Rating: 3 Stars
PAINT METER PROS
- Cheap, actually about 25% the cost of an Elcometer
- Screen easy to read
- Stores values (not very useful to me, but I can see the benefit)
- Compact and easy to carry
- Accurate when calibrated
- Come with a belt-mounted pouch
- Will automatically switch between Steel and Aluminum (Fe and NFe)
- Has an alarm that you can set for a minimum or maximum threshold (not sure how many people will use this, seems gimmicky to me)
PAINT METER CONS
- Requires calibration after every usage. Let me elaborate, for some reason, the paint meter loses its calibration within 5 minutes of usage or after you turn it off.
- Requires calibration when switching between ferrous to non-ferrous body panels
- Will default to micro-meters after turning off (I prefer using mils as my unit of measurement)
- Too many buttons
- Confusing instructions and menus
- Has a USB port but the software does not work on a Mac and it’s hard to figure out
- Does not seem very durable
- Does not come with a wrist band
- The measuring bezel is hard plastic and may scratch surfaces (others are rubberized)
I measured thicknesses using Elcometer and compared it to the Extech, they were within 1% of each other.
The bottom line: if you have the time and patience to calibrate this unit every time and you’re on a budget, go ahead and buy the Extech but if you’re a large wholesale buyer and need a tool that works in adverse conditions and will be accurate every single time sans-calibration, We suggest you look elsewhere. F
The bottom line: if you have the time and patience to calibrate this unit every time and you're on a budget, go ahead and buy the extech but if you're a large wholesale buyer and need a tool that works in adverse conditions and will be accurate every single time sans-calibration, I suggest you look elsewhere. For me, the search continues.
- $190
