys might know, I've done quite a bit of research on topics like this.



The answer is: Very very little.



First off, allow me to undo the false information that WAS seems to be spilling all over this thread.

1. The Highline II reads on both types of metal - in our case for automotive use: aluminum and steel - just like the PosiTest "Combo" gauge.

2. Neither of these tools will read on fiberglass Corvette's like a C6

3. Neither of these tools will read on carbon fiber (like many wings are made of) nor plastic (think bumpers/mirrors).

4. The Highline II (and "I" for that matter as well) is very accurate. If i remember the spec sheet correctly, it is actually listed as being just as accurate as the Positest.



When you get to higher end gauges, they usually have nicer housings/bodies (metal/rubber/better fitting), a more durable probe, can take readings faster, can store more readings, and may have a backlit LCD screen display.



Ultrasonic thickness gauges are very inaccurate are are in a different league. Feel free to search my name and thickness gauges together in a search here to read some of the other things I've posted.

Hope this helps -Marc
Click to expand...

Excuse me... un-do false information I'm "spilling" ?



The Positest reads on copper and brass too, so yes, it DOES read on more surfaces than the Highline.



The Positest is ISO certified, as in the gauge itself. Highline only lists their REPAIR facility as ISO certified, their gauge itself is not. It's good marketing, they state "ISO certified" and everyone thinks it's the same thing that Positest is talking about, yet it isn't.



That said, I'm still a fan of the Highline, I think you get the best "bang for your buck" with it. That said, I generally don't yap about things I know absolutely nothing about, so thanks, but I'm not "spilling" misinformation into the thread. Honestly, your opinion is of one person who's done a little bit of research into the devices. After that last 6 pager thread where you posted the "end all facts" (that's how you come off when you post), I did some research of my own. These gauges are NOT "basically all the same", and I question some of your opinions and things you state as fact.
 
:Sigh: I see you're going to continue to post false information - another reason I recommend everyone do their own research to double check what you, I, or anyone else posts.



Sorry to break the news: the highline also reads on copper, brass, tin, and whatever else you'd like to list.



All facts I've listed are in fact just that: facts.



All opinions I've listed reflect my biased views on various subjects and I believe I make that quite clear.



When I list my opinion - I take into consideration what I believe to be one of the most important aspects: what a detailer is looking for. It is important to fully understand the pro's and con's of chemicals, techniques, and tools and thickness gauges are no different.

Once again: higher end thickness gauges are, in general, nicer machines in nearly every way, but don't expect them to be much of a difference for what a detailer is looking for. If anyone doesn't believe me - please contact Defelsko as well as Elcometer/Highline directly: the two sources I've gotten 95%+ of my information
 
WAS said:
OK, well, short version:



Highline is great bang for the buck, but not nescessarily 100% accurate. Positest is more accurate and is built to ISO standards. Highline reads on ferrous material (steel and aluminum), Positest reads on non-ferrous as well.
Click to expand...



metals like steel are ferrous (magnets will stick to it)

metals like aluminum and titanium are non-ferrous (Magnets will NOT stick to them)



So that means the Highline meter I and II will read all metals.

Most of the positest only work on ferrous metals, but they do have a combo one.



WAS said:
Well, or spoilers of course, spoilers are rarely ferrous.



In a jist, yes, those are the main differences between the two meters. There is a LOT more to it than that though, folks who have researched in depth paint meters will have a lot more to say. Basically the Highline is the cheapest paint meter that, well, works. There's a bigger margin of error on accuracy, and it can't read on non-ferrous surfaces, but it's cheap. The Positest is more accurate, and it can read on more surfaces, but it's much more expensive.



Then you get into the really expensive meters that can tell you the readings on each layer, such as how much base coat there is vs clear coat. IMO, these are the real meters, and what we would all want. A total reading of "122 microns" doesn't help me if the clear is only 1 micron thick... I'd personally want to know the depth of every single layer... But again, it all comes down to cost and what you're willing to spend.
Click to expand...





The highline meters are very accurate and are a budget paint thickness gauge that gets the job done on all metals (without calibration every time you switch) . If you want to see how thick the clear coat is then just check under the hood where there isn't any clear coat. then check a surface with clear coat, and then the difference is roughly the thickness of clear coat only.







MuttGrunt said:
Jeff and DJ, Sorry I didn't get to this thread earlier before all the misinformation was posted. As you guys might know, I've done quite a bit of research on topics like this.



The answer is: Very very little.



First off, allow me to undo the false information that WAS seems to be spilling all over this thread.

1. The Highline II reads on both types of metal - in our case for automotive use: aluminum and steel - just like the PosiTest "Combo" gauge.

2. Neither of these tools will read on fiberglass Corvette's like a C6

3. Neither of these tools will read on carbon fiber (like many wings are made of) nor plastic (think bumpers/mirrors).

4. The Highline II (and "I" for that matter as well) is very accurate. If i remember the spec sheet correctly, it is actually listed as being just as accurate as the Positest.



When you get to higher end gauges, they usually have nicer housings/bodies (metal/rubber/better fitting), a more durable probe, can take readings faster, can store more readings, and may have a backlit LCD screen display.



Ultrasonic thickness gauges are very inaccurate are are in a different league. Feel free to search my name and thickness gauges together in a search here to read some of the other things I've posted.

Hope this helps -Marc
Click to expand...



I really wanted to hear that the ultra sonic ones were not crap. what would you recomend for C6 vette's and other carbon fiber/plastic surfaces?



WAS said:
Excuse me... un-do false information I'm "spilling" ?



The Positest reads on copper and brass too, so yes, it DOES read on more surfaces than the Highline.



The Positest is ISO certified, as in the gauge itself. Highline only lists their REPAIR facility as ISO certified, their gauge itself is not. It's good marketing, they state "ISO certified" and everyone thinks it's the same thing that Positest is talking about, yet it isn't.



That said, I'm still a fan of the Highline, I think you get the best "bang for your buck" with it. That said, I generally don't yap about things I know absolutely nothing about, so thanks, but I'm not "spilling" misinformation into the thread. Honestly, your opinion is of one person who's done a little bit of research into the devices. After that last 6 pager thread where you posted the "end all facts" (that's how you come off when you post), I did some research of my own. These gauges are NOT "basically all the same", and I question some of your opinions and things you state as fact.
Click to expand...



He wasn't trying to offend you, but your were misleading the people who have no idea about all this because you were confused on what ferrous and non ferrous actually was.. dont take offense to it :thx







Thats all i have to say. love you guys! group hug!:LOLOL
 
Deep Gloss Auto Salon said:
Posi Tector 200
Click to expand...





Which one? A/B/C



Std or Adv?



the one for wood and stuff?



so many different ones to choose from?





maybe the high line for most cars and then this bad boy for when I start doing all of those carbon fiber cars? lol
 
Tru_Shine said:
Which one? A/B/C



Std or Adv?



the one for wood and stuff?



so many different ones to choose from?





maybe the high line for most cars and then this bad boy for when I start doing all of those carbon fiber cars? lol
Click to expand...



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



Main difference between the Std and Adv models is that the adv model

measures up to 3 layers with graphics
 
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