TestCoat - Not all Paint Thickness Gauges are the same!

Not all Paint Thickness Gauges are the same!

The increasing demand for quality assurance/control in different industries, some working by national and international standards, has enticed many companies with expertise in nondestructive testing equipment to discover, design, and supply Paint Thickness Gauges – also known as coating thickness gauge, thickness meter, mil gauge or paint meter, to a market segment that was previously deemed a niche with just a handful competitors worldwide. However, not all Paint Gauges are the same: The differences between Paint Thickness gauge can be virtual – the quality of material used in the housing, as well as the display and the quality of electronics in the interior. In other words, it is difficult to talk about the best Paint thickness gauges in the market without mentioning the differences in quality. Another important distinction should be made concerning the application for which a paint meter or mil gauge will be used. A paint meter that is well suited for measuring the thickness of paint on a car panel and has proven itself to be one of the best for that application does not necessarily number one when compared with other mil gauges used elsewhere, such as galvanizing, anodizing, powder coating, etc. So, being able to measure dry film thickness only does not make an instrument qualified for all applications.

Given the fact that spending money to buy a paint meter is always an investment, one should consider if the investment is channeled in the right endeavor. In the past many years, a huge number of Paint thickness gauge manufacturers have arrived the market, especially from China, mostly supplying OEM Mil gauges from one factory and selling them at dumping prices. Although it is okay to go for those Paint meters as they are affordable, they are not always the best choice in terms of quality and durability. I have had the chance to talk to a handful of my customers using the QNix handy to buy cars over the past 15 years and their experience is the same in that they quickly switched their attention to quality that will last and not fail them in the middle of a car inspection or car buying process.

Customers who bought the cheap OEM Paint gauges do not only complain about the poor quality (repeatability issues) but also about the deplorable after-sales services to deal with. They mentioned that it was extremely difficult to identify where to send the dry film gauge for repairs or factory calibration – some described them as a one-time gadget. Even when the seller of Paint gauges was identified, the buyer had to get involved with costs incurred in shipping and sometimes customs shipping and handling.

We recommend that, if you still dare to buy such a paint meter, make sure there is a genuine warranty on the product and the supplier can be identified, as in many cases you will have to abandon the mil gauge if something went wrong. Also, make sure you keep the receipts after purchase – but who does that?

About TestCoat

For many years, Testcoat has been a trustworthy partner and leader in the supply and distribution of inspection equipment, laboratory & physical test equipment for the coatings and paint industries. We supply non-destructive quality control and testing instruments such as Paint thickness Mil Gauges, Gloss meter, portable and benchtop metal hardness testers, laboratory mixersviscometers,film applicatorsdrying time recorder, cupping testers, Wet scrub abrasion testers, Coating inspection kits with advanced technology and of the highest standards.

To know more, visit Testcoat-usa.com

Original Source: https://bit.ly/3i1kC85