10 best thickness gauges from AliExpress

Thickness gauges are precision instruments that are used to measure the thickness of a material or coating layer (paint, primer, filler, rust) without violating the integrity of the structure. They are divided into several groups. Some measure the thickness of magnetic materials, others - non-magnetic and non-metallic layers.The principle of operation of the devices also depends on the purpose.

When working with magnetic materials, electromagnetic thickness gauges are used. They measure the density of the magnetic field that they themselves create. If it is necessary to measure the thickness of a non-magnetic material, eddy current thickness gauges are used. Ultrasonic devices are used to measure the thickness of wood, glass, plastic and other non-metallic materials.

All types of thickness gauges are presented on Aliexpress. The cost of devices starts from several hundred rubles. The most demanded among them are devices for determining the paint layer of a car. They are popular among motorists, as I help to identify unscrupulous sellers. After all, if the thickness of the paintwork is more than normal, this may indicate that the car was straightened or repainted. Measurement accuracy largely depends on the calibration of the instrument. The rating includes models with the possibility of manual and automatic calibration. They sell well on AliExpress and have over 90% positive reviews.

Best Inexpensive Thickness Gauges from AliExpress for Paint Coatings

The main difference between cheap thickness gauges and more expensive ones is the accuracy of the readings. Inexpensive models, as a rule, make it possible to determine the thickness of the paintwork up to ten microns, expensive ones - up to a micron. The devices of this group are not a standard and show far from ideal accuracy. But they will help, when buying a car in the secondary market, to identify thickenings of putty and paint on the body and other elements. The price of such thickness gauges is up to 1,000 rubles. At the same time, they really help not to buy a pig in a poke.

3 VDIAGTOOL VC-100

Its convenience largely depends on the dimensions of the thickness gauge. The smaller the device, the easier it is to use. This model is one of the most compact in the review. It lies perfectly in the hand and fits even in your pocket. The weight of the product is about 70 g. The probe of the device is sensitive, it accurately fixes the thickness of the coating. The thickness gauge works stably, the error corresponds to the one declared by the seller (about 3%). But you need to understand that the model is budgetary. Therefore, it will not show ultra-accurate results during paintwork testing. But the presence of putty on the car body determines exactly.

Good resolution display. There is a backlight that allows you to use the device in the dark. Calibration is automatic. There are 2 buttons to control the device. If you have any questions, the seller on the page has a detailed description of the settings for this thickness gauge model. It is one of the most popular on Aliexpress. The number of positive reviews is more than eight hundred.

2 Benetech GM200

The device can be seen at different sellers under the name GM200 or RM200. It is designed to determine the thickness of the paint coating on magnetic materials. Doesn't work on aluminum. The model has three buttons - switching on, selecting the mode and type of measurements. Runs on 2 AAA batteries. For calibration, the seller with Aliexpress sends a calibration washer.

The device has several modes. With a single point measurement, you need to measure the thickness, retract the device, and then fix it at another point. There is a possibility of continuous measurement. To do this, you need to lead the thickness gauge along the coating, without tearing it off the surface.The measurement error of the device is 0.03 mm. In differential mode, you can measure the difference between the first and second measurement. This is the best budget model with a choice of operating modes.

1 All Sun EM227

An easy-to-use compact device for measuring the thickness of non-metallic coatings on magnetic materials (iron, steel). Weight - only 23 grams. Battery operated. There is an instruction in Russian. The model does not need calibration and tuning. You only need to select the units of measurement - milli inches or millimeters.

To determine the thickness of the paintwork, the tester is directed to the surface. The results are visible on the display after the device contacts the material. The data does not need to be constantly reset with the button. It is enough just to change the position of the thickness gauge, and it will reset the data automatically. This is the best model for people who are not very tech savvy. Even the laziest user will master the principle of operation.

The best universal thickness gauges from AliExpress

Most often, thickness gauges are used to determine the thickness of the paintwork (LCP) of a car. But this is not their only use. Such testers are needed in many areas. They are used in shipbuilding, repair work, even in the production of ceramics. This is a working tool for a defectologist, an insurance agent, a car mechanic, and sometimes a hand-made master. And in the era of total distrust, even housewives begin to use the devices, checking the quality of repairs.

