Finish Thickness Tester

Had a very strange request today from a customer. They wanted a machine that could tell them just how thick the finish they had applied to their woodwork was.

Never having heard of such a thing we turned to the all knowing guru Neil, he like us had not come across such a device.

Well after hours of searching the net, well okay three minutes I´ve found it.

Apparently you can test for the thickness of the finish, gloss and loads more with a variety of these gadgets. No idea how much they are but I doubt it would be cheap :).

So if you´re the slightest bit interested here is the link:

http://www.mltest.com/coat-thick.shtml

If you´re not in the slightest bit interested here is some music.



Not really <sigh>

Things like this have been round in the automotive refinishing trade for years. Its really essential in some situations to know what thickness your applying. Even in the aeronautical industry.

They're used extensively in the marine industries, coating thicknesses are vitally important when you're immersing a vessel in a corrosive liquid, or for that matter when you're coating a hull area to use it as a ***** tank, sewage is pretty corrosive stuff. Similar gadgets are used to check for plating or planking thickness.

Mick

I know it won't always work, but why not just use a set of digital calipers?
Thickness of material before and after.

Sure to be squillions cheaper.

Ben, DFT (Dry Film Thickness) and WFT (Wet Film Thickness) readings are taken using small electronic meters. They are an integral part of commercial coating quality control. Anywhere from $200 to $2000.oo and sometimes more. To use calipers, mic etc on a ships hull would need a very big set of calipers indeedy;)

The ones I have used only work on metal and fibreglass backgrounds. A google for "Krautkramer" will reveal lots if your into it.

Cheers

Colin (Whinging Pom) - You dope!!:rolleyes: You didn't ask me for something to measure the thickness of the finish, you ask me for something to measure the thickness of a stain on wood.

Doh!!! http://www.ubeaut.com.au/homer1.gif

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ubeaut

Colin (Whinging Pom) - You dope!!:rolleyes:

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Neil,

There´s only one Whinging Pom in Carba-Tec Canberra and it´s not Colin, he´s from more war like stock who could goose step:D. He was only my not so beautiful assistant. I guess he translated finish into stain.

Andy

Are you the Andy that works at carb a tec canberra.
Medium sized fellow
sold me a bandsaw on friday.


Hagrid

Sorry Andy - Got the wires crossed, tell Colin he's a dope for me.

Cheers - Neil :D

On that very topic, it seems to me that the majority of people call anything applied to bare wood "stain". Perhaps I am wrong but I was always under the impression that when you applied a stain, you applied something to intentionally change the colour of the wood such as making pine look like teak etc.

No wonder people look at me stranger than they do normally when I indicate I am not a big fan of staining. They must be thinking I am going to leave the wood bare and unsealed.

Even when you suggest tongue in cheek that you might apply a "clear stain" many people think it is a great idea!

I thought the definition of stain v's lacquer/paint/varnish/wax is that stain creeps into the timber whereas the others sit on top of it.... true or false ????

personally speaking I dont like stains I prefer the natural colours of wood. My wife also dislikes stains - especially on my clothing (yes yes all you lot get your minds out of the gutter! :D )

cheers

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Hagrid

Are you the Andy that works at carb a tec canberra.
Medium sized fellow
sold me a bandsaw on friday.
Hagrid

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Depends on who you are measuring me against. I was minding my own business standing in the front door today and a customer tried to open me :D.

All I can say is it´s a good job we have push doors <LOL>

But other than that yes tis I

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ubeaut

Sorry Andy - Got the wires crossed, tell Colin he's a dope for me.

Cheers - Neil :D

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Neil,

Consider it done. I did suggest he have a look around here as we´d made him a star.:D

Not going to even try to repeat what her said!!! Let just assume that I´d been told shall we.

Andy