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How to measure the thickness of car paint?
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Does a used car have an accident history? Is the paint coating thick enough to allow polishing? It is difficult to answer these questions unless we measure the thickness of the paint. A special device called a paint meter is used for this purpose. It is used by painters, appraisers, car mechanics and, increasingly, by drivers. However, not everyone knows how to correctly interpret the result and what the thickness of the paint coating should be.
Measurement of paint thickness in specific situations
We do some work on the car every day, and others only occasionally. Checking the thickness of the paint is certainly an activity that is rarely performed. However, remember that the paint is usually checked in very important situations. The first thing that comes to mind is the moment of buying a used car. One of the most important steps we take before purchasing is checking the thickness of the paint. Knowing the thickness allows us to be sure whether the car has had an accident in the past, whether it has been scraped, etc. Therefore, every driver should have a paint meter and, most importantly, know how to use it well.
We certainly don't do it every day, but there are situations when using a paint meter can be very helpful. The paint thickness should be measured before purchasing a used car. Thanks to this, you will find out what the vehicle's past is, whether it has been involved in an accident and whether the seller's assurances are consistent with the actual condition of the car. It is also worth measuring before polishing. It may turn out that the paint coating is too thin to allow the work to be carried out.
The thickness of the varnish and its layers
Why is the body of a car shiny and another car dull? This conditions, among others, the thickness of the paint, which is responsible for the color of the bodywork. Additionally, the varnish protects the body against corrosion. Of course, it does not mean that it will not occur if the vehicle is not properly used and maintained. The varnish consists of several layers applied to each other. First, a base layer is applied which, as the name suggests, prepares the surfaces for applying subsequent layers. Only now is the layer responsible for the color of the bodywork applied, which is complemented by the outermost layer - colorless varnish, which provides protection against external factors and also gives the bodywork aesthetic value.
Therefore, painting a car requires a lot of knowledge and skills. This is a complicated process that should only be performed by experienced specialists. A well-painted car translates into the car's visual appearance and is therefore more likely to be popular with customers. Therefore, you should take care of the varnish and maintain it regularly, but only with proven cosmetics that guarantee safety and will not remove any of the varnish layers.
You can buy a paint thickness gauge at an automotive store. They are also available in large shopping centers and at online auctions. The market is saturated. Many manufacturers offer this type of equipment. The same applies to the price discrepancy, which is very wide. In this case, we have to answer the question what class of meter we really need. Of course, it does not have to be a top-shelf product, but remember to be sure before purchasing that the product you choose will perform its function well. What matters is that the values he shows are not distorted. Remember that just having a meter is only half the battle. The ability to use it and correctly interpret the values it presents are also important.
We measure the thickness of the paint
You already know the theory, now you will learn how to measure the thickness of paint and use the device intended for this purpose. The car should be washed before measurement. There must be no dirt or layer of dust on the body, only then the result will be the most reliable. We recommend taking measurements on the roof surface, as it is least exposed to damage. In addition, check the coating on the doors (doors are an element that is very often damaged in a car during an accident), sills (exposed to corrosion), sides of the vehicle and on the hood.
These are the basic places where the paint is tested and at the same time the most critical places in the entire car. We can treat the roof as a reference point, but only if we are sure that the car has been garaged. If the car was not garaged and was packed under a tree, it means that it was exposed to falling branches or - even worse - acorns, chestnuts and other fruit. Another situation that must be taken into account concerns weather conditions. If the car was parked outside during hail, there is also a possibility that the paint on the roof may have been damaged, unless the entire roof was damaged. Therefore, let's try to check literally every element of the car with a paint meter.
Factory paint thickness
You can use a meter with a probe on the cable, which is considered the most precise. You hold the meter in one hand, and with the other you place the probe on the cable to the body surface. Are you wondering how many microns are in the original paint and how many are in the paint applied by a painter? The average thickness of paint in cars in factories is from 30 to 40 μm. The layer applied by the painter will be thicker and is approximately 60 μm. When buying a new car, the paint thickness will be approximately 80-160 μm.
Every driver should also remember to check the factory paint thickness in the data published by the manufacturer before checking the paint of a specific model of a given brand. However, if obtaining such information turns out to be difficult or impossible for various reasons, it is recommended to go to an authorized car dealer of a given brand and ask the seller how thick the layer of paint is on the car model we are interested in. If the seller has reliable knowledge, he will most likely be willing to share it. It is also worth asking him what thickness of paint the car should have after a few years. Most often, the idea is to estimate how thick the coating will be on the body of the vintage car we are interested in. Once we have this information, we can confidently start checking the thickness of the varnish ourselves.
Differences in paint thickness
It is important to remember that differences in the thickness of the paint on individual elements of the car do not necessarily mean unpleasant events in which the car was involved in the past. Even if they occur within the same car. The paint thickness will be different on the doors and on the hood, but this is not a rule. This does not mean that the bodywork was repaired by a painter. What it depends on? This is influenced by the material from which individual elements are made, as well as their location. However, the difference cannot exceed 30-40%. If the differences are greater, this is proof that the car has been painted. It is worth remembering this percentage range well. Everything has its limits. That is why it is so important that the meter we are equipped with is fully functional and shows the true thickness of the paint. This will allow us to accurately estimate whether the car's paint has been corrected.
To measure paint thickness correctly, you need to have the right equipment, use it well and know how to interpret the result. It is definitely a gadget worth recommending and a skill worth acquiring. Please remember that in addition to car accessories that we use regularly, there is also a wide range of those that are used very occasionally. However, there may come a moment when having them will prove invaluable. A paint thickness gauge is certainly one of them, because it can largely contribute to, for example, whether we buy a used car or whether we give up and spend some time on a model with a less checkered history.
Conclusions
- In some situations, a paint thickness meter may prove invaluable, e.g. when trying to buy a used car.
- There are many different types of paint meters on the market. It is worth choosing one to be sure of correct measurement.
- The layers of paint on the car body may differ.
- Each body element may have a different paint thickness.
- If the difference in the thickness of the paint on individual elements of the car is 30-40%, it is most likely a sign that the paint has been corrected by a painter.
- Before buying a used car, it is worth checking the brand's official information about the paint thickness of a given model.
