How to test car paint

Automotive paint can deteriorate or break down for a number of reasons, be it abrasion, exposure to the elements, or even washing, but while good quality paint holds up better and longer, poor quality paint…

Automotive paint can deteriorate or break down for a number of reasons, whether it's from abrasive contact, exposure to the elements, or even washing, but while a good quality paint will withstand these better and longer, a poor quality paint can fail before your vehicle's warranty expires. . the car is out of date.

Repainting can be a costly and time-consuming undertaking, and the more reputable the store, the more expensive the refinishing costs. So when you're looking at a new or used car and hoping to reduce any additional costs down the road, recognizing the quality of your car paint can be critical to saving you money and headaches down the road.

Part 1 of 2. Check the thickness

When considering paint quality, professionals will tell you that thickness is the most important factor. In fact, it's such an important aspect of paint quality that an entire unit of measure was only used to paint cars.

Car paint thickness is measured in mils, or thousandths of an inch, and quality paint is usually in the 6-8 mil range. There are a number of tools that can be used to check paint thickness on an already painted vehicle.

Step 1: Visually inspect the paintwork. One effective tool for determining the quality of a paint job is the one you use all the time: your eyes.

Check your vehicle for obvious signs of wear and discoloration as a high quality paint will be consistently uniform with no light or dark spots, chips or flaking.

Scratches and dents are not often an indicator of paint quality, but any place where the paint is clearly worn is.

Step 2: Check the thickness. There are several different tools that can be used to determine the thickness of the paint on a car, and all can be purchased from auto repair shops.

A magnetic gauge can be used to test paint on steel parts of a car, while an eddy current gauge can be used to test aluminum.

Both systems use magnetic fields to determine paint thickness, but they cannot be used interchangeably - eddy currents can only be used on aluminum, and magnetic sensors can only be used on steel.

For plastic car parts, an ultrasonic device can be used as it uses ultrasonic waves instead of magnets, but will not work with metal car parts.

There is no need to buy all three as the paint thickness only needs to be checked on one area of ​​the car - just make sure you know what kind of metal you are dealing with if you choose an eddy current or magnetic sensor.

Part 2 of 2: choosing paint

If your car's paintwork isn't up to standard, or you're looking to freshen up or upgrade your car's paint, a little research and diligence can go a long way to delivering a high-quality finish.

Whether you choose professional painting services or are confident enough to do the job yourself, you will still be faced with a wide variety of painting options and it takes more than price to determine quality.

Step 1: Check where the paint is made. As a rule, high-quality paint is made in the USA.

Paints made in China are notorious for chipping and peeling within a year or two of being applied. Sherwin-Williams and Starfire are renowned for their high quality, locally produced paints, which often sell for great prices.

Step 2: Check how the paint is packaged. Low quality paints are often sold by the gallon, while high quality paints are sold by the pint or quart.

While this is not a guarantee of quality, it is certainly one of the first factors to consider when choosing a paint.

Step 3: Read consumer reviews.. As with many other products, cheaper doesn't automatically mean poor quality, just as expensive doesn't mean good quality.

Price is often a good start, but not the determining factor. Because you can't really test a paint before you buy it, look up consumer reviews online and see how the paint holds up in the real world. Check as many reviews as you can to get the best overall information.

Whether you choose to paint your car professionally or you are confident enough that you can do it yourself, the best assurance that your paint will last the life of the car is that it is high quality paint. If you know what to look for by adhering to the steps above, you can paint with confidence knowing your car has the benefit of great, high quality paint at a price that won't break the bank. Be sure to keep an eye on your car's performance, especially if you notice any power dips and ask your mechanic for any advice on the painting process.