Arts Practical Arts

Tips on Calculating Paint Thickness Measurement

Published at 02/16/2012 08:01:31

The concept of paint thickness measurement derives from the high costs incurred during painting any product whether for protection of a product from the agents of corrosion, for giving it a smooth surface finish or simply to make it visually appealing. 

Step 1

Obviously high costs for paint involve a good deal of expense. For instance, if the painting is not done well the first time around then doing it again is really heavy on your wallet. In the event of applying too much paint, it fractures into crevices when the coating dries. 

Step 2

If there is too little paint applied then the coating is too thin and does not properly cover the product which then demands a re-painting of the surface. Each such error costs a lot of money, which you can ill-afford to lose. If the paint thickness measurement could be computed only then would such high costs come down. Profits are greatly influenced by the thickness of the coating, which can be measured.

Step 3

The first instrument to measure coating thickness:

More than 60 years hence the first measuring gauge called the Elcometer gauge was patented. It was put in the market and was popular. Elcometer gauges still rank the best in the paint thickness measurement industry. Elcometers have the most wide-ranging coating measurement instruments still. 

Step 4

It boasts of the best designed inspection tools in the paint coating industry, and its dedication to customers have them much in demand, not only for a product but for their sage advice and a straightforward attitude. Their team of skilled engineers maintains international standards and creates sophisticated equipment for paint thickness measurement such as the destructive gauge and the pencil-type gauge.

Step 5

The positioning of the painter is a key factor in the coating thickness of paint application. Believe it or not the way the painter is positioned can save you up to 70 percent of expenditure. The closer the skilled worker to the painting surface, the more savings you can expect.

Depending on a mathematical ratio, a proper amount of wet color is applied to conform to the specifications of the dry film. In comparison to wet coating, a powder coating has numerous advantages. The minimum wastage results because when applying powder, the extra spills or over-sprayed quantity, can be used again through recycling. This is also gentle on the environment. A con of using powder in paint thickness measurement is that, handling it alters its thickness because it is compressed by touching and the resultant force.

On a non-metal surface like wood, the thickness of the paint is assessed with a thickness instrument that is ultrasonic. This gauge is able to quantify the thickness of paint coating on the wooden surface. This it does with almost no damage to the applied color or the underlying wood. At the moment of putting the probe on the part you are testing for thickness, a beat is emitted from the paint layer. The reading on the gauge is the measure of the paint thickness measurement on the area of wood.

Implication of paint thickness measurement:

Prevention is better than cure and all the more so while a painting job is being done. It is imperative to check the paint thickness measurement during the actual coating process in order to avoid huge re-working costs at a later stage.

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