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  1. #1
    Regular Member MNDSMtuner96's Avatar
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    Paint thickness gauge

    Just got a paint thickness gauge and am new to measuring paint. The one I have is just a cheaper one that measures all three layers. Just wondering, what's your rule of thumb when it comes to measuring paint thickness? How do you know if you can or can't wet sand/compound? Any advice is much appreciated!

  2. #2
    Super Member Rsurfer's Avatar
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    Re: Paint thickness gauge

    Quote Originally Posted by MNDSMtuner96 View Post
    Just got a paint thickness gauge and am new to measuring paint. The one I have is just a cheaper one that measures all three layers. Just wondering, what's your rule of thumb when it comes to measuring paint thickness? How do you know if you can or can't wet sand/compound? Any advice is much appreciated!
    I have wet sanded a new trunk on a Nissan that I thought was safe to wet sand (120 microns) and burned through using 2000 grit sand paper. Wet sanded may cars in the past, but it only takes one strike through to make you weary.

  3. #3
    Super Member builthatch's Avatar
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    Re: Paint thickness gauge

    it's impossible to know for sure. massive experience gives you an index in your head, so you end up knowing what years of what makes with what models made in what factories come with what sort of thickness...but other than that, it's so hard to know for sure.

    some people say they use the door jambs as a guide for clear - the theory is that the jambs have the least amount of clear so you can loosely compare and contrast that measurement vs. your exterior panel to gauge.

    i have a DFT Combo gauge and what i've found is that it's most useful to help quantify how much work you've done. you can go around on a given panel and get an idea of what the panel has...maybe compare it vs. similar panels on the car and get an idea of where it should be to start. plus that can help detect if your panel is particularly higher or lower vs. the others.
    '09 Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG / '14 Audi Q5 3.0 S-Line / '99.5 Pathfinder SE

    I DO NOT support or recommend Oakes.

  4. #4
    Super Member FUNX650's Avatar
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    Re: Paint thickness gauge

    Note:
    µ = microns

    The following are some of the coating industries' current average
    thickness-standards, that have been adopted at many OEM's paint kitchens.
    ______________________________________________

    E-coat.............1.0-1.2 mils = 25.4µ--30.48µ
    ______________________________________________

    Followed by:

    •Primer Surfacer...~1.2 mils = ~30.48µ
    •BaseCoat........0.4-1.0 mils = 10.16µ--25.4µ
    •ClearCoat........1.4-2.2 mils = 35.56µ--55.88µ
    _________________________________________
    Total..................3.0-4.4 mils = 76.2µ---111.76µ

    Add E-Coat.......1.0-1.2 mils = 25.4µ---30.48µ
    __________________________________________
    Total Thickness..4.0-5.6 mils = 101.6µ---142.24µ

    Now:
    In order to stay within OEMs' paint warranty recommendations:
    •CC removal: no more than: 0.3-0.5mils = 7.62µ--12.7µ


    So...Using the above #s:

    If the starting EPTG measurement reads: 4.0 mils/101.6µ...
    Then:
    At the end of all of the sanding/compounding/polishing steps, (while the vehicle's paint is under warranty), the EPTG measurement should be no less than: 3.5mils = 88.9 µ

    -IMHO...
    When it comes to certain "paint correction" steps:
    Extreme Caution should be exercised when EPTG readings are anywhere near the low end of the spectrum!!

    YMMV.

    Bob
    "Be wary of the man who urges an action in which he himself incurs no risk."
    ~Joaquin de Setanti

  5. #5
    Regular Member MNDSMtuner96's Avatar
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    Re: Paint thickness gauge

    Thanks guys. What's an "E" Coat?

  6. #6
    Super Member builthatch's Avatar
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    Re: Paint thickness gauge

    Quote Originally Posted by MNDSMtuner96 View Post
    Thanks guys. What's an "E" Coat?
    it's like powder coating but with paint. they charge the components so they are attracted to each other. they can help control a lot of aspects of the finish by manipulating the voltage.
    '09 Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG / '14 Audi Q5 3.0 S-Line / '99.5 Pathfinder SE

    I DO NOT support or recommend Oakes.

  7. #7
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    Re: Paint thickness gauge

    Bob,

    Where are those numbers from?

    I have not seen it stated so definitively before

    Kyle

  8. #8
    Super Member FUNX650's Avatar
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    Re: Paint thickness gauge

    Quote Originally Posted by allenk4 View Post
    Bob,

    Where are those numbers from?

    I have not seen it stated so definitively before

    Kyle
    My friends over at BASF and DuPont!

    Food for thought.
    Talk about trouble determining total paint thickness:
    How many EPTGs, that can measure 3 film layers, will become anachronistic...when all of the OEMs start incorporating the primer/color-coat?!?!


    Bob
    "Be wary of the man who urges an action in which he himself incurs no risk."
    ~Joaquin de Setanti

  9. #9
    Regular Member MNDSMtuner96's Avatar
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    Re: Paint thickness gauge

    How many manufacturers use the E coat?

  10. #10
    Super Member builthatch's Avatar
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    Re: Paint thickness gauge

    Quote Originally Posted by FUNX725 View Post
    My friends over at BASF and DuPont!

    Food for thought.
    Talk about trouble determining total paint thickness:
    How many EPTGs, that can measure 3 film layers, will become anachronistic...when all of the OEMs start incorporating the primer/color-coat?!?!


    Bob
    i don't think that will change anything other than the standards for what we expect to see when we measure...until it becomes common knowledge that X automaker is doing that.

    if a gauge can measure three individual layers, it will then show two in your scenario. if that combo happens (don't know anything about it), then hopefully they will have gauges that can read indiv layers on AL and steel panels in the first place lol
    '09 Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG / '14 Audi Q5 3.0 S-Line / '99.5 Pathfinder SE

    I DO NOT support or recommend Oakes.

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