Which coating thickness gauge should I choose?

When buying a car, we often turn to the second-hand market, but when deciding on such an investment, we have to be aware of the risks. Sellers always try to present the car on offer in the best possible light, often concealing mechanical defects or not mentioning that the car was involved in an accident and had bodywork repairs. Dishonest sellers can also have the bodywork/paintwork repaired in such a way that the car appears to be in good condition at first glance. Unfortunately, repairs carried out contrary to the manufacturer's technology can cause serious problems after a few months - corrosion appears on the bodywork or the individual layers lose their adhesion. Then, there is nothing left to do but take the car to a paint shop.

Fortunately, there are various paint thickness gauges available on the market that allow for an accurate check of the car body thickness. Anyone who has decided to buy a used or new car should be equipped with such a device. A car paint gauge allows for measuring the thickness of the paint layer on the surface of a metal part. It is worth noting that a properly applied paint layer consists of an anti-corrosion layer, such as primers, and a colour layer, i.e. a base and a clear coat. Only a professional paint repair after an accident or a minor collision will restore the factory layer.

How to use the gauge?

The paint thickness gauge is not a complicated device to use. It consists of measuring probes and an LCD screen on which the result is displayed. A professional paint thickness gauge allows you to save a series of measurements.

The measurement is carried out by placing the sensor on the paint and holding it there for a few seconds (depending on the model). The device is made of plastic and does not cause any damage. However, caution is advised, especially with cheaper devices. The gauge then measures and displays the thickness of the non-metallic layer. In new and accident-free cars, the paint layer should be almost evenly distributed over the entire body. In brand-new cars, the paint thickness sensor should display a measurement result between 80 and 180 micrometres. The maximum deviation, however, must not exceed 40%.

In the case of repaired cars, the paint layer thickness is usually in the range of 300 to 400 micrometres. If the result significantly exceeds 400 micrometres, it means that putty has been applied to the body.

Remember to use the car paint meter on a washed car with no trace of moisture on the surface. This reduces the risk of incorrect measurement to virtually zero.

Which meter should you choose?

Many people who decide to buy a used car first consider which paint meter to use. There are many different devices available on the market, and we can choose depending on individual preferences and needs. Inexpensive devices can be purchased for as little as a few dozen zlotys. A test of paint thickness gauges shows that they are suitable for occasional use. However, specialists such as appraisers, car dealers and mechanics usually use more expensive, professional paint thickness gauges.

The gauges differ mainly in their measuring range. They can measure, for example, up to 900 or 2000 micrometres. Furthermore, the cheapest models can only measure steel car bodies. On the other hand, high-end models can measure the paint thickness on aluminium parts. In the shop, you can also find a paint thickness gauge with a built-in probe or a probe on a cable. The second option allows you to take measurements in hard-to-reach places and also gives you more accurate results, even if the car is dirty. However, the measurement is taken with both hands – one hand holds the cable and the other holds the meter. The devices also differ in the size of their LCD screens. Some devices are also equipped with a flashlight or screen backlight. When choosing a sensor, you should also pay attention to the battery capacity and durability. In addition, a professional paint thickness gauge is resistant to adverse weather conditions and allows you to take measurements in freezing temperatures. The measuring devices also differ in the way they display the results – precise devices show the values every 1 micrometre, and less precise ones every 10 micrometres.

When considering which paint thickness gauge to buy, the main factors to consider are how often you will use it and how accurate the measurements should be.