Paint thickness measurement tools

[Steve Shauger]

Hi Sam, what we have typically seen on original paint GM vehicles is 2-5 mils. Top of the car and easy to reach areas (which are exposed to the elements and polished) tend to be thinner. Measuring the thickness is only one variable. Consistency of coverage, color variance, paint checking and texture are also critical. We also look for blend and tape lines and verify if trim and moldings have been removed which may indicate paint work. A;lso on leaded areas we typically find adhesion issues. A lot of detective work goes into verifying paint.

I used the eastwood magnetic gauge for years with consistent results. I've switched to the Elco but not sure of the model.