Paint Gauges?

[Beemerboy]

I've seen many post where the detailer is measuring the depth of the paint, looks very impressive. For me in the years that I have detailed I've not used a paint gauge not once. I've burned threw the paint very few times that I can recall (not something that you forget) but all of those have been on single stage paint catching a edge with my rotary and that was while I was learning about using the rotary, late 60's to 70's where there was a lot of sharp edges on cars and WAY easy to go threw.

What my questions is if you are using a paint gauge on a clear coated car, what are you measuring? The overall thickness of the base coat and clear coat or just the clear coat. My guess is that you are really only concerned with the thickness of the clear coat, am I seeing this right?

I can see where this would be important on some cars, or processes if you had plans for wet sanding and or heavy rotary buffing. But for the general use as a tool I don't see it. I've read on the net that today's cars have about 3 mils of clear, buffing is taking off into the millimeters. Unless you are hammering on the car with agressive products I can't see you going threw the clear.

ideas on this?

 

[Paul Sparks]

I have been looking at getting a paint gauge for doing a little wet sanding and also a guy never has too many tools. I can't afford a gauge that reads seperate layers of paint but just want to keep track of how much is actually being removed.Looking at maybe a Cen-tech or something in that range. Went to a getogether down in texas were a Nissan trunk lid was sanded to remove some factory orange peel and it took off about
.5 mil. I liked the idea that the gauge took the guess work out of how much was being removed but it would be nice to know how much of each layer was left. So do I have to have one - no , will I get one - probably. Paul S

 

[Beemerboy]

I didn't know that they had gauges that could read the paints different layers, that would be useful to me

 

[Ronkh]

Cool toy.
I want one.
Not cuz it'll make me do a better job, but it'll make me look cool and I know what I'm doing.

Really though, unless someone is a pro, I don't see a need.

 

[Paul Sparks]

I didn't know that they had gauges that could read the paints different layers, that would be useful to me

Over on detailing bliss a thread had them between $4,000.00 and $8,000.00 and there is a thread on the one harbor frieght no longer carries that clearenced out under $10.00. Would you use one on a pinto-no but maybe on a lambo or collector car with original paint .Paul S

 

[black bart]

Dave the ones that sell for less than a grand measure the total thickness only thing that they will tell you is how much you have removed.
On average the total if it has not been sanded will run in the 5.4 to 5.9 range so if you have 1.5 CC that would be typical then you do the math and know when to stop.
Really you are still left with a lot of guess work so other than impressing someone with making it look like you really know what you are doing I would say save your money. Also they don't work on plastic or fiberglass well I think one will but you will need to mortgage the house to buy it.