How to measure clearcoat thickness on a GTS?
- Thread starter jc411
- Start date
uvbnbit
Enthusiast
With a paint gauge? I guess it works on clear coat also
Paint Meter, Paint Gauge, Paint Gage - HighLineMeter.com
Thickness- this can be checked with a paint thickness gauge. Bear in mind that a clear coat has a thickness of 1.5 – 2.0 Mils, removing more that 0.3 – 0.5 Milsof clear coat may cause premature paint film failure. As a point of reference a sheet of Saran wrap measures 0.95 Mils. Most car manufacturers now specify that the paint thickness be measured in 0.1mil, or 1/1000th of an inch before and after any wet sanding or buffing. If only 0.4 mils of clear coat have been removed the integrity of the clear coat may have been compromised. The following are the maximum allowable clear coat reductions the major USA car manufacturers will allow: Chrysler – 0.5 mils; Ford – 0.3 mils; GM – 0.5 mils.
Paint thickness gauge - PosiTest DFT Combo; Measures paint on any metal; including steel and aluminium, a popular choice given many cars have both steel and aluminium. It automatically recognizes the material and takes a measurement-http://www.autopaintgage.com/
Paint Meter, Paint Gauge, Paint Gage - HighLineMeter.com
Thickness- this can be checked with a paint thickness gauge. Bear in mind that a clear coat has a thickness of 1.5 – 2.0 Mils, removing more that 0.3 – 0.5 Milsof clear coat may cause premature paint film failure. As a point of reference a sheet of Saran wrap measures 0.95 Mils. Most car manufacturers now specify that the paint thickness be measured in 0.1mil, or 1/1000th of an inch before and after any wet sanding or buffing. If only 0.4 mils of clear coat have been removed the integrity of the clear coat may have been compromised. The following are the maximum allowable clear coat reductions the major USA car manufacturers will allow: Chrysler – 0.5 mils; Ford – 0.3 mils; GM – 0.5 mils.
Paint thickness gauge - PosiTest DFT Combo; Measures paint on any metal; including steel and aluminium, a popular choice given many cars have both steel and aluminium. It automatically recognizes the material and takes a measurement-http://www.autopaintgage.com/
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With a paint gauge? I guess it works on clear coat also
Paint Meter, Paint Gauge, Paint Gage - HighLineMeter.com
Thickness- this can be checked with a paint thickness gauge. Bear in mind that a clear coat has a thickness of 1.5 – 2.0 Mils, removing more that 0.3 – 0.5 Milsof clear coat may cause premature paint film failure. As a point of reference a sheet of Saran wrap measures 0.95 Mils. Most car manufacturers now specify that the paint thickness be measured in 0.1mil, or 1/1000th of an inch before and after any wet sanding or buffing. If only 0.4 mils of clear coat have been removed the integrity of the clear coat may have been compromised. The following are the maximum allowable clear coat reductions the major USA car manufacturers will allow: Chrysler – 0.5 mils; Ford – 0.3 mils; GM – 0.5 mils.
Paint thickness gauge - PosiTest DFT Combo; Measures paint on any metal; including steel and aluminium, a popular choice given many cars have both steel and aluminium. It automatically recognizes the material and takes a measurement-http://www.autopaintgage.com/
Interesting info, thanks for posting. I'm contemplating wet sanding the door panels on my GenII due to the peel that is bothering me. I read in my owners manuals that its OK to wet sand the paint only once but it doesn't mention how much. I may look into a paint gauge to play it safe IF I decide to sand the paint.
uvbnbit
Enthusiast
OK. So that's how these things take measurements? I wonder how they would work on plastic bumpers
. That particular gauge is a low-end. I think you can spend $500+. Surely there's a way to gauge paint/clear thickness on a Viper
OK. So that's how these things take measurements? I wonder how they would work on plastic bumpers
It appears gauges that measure paint thickness on fiberglass and plastics exists as well: Automotive Paint Detailing: Paint Thickness Meters, Gauges
uvbnbit
Enthusiast
I guess I was wrong on the $500. But you can go ahead and put me down for 2 of the $4000 ones
. I think I can wet sand until I hit paint, then re-clear for a little less than that. 
. But good info nonetheless. Thanks for the link.silverz06vette
Enthusiast
I have a PosiTector 200 B/Adv as noted they are approx $2600. Unfortionatly they are not as easy to use as my PosiTest DFT ($700) which is for metal. I am pretty sure the PosiTector 200 B/Adv is the least expensive route you can take when it comes to composite, plastic or fiberglass.
Also the PosiTest DFT (for metal) can't give you indivual layers, just the total thickness.
Also the PosiTest DFT (for metal) can't give you indivual layers, just the total thickness.
