Prairiedawg

I'm in talks with a seller for a newer car. Planning on flying to look at the car. Having a PPI done at the local Porsche dealer but they don't check for repaint's etc. Would like to see the car first and bring a paint meter as part of my due diligence.

Anyone recommend or have good luck with an inexpensive meter? One that's good enough to determine if there's any paintwork.

Thanks in advance.

PDawg.

Prairiedawg

Nobody?

Sylverlee

Get a cheap one on Amazon. You just need to measure for consistency across panels

Ironman88

I had an unfortunate "experiment" with a cheap / made in China paint meter. Not accurate. And if one of them is not accurate, then what's it good for? I trashed it.

I picked up a nice "Fender Splender" unit. Not cheap - but if you're going to make a purchase decision on a vehicle - you need accuracy.

Here's a used one at a reasonable price. (New they are about $400.)

https://www.ebay.com/itm/28556441267...xoCx4UQAvD_BwE

Graufuchs

I have used these before and they let you know if there is plastic (bondo) below the paint and if the car has been repainted.

Cheapo paint meter: EBAY

Original paint should show 4-6mil.

Prairiedawg

This is what I'm worried about. Can you elaborate a bit?

I want a throw away unit but I also need it to work. Some of the cheap ones on Amazon are all over the place with their reviews. I've tried asking a couple people I know and nobody has one. I also don't want a $400 one for a likely one time use. More than happy to take more recommendations.

workhurts

One time use for you doesn’t mean it can’t be sold here or eBay (if there’s a market) after you’ve used it once.

Sylverlee

As someone previously said. If you’re just making sure there’s no repaint, even the Amazon one will work. If you need to know exactly how much clear is left, then yes it can be questionable.

Ironman88

The one that I posted the link to is used - $150 or best offer. Clearly you can get it for less than that. It's a good meter. Reliable and consistent.

Consistency is the problem that I had with the $75 made in China one that I bought on Amazon. It had to be calibrated. But even after that, it would give different readings on multiple tries on a single panel area.

Prairiedawg

Ugh, that's a problem.

I may make an offer on the Ebay one then. Though I'm not sure it will ship here in time. Getting on a plane on the 14th. Says by the 10th but that's cutting it close.

Edit: Made a couple of offers at $100 or so and were declined. We'll see.

jayzbird

I bought one of these years ago and it has always worked fine and been very close when checking calibration. TECPEL TG-902 Digital Paint Thickness Gauge Tester
There is a learning curve to using these things, especially on curved panels. Good to test on known good car for practice. You are looking for gross differences buying a car, so likely any of them will work. And it’s just one tool in the arsenal. Eyeballing color differences and looking for paint lines, marked up bolts, and overspray are pretty easy to learn how to spot.

Bxstr

I have this one, highly recommend.
I've had four paint meters ranging from $100-600. That one works as well as any of them. Defelsko and Elcometer are really the best in the industry but that one is a fraction of the price and it looks like it will be to you in time as well.

Prairiedawg

So, I have been snooping around the interwebs and it seems this one is well thought of in the auto detailers world. They need to know how much paint and clearcoat are on a panel. They don't want to damage it while polishing. It's more than I wanted to spend but you can never go wrong buying good tools.

Talon38c

The type used in the automotive and aerospace industries are Fischerscopes. Very pricey and very accurate.

Bxstr

Worst case, use it now and then sell it for $100 or rent it for $25 to people that need it when they're buying a car. Personally, I think a paint meter is invaluable. Even when buying my BMW X3 two years ago, I was looking at three examples. Two of them had paint work, I ended up buying the one that didn't. Is paintwork a huge issue on a daily driver that I'm going to have for 10 years and will have 100k miles on it when I sell it, no, but I really prefer an original paint car as you know that at a minimum there hasn't been corners cut during body work which can turn to corrosion later.