How Do You Measure Paint Thickness?
Paint or coating thickness is one of the most important parameters for the automotive, industrial and construction industries. Determining paint or coating thickness is a straightforward way of determining the quality of your coating’s application. This metric is an important measure of a product’s quality.
This article examines alternative tools you can successfully measure paint thickness.
About Paint Thickness Measurement
How do you measure paint thickness?
Paint thickness gauges (also known as paint meters or a coating thickness gauges) have become the commercially-efficient way of measuring paint thickness.
Why measure paint thickness?
Here’s the summary we received from experts - to:
- ensure that the thickness of paint or a coating for a particular application is within acceptable tolerances
- evaluate a coating’s expected lifespan and performance
- check for flaws or deviations caused by repairs to a surface; and
- ensure compliance with relevant industry standards.
Paint ThicknessGauge Applications
The most common processes requiring paint meters include:
- Process control: During the application of paint or other protective coatings in service centres, fabrication and manufacturing plants. Specific examples requiring precise coating applications are machine tools and mechanisms, metal structures, and automobiles.
- Car body diagnostics: There are many automotive industry situations where a paint gauge is an essential tool – like before purchasing a car or repairing dents, during scratch removal, professional polishing, or insurance assessment.
- Non-destructive thickness control of anticorrosive coatings: Such as maintaining the anticorrosion coatings on ships, bridges, overpasses, cranes, etc.
Paint Thickness Gauge Examples
The Instrument Choice Scientists have prepared excellent representative examples of paint thickness gauges. If you are looking for a paint thickness gauge for a specific commercial, or industrial application, but aren't sure which device meets your requirements, contact us!
Testboy 74 Coating thickness tester with LED Display
Product Code: IC-TB74
What does it do?
The Testboy 74 unit features an easy-to-interpret LED panel and a design for quick and easy thickness measurements of all non-magnetic coatings on steel or iron – for paints, enamel, chrome, copper, zinc and more.
Applications
The IC-TB74 is particularly suitable for quick vehicle inspections when checking for previous accident damage.
Specifications
Measurement Range: 0–400 μm.
Coating Thickness Gauge PRO
Product Code: IC-DPM-816 PRO
What does it do?
The IC-DPM-816 PRO is a paint thickness gauge suited to any non-metallic coating applied on a metal base.
Applications
The IC-DPM-816 PRO paint thickness gauge is ideal for checking the paint thickness on cars having made repairs and measuring the quality of fireproof or protective coatings.
Specifications
Measurement Range: 0 to 3000 um.
Testboy 72 Coating Thickness Tester with Combination Probe
Product Code: IC-TB72
What does the IC-TB72 do?
The IC-TB72 uses a combination probe that reliably measures the coating thickness of magnetic and non-magnetic metallic surfaces.
Features:
- ü(for easy review) the storage of your last ten measurements; and
- üa large, easy to read LCD screen with a rotatable screen view to ensure you can interpret measurements in almost any conditions or position.
Instrument Choice Scientists recommend the IC-TB72 for many applications - whether a coated surface is magnetic or non-magnetic – such as automotive dent repairing, assessing a protective coating’s thickness and more.
Specifications
Measurement Range: 0–2000 μm.
CTR 1000s Coating Thickness Gauge
Product Code: IC-CTR-1000s
The CTR-1000s is a coating thickness gauge for non-destructive testing of non-magnetic coatings on both ferrous and non-ferrous metal substrates.
Key features:
The paint thickness gauge deploys a remote probe sensor on a fly-lead for ease of use and access in tight areas. An LCD screen displays live statistics such as the minimum, maximum and average while the internal memory stores 99 groups of data.The separate probe for measurement makes the CTR-1000 a popular choice for measuring difficult to reach areas, e.g. drainage channels under the bonnet of a car.
Specifications
Measurement Range: 0 - 1250µm.
Testboy 70 Coating thickness tester
Product Code: IC-TB70
The Testboy 70 is a coating thickness meter that measures all non-magnetic coatings on steel or iron, such as paintwork, enamel, chrome, copper, or zinc. An interchangeable special probe enables measurement of all insulating coatings on non-magnetic, metallic surfaces, such as aluminium, copper or brass. This versatile paint thickness gauge is well-suited to almost every professional application or project.
Specifications
Measurement Range: 0–1000 μm.
Conclusion
Paint and coating thickness can significantly impact a product or structure’s quality, lifespan, compliance with standards and cost. Many professionals that regularly apply or inspect paint and coatings, such as those in the automotive, industrial and construction industries, choose paint thickness gauges as the most efficient means of assessing this important aspect of product quality.
Want more information on paint thickness gauges? Speak with an Instrument Choice Scientist! We're here to help! Call 1300 737 871 or email [email protected].
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