What to look for when buying a paint thickness gauge

A paint thickness gauge is an essential tool to check whether the car you want to buy has been damaged in the past. This tool is particularly useful if you want to buy a used car because a used car has more potential to be damaged in its history.

While others may view car paint as simply cosmetic, we understand its true importance. A good gauge goes beyond aesthetics, providing you with valuable insights into the quality and durability of the paint on any vehicle. Unveil the true story behind every coat of paint and make informed decisions when buying or maintaining your car. Trust in a paint thickness gauge as a reliable tool to uncover what lies beneath the surface.

Paint thickness gauge - what is it?

A car paint thickness gauge, also known as a paint meter, is a device that allows you to measure the thickness of the paint or coating on your vehicle’s surface.

Car lovers or professionals can use it to detect repainted areas of a car.

Main measurements are in microns (µm – one millionth of a meter).

Basically, a paint thickness gauge will allow us to tell whether a car has been repaired.

Three types of paint meters

There are three main types of paint meters. The devices can be equipped with a flat, pressure or ball probe.

First, a flat probe is a basic sensor that is installed in more inexpensive paint thickness meters. It must be pressed precisely against the surface to be checked to obtain the result.

Second, a more refined solution is a paint tester with a pressure probe. It ends with a sensor that hides in the housing when pressed against the bodywork.

Third type is a paint tester with a ball probe. It provides the most accurate measurement results. It can be used to check the coating thickness on convex and concave surfaces, and not only on flat surfaces, as is the case with less advanced probes.

What is a good and “bad” paint thickness gauge?

When choosing a paint meter, opt for one that goes beyond the basics. Look for a gauge that not only detects steel and galvanized steel bodies but also aluminum bodies. Don't compromise on accuracy - go for a tester with a resolution of 1 μm, so you know exactly how thick that paint is.

And let's not forget about the probe. The type and mounting method matter! The best paint thickness gauges feature a ball probe, ensuring accurate measurements and hassle-free usage.

How to use/ check the paint thickness with a paint meter?

Know what to expect with typical paint thickness ranges, but beware of variations based on country of production or vehicle brand. Japanese or South Korean models may have thinner coatings compared to European cars, so don't be surprised by a result of 100 μm. But keep an eye out for discrepancies that exceed 40% - this could indicate a repainted part.

Don't let shady repairs go unnoticed. If your meter shows results exceeding 200-300 μm or if there's a stark difference in paint thickness between opposite sides of the vehicle, it's time to question the integrity of that paint job.

How to use a paint thickness gauge? Make sure that the car is clean. While a ball probe tester can handle dirt, a basic meter may show false results.

Place the probe perpendicularly on the car body and press lightly. You need to check the entire body of the car and the order in which items are checked does not matter much. For example, you can start with the roof, because it is an element that is relatively rarely painted.

Then you can work around the whole body of the car with the paint meter to check every essential part.

Remember, we check a given car element in several or even a dozen places. For example, we examine the door not only in the middle, but also on the pillar, upper and lower edges, and in the front and rear parts.

When is it useful to exploit a paint meter?

For example, if you’re buying a used car and are not sure about its history, you may want to measure the paint level on different body parts. Again, higher readings can signal a repaint, meaning that the car was involved in some accident or the metals were rusty.

Another case is for car detailers. Very often car detailing involves cosmetic work, so it is important to know the paint levels before doing any corrections. It will allow you or auto detailers to determine if the car’s surface contains enough clear coat to do modifications safely.

Finally, it’s beneficial to check the quality of the paint job after it’s done. With a paint meter we can easily do that. Simply use it to check panels, etc.

Where to buy a paint thickness gauge?

You can easily buy one from our webstore.

Here is the list of paint thickness meters you can buy - click here!

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