How is a paint thickness gauge useful for you as a car buyer?

ETARI MD 888 paint thickness gauge

First, why do you even need a paint thickness gauge (coating thickness gauge)? What does it do or how it helps you?

Well, if you have a paint thickness gauge, you can check the history of your car.

This is very important!

That is - you can check whether a car is with its original paintwork (whether never tinted) or there has been a scratch tinted. Or whether there has been something serious, like car putty job!

What paint thickness estimates are considered normal?

There is actually not one answer to this question as different automobile manufacturers tend to have different paint thicknesses.

On average, 100 and 180 microns (µm) is a good golden middleway.

To be more precise, here are some estimates:

• European cars – 100-150 microns
• American cars (USA) – 100-150 microns
• Japanese cars – 90-120 microns

Now, how is this useful to you?

Easy! If you have a paint thickness gauge showing you 150-170 microns whilst lightly pressing on a used car, then probably the car hasn't had any defects.

But if the paint thickness gauge display shows you something crazy like 400 or 600 microns, then you should be very suspicious of the paintwork.

Can you measure any car body part?

The short answer is - no!

A paint thickness gauge can measure only on metal body parts. Those paint thickness gauges are most affordable.

But there are available also measuring devices utilizing the "ultrasonic principle for plastic body parts". Now, they are considerably more expensive and I wouldn't start with those.

They can easily cost anywhere from $1,500 to $3,000.

Should you worry when the car you want to buy has been re-painted?

I think you shouldn't.

There is a popular myth or consideration that says - if a car has been re-painted, it most likely has been crashed at some point in its lifetime.

Again, you have to take into account whether those are load-bearing parts of the car (main body parts) or only smaller changeable parts like one car door.

Maybe there has been only minor scratches on one side of the car's door. Like, there has been a re-paint by a car insurance firm after a door has been scratched in a parking lot.

In that case I think you shouldn't be too worried at all!

If you want to know more...

If you are interested to know more about paint thickness gauges and want step-by-step instructions on how to actually measure and use a gauge, please visit our page here:

https://www.mertehnika.lv/blog/params/post/4498803/introduction-to-paint-thickness-gauges

On the other hand, if you want to buy your very own paint thickness gauge from us, please do so using our online store here: buy a paint thickness gauge for your chosen used car
  
Have a great day!

Your partners in all measuring related - Mertehnika.lv!

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