are there any ptg that can measure clear coat other than the defelsko positector 200 advanced. it would be really nice to have something that can take all the guess work out of measuring the clear but $2,700 is alot of money and the ways things are right now i would like to save money where i can. im kinda new to the paint correction thing and after reading alot of posts about clear coat failure i really dont want to attempt to buff a car witout using a ptg.
You remove such little paint with buffing that it rarely ever matters. Even if you do buff of that last little bit of clear coat, then the paint was gonna fail in a couple months anyway and would have needed a re-paint either way. There are a bunch of times where it would be useful, but it's not necessary.
its funny cause ive know about ptg's but thought they were some hi-tech gadget that people used to show off but after reading posts about measuring paint and clear coat failure its got me scared of touching a car without measuring the paint 1st. but your probably right the chances of going through the clear is slim but it only takes one time and you screw yourself
Not only that, the gauge that measures the clearcoat only works for non-metal surfaces...I was going to pull the plug and buy it until I found that out..Unless you are buffing a million dollar Koenigsegg made out of Carbon Fibre or some other exotic made out of fancy materials, then you really don't need it...Now, I know someone is going to jump in and ask wat about everyday stuff like bumpers that are made out of urethane? Well, like Darkstar752 mentioned earlier, it would be nice but is it a necessity? Just my view but I probably will still buy it at some point when there is nothing else left to buy!!! Sean,,,
Well this is my opinion, but the paint gauges have saved me from striking through the clear coat a few times now and best of all I've had to say no to polishing because of extremely thin clear coat. When your polishing your own vehicles is one thing, when your detailing strangers vehicle it's a whole different game plan. I mean if a friend bring a vehicle over, oh I don't know say a Honda, now most of us know Honda's have thin and soft clear coat...meaning if you go to aggressive on the polishing you'll remove too much clear coat and worst case strike through the clear coat...the point is that striking through the clear coat is easier then you think. Now there are a huge variety of paint gauges and like everything you can go from dirt cheap to very expensive at the end you get what you pay for but like I said giving your own vehicle a finishing pass is one thing, compounding and doing full correction to a strangers vehicle is another thing. Again just my :2cents:
Here are some really decent units in an affordable price point Paint Meter, Paint Gauge, Paint Gage - HighLineMeter.com
Carlos is absolutely right! Here is a thread I started about a Benz and how the PTG saved my ass on that job!!
i wish i had the money and knew of one that measured only clear coat, on metal surfaces as well as non-metallic. seems to me that the PTG's were developed for body shops to test and see if there was more paint and clear on certain panels?? i do not know how you guys use them to save you from going through clear if is is measuring all substances including color, clear, primer and anything else?? maybe in the days of single stage you could use it to save you because once you pass color on single stage, well ya you know whats next. i cant afford a PTG right now and other than wow factor could possibly explain to a customer how this little devise would tell me how much clear and only clear is left?? now if i was a body shop and was looking for repainted panels, then yeah it would be an easy explanation. am i wrong on the operation and actual readings from a PTG??
You can figure out how much clear there is left by measuring the primer + color at a spot where there is no clear coat such as under the hood or in the trunk.
:nod: very good point InfamousNic. There is a paint gauge that works just like the PosiTector 200, it measures several lawyers including the clear coat, exactly like the PosiTector 200 but instead of being for plastic, fiberglass...well non metal products it's meant for all sorts of metals (ferrous and non-ferrous material). The only draw back is that it's worth a significant amount, I know that in due time I will purchase it but I can't 'justify' the expense during these times...but like I said in due time I'd like to add it to my detailing arsenal :thumb:
Sorry, but I have to disagree with infamousNic,,,The paint that is sprayed under the hood, trunk or anywhere else for that matter hardly adds up to the paint that is applied on top even before the clearcoat..With all do respect, talk to any painter at a body shop and they will tell you the same thing...Some car companies, BMW foe example doesn't even use the same exact paint for the panels under the hood or the trunk..For example, I can provide you with the different paint codes that are used on a Titanium Silver BMW (paint code 354) that are completely different from that outside color....Don't ask me why BMW does this but I just know that they do...On a different note, why doesn't Carlos give us the name for the paint meter that actually does measure the whole ball and wax? That sounds like something we would all be interested in knowing... Sean,,,,
Well yes, some manufacturers use different kind of material for the inner sides of the panels, I know Gery owner of a reputable body shop here in town has pointed this out to me and actually has shown me that the inside get some sort of primer/base coat...but like BimmerSean points it out it really depends on the manufacture and of course the body shop, what one manufacture/body shop does doesn't mean they all use the same method...kinda like detailing. As for the paint gauge I'm referring to, I'll see if I can find the link, I just can't remember which computer that link is in, I know it's not on my Mac which is the computer I use the most..but maybe it's on one of my PC's. Any who when I find it I'll post the link. But realize that this paint gauge is in the price range of $10,000.00 and up. Paul Dalton knows about this gauge as well as it was he who told me about it, not sure if Paul has purchased it or not but that's where I heard about it.
Don't be sorry Sean . I just barely relate what I read and experience on very few cars. Is there not a place on any given car that would get the real paint and not get a full clear coat? I find that hard to believe . I admit that under the hood and/or trunk might be very debatable. What about under the door handles? Thanks, Nic.
Rule of thumb is take the total reading, and divide by two. That's how much clear. (Note: this is just a guesstimate and NOT exact) My rule of thumb: anything below 80microns total I don't touch. Even if there's 40 microns of clear there to polish, it's an almost guarantee there will be clear coat failure in the VERY near future :shrug:
You all have valid points, I guess the moral of the story is that every car is different in its own right...Two things to consider. One is that all this is out the door when the car has been repainted or been in an accident. Secondly, we have to assume that the painter/body shop doesn't skimp on the clearcoat which is the most expensive part of the paint....Carlos, I would be interested in that info on the paintgauge. I am crazy enough to buy something like that and I already started my search..I have had a bad case of the flu ( three sick kids) and it has been hard to work on the computer. thanks, Sean,,,
You and I both Sean, as soon as I have some 'spare' funds I intend on purchasing this paint gauge, but for now family is doing a great job at keeping funds tight :shrug: Any who, as soon as I find the link I'll be sure to post it here :thumb:
Thanks Carlos,, Also, If you ever need any cutom made spacers and adapters, let me know...I have a nice machine shop at work and I am working on a few ideas as far as adapters...Also, I have been detailing for 15 years as hobby and I recently found your site among others...Yours is always the first and last one that I visit...Nice setup...I could use some help with some camera technique...I bought a Nikon D40 to start with about a year ago and haven't touched it yet...Too overwhelming...If you have a chance, take a look at my website bimmersales.net and my pictures and see if you can help me out with the D40....I really like the shots when everything in the background is blury..How the hell do you do that? As for the gauge, you are right...I have a 13 year old son, 11 year old girl and a 26 month old baby girl..Funds are tight but I definitely got to find a way to get that sucker... I'll keep you posted... Thanks, Sean,,,
IMO, and now that I finally have one, I think it is a worthwhile investment especially if you are working on customers cars :thumb:
