Let's discuss paint thickness meters...

[Rez90]

Who uses em? What's the one to buy? Is there an affordable one on the market that's not hundreds of dollars?

Please discuss

[Setec Astronomy]

Well, no, there isn't a good one that's not hundreds of dollars, but many people seem to think the Highline meter is the best bang for the buck. This one from the Autogeek store is of course very good:

Defelsko Paint Thickness Gauge, Paint thickness meter, coating thickness gauge, auto paint meter, car paint meter

[ForceField]

The DeFelsko PosiTector 200 Advanced is the best one, as it can detect up to 3 layers. Primer, base coat and clear coat. It's also $2700.00USD

Anything else is just going to give you 1 number, the thickness of all the layers together, which doesn't really tell you how thick the clear alone is unless you already know how thick the other 2 layers are.

Also most PTGs don't work on materials other than metals. Not useful for plastic bumpers or fiberglass bodies.

[BobbyG]

[feslope]

The DeFelsko PosiTector 200 Advanced is the best one, as it can detect up to 3 layers. Primer, base coat and clear coat. It's also $2700.00USD

Anything else is just going to give you 1 number, the thickness of all the layers together, which doesn't really tell you how thick the clear alone is unless you already know how thick the other 2 layers are.

Also most PTGs don't work on materials other than metals. Not useful for plastic bumpers or fiberglass bodies.

The multi-layer ones are ultrasonic and ONLY work on plastic. If there is a multi-layer meter that works on metal panels please let me know.

[5.4 Shelby]

The highline meter II is by far the best for the money. IT doesnt tell you individual layers, but, it is good at telling you total thickness. I own it, use it and trust it.

[oldmodman]

I have the old, cheapo, Harbor Tool & freight meter. Now long discontinued.

Since it was only (I think) $75.00 I can't complain at how limited it is.

I just use it to check on total paint thickness at various places around a car. It lets me know what areas are already incredibly thin, which ones are about what you expect on a factory paint job, and which areas may have been repainted.

It has prevented me from making some very costly mistakes.

[Jomax]

I have the old, cheapo, Harbor Tool & freight meter. Now long discontinued.

Since it was only (I think) $75.00 I can't complain at how limited it is.

I just use it to check on total paint thickness at various places around a car. It lets me know what areas are already incredibly thin, which ones are about what you expect on a factory paint job, and which areas may have been repainted.

It has prevented me from making some very costly mistakes.

Why would they discontinue such a good product?!?!?

[oldmodman]

Why would they discontinue such a good product?!?!?

Probably due to nobody buying them.

A couple of guys on here lucked out. They happened to be in the store when they showed up in the discontinued bin for about $10.00
Now that was a screaming deal.

[Flash Gordon]

Good thread!

I'm thinking of getting one of these so ppl will think I know what I'm doing. I would imagine I could up my price if I whipped out one of these in front of my customer