paint thickness and gauge

[imported_Indy YZF]

As you can see from my previous posts, the car is looking gooood. But Im concerned that I have removed enough paint in the front third of the hood that Im through the clear coat...When you look at that portion closely, you can what look like see tiny pin holes spaced some distance apart...Its not bad looking, ie, the shine is sensational, but I think what Im seeing is the lack of the clear coat layer....Where the clear is still present, you can see a mild orangepeel kind of texture smoothly flowing...But in the portion of the hood Im talking about, it doesn have this smoothly flowing property, yet overall, its just as glossy, and nobody can see, unless they get their eyes right down into the paint.



Anyway, Im concerned because Im meticulous about clearcoat scratches, or any kind , and I dont want to remove any more paint. Im not positive what Im seeing is an absence of clearcoat, but it might be. And even if it isnt, Ive certainly removed some in an effort to keep the surface scratchless. Instead of products like Meguiars fine cut cleaner#2, would I be better off sticking with products like Meguiars #9SRM, or 3M IHG? Theyd tend to take away less paint, right?



Just to make sure, can someone recommend some of the less expensive, but still useful paint thickness gauges?

 

[imported_doug]

Paul - if you removed the clear coat by anything you did, you'd see color on the cloth or wipe you used, and it wouldn't be in pinholes - it would be a larger blemish.



The pinholes are more than likely from minute gravel and debris strikes while driving. You probably never noticed them before - and in fact some detailing techniques can make them stand out, especially if wax dries white in there. I have this problem on the hood of my black Porsche - and I haven't yet found a good way to get rid of the white spots. I get more all the time. I use a bra on the track, but the strikes can occur higher up than that. It is a fact of life.