cen-tech paint thickness gauge vs. Highline II

went to harbor freight today to see if they have 845 left, they didnt. so i got some stuff and went to check out. noticed that they had cen-tech paint thickness gauge there in glass case. couldnt belive the price: $9.97 (no not 99.70, you read it right $10). so i grabed it

Test.
Cen tech
calibrated it with provided foil (was dead on accurate before calibration)

Highline II. calibrated it and it keeps showing about 137 on 100micron test strip wtf. i reset it to fatory and still, with 249 strip it shows about 263, better but not good, with 505 it shows around 450. gona be talking wtih HL on monday

Accuracy


Math
((Reading - Plastic Shim Preordained Measurement) x 100) - 100 = Percentage over Plastic Shim Preordained Measurement

first reading Cen-tech. second reading HL II

46 Microns: Readings
46 +0%
46 +0%
46 +0%
46 +0%
47 +1%
Average Percentage= 0.2% @46 microns

96 Microns: Readings
101 +4% 138
99 +2% 139
101 +4% 139
103 +6% 139
99 +2% 137
Average Percentage= 3.6% @96 microns

249 Microns: Readings
253 +3% 262
253 +3% 265
255 +5% 265
254 +4% 265
253 +3% 265
Average Percentage= 3.6% @ 249 microns

505 Microns: Readings
484 -2.20% 511
483 -2.3% 511
482 -2.4% 511
482 -2.4% 511
479 -2.7% 511
Average Percentage= -2.4% @ 505 microns

Speed

Takes about 2 seconds to take one reading.

Ergonomics

Lightweight, fits easily in hand but you have to pull triger to take reading and hold it till it takes it. would have been better if it had ring around probe like Highline II. but does have blue light if you doing something in dark

Price

Cost me $9.87 plus tax (not available online (left over stock clearance) .

Final Thoughts

For $10 gauge, thats a hell of a deal and id say it is more accurate then HL II, WTF? and costs $210 less maybe something wrong with my HL II?

 

damn. i wish there was a harbor freight near me.

 

a paint guage for $10??? Dude, that is one hell of a deal!!!

 

Thanks for the review!

I actually have one of these while stopping by a HF. It was on sale for $14.99 so I decided to test it out. Its a pretty neat device and with the testing strips, it was accurate. However, I was in doubt because the manual says its accourate to ±4 digits on 0 to 7.8 mils or ±7 digits on 0 to 199 μm. It was confusing. Though I might get a High-end PTG in the near future, the Cen-tech can serve me until then.

 

in HL II manual it says 10% up to 100 micron and 5% after

im satisfied with this one. only if design was little better it would be even better

BTW, batteries are probably dead on this couse i had to replace one in mine.

 

Bill ...the closest one to us is the one in allentown.

 

Checked for this in the Reading, Pa. area, no luck.

 

Hmm if they have another one you wanna get it and ship it to me I will pay ha. Been looking for this one for some time now.

 

if i find more ill clear their inventory lol, i will be in DE today and see if there is stores near where im gona be

 

Just called one close by they said they should have one so running down there now! Does it work on Steel and Aluminum?

 

worked fine on alum and steel coins that i got with my highline II meter
called DE store and they dont have the gauge

 

wow very cheap paint thickness ... how heavy and size is it? any picture for it? can you help me to get one as well? if its not heavy and big ... I will pay all the cost send to Indonesia ... hehe

I found at ebay, is it like this one http://cgi.ebay.com/Cen-Tech-Digita...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item335770310a ???

 

Pics???

 

it is one you have link to. im sure some ppl were little faster then me and got the gauge and put it there couse i think its only sold through harbor freight.
im uploading pics to first post. weight is about same as my highline II meter

 

Hi,

I bought one this week for 110€ whit delivery :devil:

That price in euros is just 8/9 Euros????:yikes:

I been roubed!

 

^^^yes you were but at least you know you paid less then for paint detective gauge and seems to be just as acurate

 

I was able to get one from local HF store for $10! Last one they had. Need to test it to see how close calibration is but quick check on the paint it seemed good from when i used another PTG few months back. Heck for $10 its perfect....thinking of getting some calibration strips from ebay or some place to get a few more data points.

Thanks for the heads up on this one!

 

nice, cool

 

I went to the local HF last night and they didnt have any more.

 

I just came back from hf and they didnt have any either