Mil thickness gauge

L

LITJOHN

Promoted Users
Afternoon, looking for suggestions on a thickness gauge. I've looked at a few on Amazon and checked a couple local supply stores and the prices are all over the place. $30.00 - $1,500. I don't need anything real fancy just something that gives an accurate reading. Curious about what you guys like to use and the ones to stay away from.

Trying to find a decent one and keep it under $250.00. I did find a couple of posts but there from 2013.

"Barry" The mechanical ones are useless, the electronic ones run fro about $200 up last i look, I have a pro-something and paid about $500 for it 10-12 years ago but they are cheaper now.

"Tinman" Just bought a Extech CG204 off amazon for $199.40 , seems pretty descent. Granger store had the exact same one for $306.00 , and another place 259.99.Got it yesterday and playing with it and some different thickness vinyl (I do computer cut graphics and lettering in my shop also) is very accurate. Not sure if there are cheaper gauges of the same quality , usually Granger handles better quality items.

Any suggestions are welcome and appreceated
Thanks
John
 
Thanks for the response chevman. Looks like a decent one for the money. JBtools is about the best price too. $281.50.
You mentioned you don't use it much and that's one thing I was wondering is how much I will use it.
Working on cutting the clear on a Chevelle I just reshot and was thinking it might help with knowing what I have to work with.

Thanks
John
 
If you have one, then its there when you need it, and its there when you get curious. I've never regretting it, and can't imagine what else an expensive one would have.
 
LITJOHN said:
Thanks for the response chevman. Looks like a decent one for the money. JBtools is about the best price too. $281.50.
You mentioned you don't use it much and that's one thing I was wondering is how much I will use it.
Working on cutting the clear on a Chevelle I just reshot and was thinking it might help with knowing what I have to work with.

Thanks
John
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I don’t see how this helps you measure clear. It measures everything, primer, filler, sealer, base, clear etc. It’s also going to vary all over the car.

Don
 
Would be a useful tool for the amateur painter if they used it and recorded millage after applications like epoxy, filler work, epoxy, check and record millage, Then 2k, sealer, basecoat, record millage. Last recording would be after clear, so one would have an approximate baseline of how much clear was sprayed? As stated above, there would be different readings all around the car but, it would provide a baseline to go by.
 
dhutton01 said:
I don’t see how this helps you measure clear. It measures everything, primer, filler, sealer, base, clear etc. It’s also going to vary all over the car.

Don
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That's the same thing I was thinking when I read the specs on them. Seems they're using a magnetic induction for ferrous and eddy curent for non ferrous.
Like both Don and MJM said I'd have to measure each coating, add them up to get a base overall setting and go on from there...But it is making me curious. Dosen't really help me now other than to know how much I'm taking off during the cutting process....
 
If you are doing it to gauge clear coat millage, you could only use it starting at the sealer stage. Sanding would render any measurements made before that inaccurate.
Seems pretty Rube Goldberg to me.
 
Chris_Hamilton said:
It's usefulness IMO is in inspecting used cars. Anything other than that IDK.
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That's what I've been reading they're mainly used for and detailing.
I just carry a earth magnet or a donut magnet out of a mopar trans and a rag to check for filler.
DeFelsko makes a ultrasonic that they say can measue individual layers but boy it's pricey and not worth it for me.
 
Sheesh! I can't believe I paid that much. But, if I can keep from burning through, it's paid for itself.

Coating Thickness Gauge CM-206FN Digital Paint Meter/Best for Automotive Paint Thickness Measurement (Resolution 0.001mils) https://a.co/d/bONrT7I
 
AAE said:
Sheesh! I can't believe I paid that much. But, if I can keep from burning through, it's paid for itself.

Coating Thickness Gauge CM-206FN Digital Paint Meter/Best for Automotive Paint Thickness Measurement (Resolution 0.001mils) https://a.co/d/bONrT7I
Click to expand...

Thank you, very affordable imho. Going to order it.
 
Yup, you should of asked for a small fee.
I got a good friend that did painting on an industrial paint line, touch up for turbo bells and powder coating. He was classified as a painter but he always said he was just a sprayer. I was on the edge of being a painter back in the late 70s- early 90s but haven't done much since and reverted back to being a sprayer so I need all the help I can get!! :)
 
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