Using A Paint Depth Gauge: The Why And How
Gone are the days when only a handful of car owners had detailing products. Nowadays, you can get the best car detailing products without any hassle, making it easier to get the best out of your vehicle. Moreover, amateur enthusiasts can also get their hands dirty by doing the detailing themselves using these products. One such product is a paint depth gauge, which is essential for the car’s paint.
While learning the best tips and tricks about using a paint depth gauge may take time and practice, we bring you the basics of the machine and how you should choose the ideal gauge when choosing for the first time. Read on to know more.
Why Is Measuring Paint Depth So Important?
When working on fixing the car’s paint, the ideal way to go is to pick up a polisher and get to work. However, many people forget that while you remove the imperfections on the paint, you are removing paint as well. Now, how do you know how much paint will be removed and how much stays on the surface to protect the bottom layers? If you get the calculations wrong, you will have a bigger problem on your hand rather than just a few spots.
While the paint’s surface is made of three layers: Primer, Base Coat and Clearcoat. The measuring unit of paint here is micros (µm), one of which is equal to a thousandth part of a millimetre. While you polish the surface, you are removing the clearcoat layer. Therefore, you can easily measure the paint depth and ensure if you are still in the safe zone or not.
Choosing Your Paint Depth Gauges
Much like any other detailing product, you can find different variations of price gauges. Simply, the more the features, the higher you will have to pay. It is essential to choose a budget as per your requirements and stick to it. There are some amazing gauges available in the market that will make your life way easier while taking care of your vehicle’s paint. However, you should know what you are looking for.
Here are some features that you can look for in a paint depth gauge:
- Should work on the surface of your vehicle (some gauges only work on specific surfaces)
- A mobile application to record and store paint depths
- A movable head for easy documentation
- Suggested measurement points for additional assistance
- A guide to help you learn the basics of the machine
How To Use A Paint Depth Gauge
As we discussed above, while removing any impurities from the paint, we remove the paint as well. And a paint depth gauge is used to measure how much paint is safe to remove during a paint correction process. Now, while measuring the paint depth on the car, not only you should look for the paint to remove, but you should also look out for abnormalities.
For example, if the whole car is giving off a reading of 245 microns, but one door gives a reading of 450 microns, it is clear that it has been repainted. If you decided to paint your car yourselves or avoided a professional detailing service, this issue is common. Similarly, if a specific region is significantly lower in paint value than the rest, you should know that the area has been compounded, sanded or polished to remove any scratches or impurities. In this case, the area should be treated very carefully as you might be very near the base coat and primer, which get damaged easily.
The Bottom Line
Polishing the paint is no joke and should be done with extreme caution. Using a paint depth gauge is helpful, as it not only tells you about the current situation but also helps you assess previous paint jobs. While the machine is useful, it still is a machine. In the ned, trust your instincts, and if anything feels off, contact a professional detailing service without even waiting one bit.
We, at 3Pedals Detailing, have a team of industry experts that provide you with the best assistance and transparent guidance, along with the best-in-class services. Get the best paint detailing and corrections services from expert professionals with the best industry equipment and affordable pricing.