Thickness numbers?

SDVette · 01-20-2003, 08:38 PM

Do any of you gurus have actual numbers for the thickness of the following layers: paint, clearcoat, polish (aka Zaino), Carnuba wax?

Everyone says "the clearcoat is thin", but I'm interested in knowing exactly just how thick (or thin) these layers are. Is a coat of Zaino 1/1000 as thick as the clearcoat or 1/2 as thick (or 10 times as thick!)?

Thanks,

ketch · 01-20-2003, 08:42 PM

Wether a Vette or a Buick, the various layers are pretty much the same.

You can see the layers, and how they are applied, mil readings, etc in the Tech Tips Section at http://www.autoint.com

The amount of Zanio, Mothers, Mequiar's, etc that are applied and adhere to the paint are not measurable without some very, very expensive lab equipment.

Even a $1,000 electronic paint thickness gauge can not measure the amount of wax/sealant on a vehicle. You can also see one of these gauges in use on the site.

Ketch

SDVette · 01-21-2003, 12:35 AM

Thanks ketch.. Very cool link. I figured we are talking about VERY thin layers here!

ketch · 01-22-2003, 12:04 AM

You are welcome, sort of nice to see information from the vehicle manufacturers, their paint suppliers, is it not?

No "selling", just information.

Yeah, you got look at our logo, but not much "B/S" of how great, etc.

Ketch

hcvone · 01-22-2003, 09:52 AM

According to GM the clear coat is 1.5-2 mils thick (.0015-.0020 in.) and removing more than .5 mils (.019 in.) can cause early paint failure

Jerry Velders · 01-22-2003, 12:33 PM

Quote:

According to GM the clear coat is 1.5-2 mils thick (.0015-.0020 in.) and removing more than .5 mils (.019 in.) can cause early paint failure

:withstupid: This is spec'd in the service manual.

ketch · 01-22-2003, 09:51 PM

Some manuals have not been updated.

Yes, in the past, it was felt that .5mil was the limit, however, it has been found in the past 3 years, that .3 mil is the limit.

I am sure that sometime in the near future this will be corrected in those GM manuals which still use out dated specs.

DaimlerChrysler is just starting to make the change to the lower number, yet the paint engineering group moved to the .3 mil spec three years ago.

Ford, Hyundia, Mazda and some others have been at the .3 mil spec for over 5 years.

All use the same OEM paint material that Bowling Green uses on some of their builds, as do other GM plants.

Ketch :cool: