Paint Thickness Gauge

**kevin_1981** · 07-22-2014, 11:59 PM

I'm not sure if this is the correct forum for this, but I was just curious if anyone has any experience with the cheapo $35 paint thickness gauges on ebay. I have no plans on doing professional detailing, but I am getting it more for when i help out friends/family with their cars. Is it basically just throwing $35 in the trash??? Im not expecting it to be incredibly accurate, but if its COMPLETE junk, I wont waste the $$ on it.

**hawkigrad** · 07-23-2014, 12:57 AM

Mine seems to work fine but I have never compared it against a more expensive unit. When I measure were I just compounded it indicates slightly less thickness as I would expect.

**VISITOR** · 07-23-2014, 03:39 AM

it might be a gamble to buy only to find out it's junk, and who would want to waste money. many are happy with this one.... http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/...-everyone.html

**kevin_1981** · 07-23-2014, 01:53 PM

Thanks, guys!

**David Hayward** · 07-23-2014, 02:46 PM

I use that one in the link. Works really well for me

**Kingston** · 07-23-2014, 03:38 PM

You get what you pay for, generally, with products like this. Especially from China.

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**jamesboyy** · 07-23-2014, 03:42 PM

That paint thickness gauge on ebay it does good job begin that its so cheap I used it many times when I first started out

**Niblick** · 07-23-2014, 05:29 PM

Paint gauges are an interesting quandary really. I spend £300 on one and they still say it's only accurate to within 10 microns. Add to that the fact that ambient temperature will cause the paint to expand or contract depending on whether it's a hot or cold day. Then throw into the mix the fact that within an inch of the spot you've just measured the paint thickness could vary by another 20-30 microns, I do sometimes wonder if it was money well spent. That said, I would never machine polish without taking readings, because at least then you know if you shouldn't