Paint depth readings

[Gaz_]

Just browsing through tread WD's and noted the various readings around the Golf he detailed. So do these metre readings give an overall paint depth reading, or just the clear coat?

 

[todd100]

overall i think

 

[Gaz_]

Which is what i thought. So what help is this in detailing as you're only removing the top coat?

 

[todd100]

Which is what i thought. So what help is this in detailing as you're only removing the top coat?

so you know how thich the paint is, idk it seems silly to me now thinking about it, im sure its not just top coat tho, if it was top coat i could see its use

 

[Gaz_]

can see how you could work out how much you've removed, but if its only giving an overall paint depth, what use is that if the clear coat is already dangerously too thin to work on......... How would you know?

 

[JD]

It varies Gaz. You can get them to read different levels of clearcoat, primer etc but that comes up as a calculation on the screen.

 

[Silent_Scone]

I think 70 and below is considered quite risky business to be machine polishing over (they're not always accurate though)

 

[Gaz_]

It varies Gaz. You can get them to read different levels of clearcoat, primer etc but that comes up as a calculation on the screen.

Ah, so they can read different finishes then? I presumed they only gave a reading of total depth?

So, hypothetical, if a panel has had a blow over, these metres would record a thicker paint finish?

 

[Silent_Scone]

Yep, also most will read the total thickness of paint on a panel. Generally I think the lacquer is 50% of the total thickness?

 

[JD]

Ah, so they can read different finishes then? I presumed they only gave a reading of total depth?

So, hypothetical, if a panel has had a blow over, these metres would record a thicker paint finish?

Correct.

You'd be amazed at the ranges of readings on a car as well. From a far they look perfect, get up close with the PDG and I've seen 72-372 on the same car.

Think one of Jim's posts on a car a while back had near to 1000! Or maybe it was Clark from PB... can't remember now...

 

[Ali]

I didn't know they could read different finishes?!??! :S Don't see the requirement for that!

My front bumper on the vee was 600Um or something silly like that! Likewise the Rear bumper on the Z4 was 400 odd, confirming that it had seen paint. TBH, i don't see any need for them...(Bit sweeping) but i don't do this professionally!!

 

[JD]

600? Fook.

Different PDGs lad;

http://www.defelsko.com/applications/paint-thickness-on-plastic.htm

IIRC the 200 is good for plastics, the 600 is good for metals. Hence the different PDGs in Clark's threads.