I'm Looking for a Cheap Paint Thickness Gauge

**davey g-force** · 07-13-2015, 04:17 PM

What do you guys think of this one?

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Portable-...item3a9ffe7753

It's for a weekend warrior (me) who may only need it once or twice a year.

Thanks in advance..

**bry28956** · 07-13-2015, 04:18 PM

subbed. Also interested

**Evan.J** · 07-13-2015, 04:47 PM

Search on eBay for CM8801FN

**JustJesus** · 07-13-2015, 04:56 PM

Davey, with that price listed, I thought, "you get what you pay for"

that seems awfully cheap for such an instrument.

Here's the one I bought. With nothing to compare it to, all I can say is that it seems to be working fine with decent accuracy. My roof is peeling on my daily driver, and the readings are pretty consistent on the clear coat portions vs the just-paint surfaces.

google this: DBPower® CEM DT-156

**FUNX650** · 07-13-2015, 05:01 PM

Originally Posted by davey g-force

What do you guys think

I think that @$22.34 (USD) ea.,
Your goal: Re: I'm Looking for a Cheap Paint Thickness Gauge...would definitely be met!!

Bob

**kevincwelch** · 07-13-2015, 05:22 PM

I think you need to be careful with that instrument, Davey. It has a display resolution of 0.02mm/1mil. That's a very poor resolution. On the other hand, the CM8801FN shown by Evan (I have this one too), has a display resolution of 1micron +/- 3%. That's a big difference in accuracy. 0.02mm is 20 microns!

I purchased a cheap unit like the one you are looking at and did a comparison. These cheap ones with poor resolution/accuracy can lead to quite a number of erroneous readings.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/...ek-em2271.html

**mbkite** · 07-13-2015, 05:55 PM

My take on paint correction with out a paint gauge..
I have read so many show and shine posts that even when the paint readings are thin people polish them up any way.
If you get the newest polishes with the most tech packed into that polish
You will get great results.. I am thinking paint gauges are a thing of the past.

**zmcgovern45** · 07-13-2015, 06:12 PM

Originally Posted by mbkite

My take on paint correction with out a paint gauge..
I have read so many show and shine posts that even when the paint readings are thin people polish them up any way.
If you get the newest polishes with the most tech packed into that polish
You will get great results.. I am thinking paint gauges are a thing of the past.

Not at all true... a ptg will allow you to more accurately asses the current condition and history of the paint. For instance, even if a vehicle consistently reads thin, it is no big deal if you're doing a basic correction... however, if the paint is averaging around 110 microns, and then you hit a spot that is consistently below 60 microns, you know you should be very cautious in that area because it has clearly been worked on (likely heavy sanding or similar)... or vice versa, if a car is continuously reading around 110 microns and then you come across a panel or a spot that is significantly higher, you can assume it was repaired/repainted.

The more info you can get about a car before you work on it the better, so IMO, a paint gauge is a must have for a professional. Is it something that will make or break you? No... but if you're making good money correcting paint, it is a tool that is worth having.

I did a review on an inexpensive gauge a while ago... I used it for a couple years and it did just fine, though I have upgraded to a higher end brand since then.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/...-everyone.html

Just my thoughts

**Rsurfer** · 07-13-2015, 06:17 PM

Originally Posted by zmcgovern45

Not at all true... a ptg will allow you to more accurately asses the current condition and history of the paint. For instance, even if a vehicle consistently reads thin, it is no big deal if you're doing a basic correction... however, if the paint is averaging around 110 microns, and then you hit a spot that is consistently below 60 microns, you know you should be very cautious in that area because it has clearly been worked on (likely heavy sanding or similar)... or vice versa, if a car is continuously reading around 110 microns and then you come across a panel or a spot that is significantly higher, you can assume it was repaired/repainted.

The more info you can get about a car before you work on it the better, so IMO, a paint gauge is a must have for a professional. Is it something that will make or break you? No... but if you're making good money correcting paint, it is a tool that is worth having.

I did a review on an inexpensive gauge a while ago... I used it for a couple years and it did just fine, though I have upgraded to a higher end brand since then.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/...-everyone.html

Just my thoughts

I would not start compounding a car without some readings.

**davey g-force** · 07-13-2015, 06:27 PM

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I checked out the CM8801FN and the DBPower® CEM DT-156 and I can get them here for $175 and $149 respectively. They look like good tools and I can see the value in them.

However, for someone that will hardly use it, and has the option to borrow one, I can't justify spending that much.

So that cheap one in my OP is no good at all? I mean, will it give me a rough idea of which sections of paint are thin and which aren't?