Unpopular take: skip the expensive paint thickness gauge and get a cheap one

I see guys on here all the time dropping $500 on a PosiTector before they even own a dent puller. Last month I bought a $35 no-name gauge off Amazon just to check my work on a 2017 Honda Civic I was painting in my garage near Portland. I figured it would crap out after one job but it's held up fine over 6 jobs now. The readings match up pretty close when I borrowed a buddy's fancy gauge for comparison. Look, if you're running a big shop with insurance requirements sure get the pro tool. But for DIY guys or small mobile operators I think it's dumb to blow that much cash. Has anyone else tried a budget gauge and had it work out okay?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_jason15d ago

Have you even checked if a budget gauge's tolerances are good enough for clear coat repairs though? I borrowed a cheap one once and it was off by like 15 microns on a black panel which is a big deal if you're trying not to burn through. Saving money is great until you mess up a $500 paint job over a bad reading lol.

taylor_fox15d ago

That 15 micron error is actually pretty small compared to how much clear coat shrinks as it cures lol