For these purposes, combined thickness gauges are more suitable, allowing you to work with both magnetic and non-magnetic metals in the eddy current and electromagnetic modes.The best of them were included in the rating. These models have one drawback - limited operation in eddy current mode at high humidity. The cost of such testers: 3,000–7,000 rubles.

4 R&D INSTRUMENTS TC200

The device is positioned as a professional thickness gauge for determining the layer of car paintwork. It stands out for the best performance in the top three identical models from this manufacturer. The device is used by pickers and appraisers of used cars and insurance agents, and has proven itself well in other areas. It is easy to use, has a strong body and shows accurate results. AliExpress comes with calibration plates and a quality storage and carrying case.

The device works on magnetic and non-magnetic substrates (iron, steel, aluminum). The thickness gauge determines the type of the investigated base automatically. Measurements are carried out pointwise or in continuous scanning mode. To do this, just press the appropriate button. The function will be useful if you need to test the paintwork of the entire car body. Units of measure can be changed. Screen with good resolution, there is a backlight.

3 NICETYMETER CM8806-FN

The model is positioned as an automotive thickness gauge, but may have a wider application. Its feature is the function of determining the substrate material. We are pleased with the accuracy of measurements, which is equally good on both iron and aluminum coatings. The seller sends the device in a case.

It is interesting to turn on the device. There is no button, it starts working if it is applied to the measured surface. There is an auto-off feature that kicks in after 90 seconds of inactivity. Buyers complain about the quality of the instructions. This is not the easiest tester, it has many different functions, but you have to learn them using the “poke” method. The rest of the reviews about the device are positive. The device has a memory for 50 measurements, display flip function.

2 RICHMETERS GY910

The device is a device for determining the thickness of paint coatings on magnetic and non-magnetic metals. On magnetic materials, the result is instantaneous; when working on aluminum, you have to wait a few seconds. The model uses the principle of magnetic induction and eddy current effect. Measures thickness in microns, mm and microns. Range: 0-1300 microns. Accuracy: 1 micron.

The device has a multi-stage calibration and a function of zeroing the results. With Aliexpress, the device comes with calibration plates. Screen without backlight, monochrome. It displays a battery indicator. The minimum thickness of the base steel surface is 0.5 mm, aluminum - 0.3 mm. The thickness gauge works without failures at a temperature of 0...40 degrees Celsius.

1 Yunombo YNB-220/220B/220U

Universal thickness gauge that works with different metals. It was highly rated by buyers on AliExpress and deservedly became the best in its category.The reviews share the results of the checks carried out, for example, the model accurately identified the galvanized parts of the car body and the painted coating. The main thing is to properly calibrate the device. For this, special substrates and films are included.

To make it easier to interpret the indicators, their color changes depending on the range. In addition, the thickness gauge from Yunombo is equipped with a bright flashlight. A big plus is that different types of measurements are available to users: single, continuous and differential. The set also includes a rubber and shockproof case. The only thing is that sometimes defective models with non-working backlight come to buyers.

Best Ultrasonic Thickness Gauges from AliExpress

A characteristic feature of such models is the presence of an ultrasonic sensor. Testers can work with non-metallic coatings. This is important for determining the layer of paint on the body parts of modern cars, since many of their elements are made of plastic. High-precision ultrasonic thickness gauges are very expensive, you will not find them on the open spaces of "AliExpress", and in ordinary stores too. Their habitat is scientific laboratories. The testers presented in the rating are simplified versions of ultrasonic thickness gauges. They are suitable for domestic purposes, but cannot be used as a reference.

3 SMART SENSOR AR860

This instrument measures the thickness of coatings on both magnetic and non-magnetic materials. The tester surpasses inexpensive counterparts in terms of accuracy and functionality.Equipment of this class can be used in expert assessment activities. The device will also help to measure the paintwork layer when buying a car in the secondary market, it will be useful in construction, repair, and production.

The thickness gauge is reliable and easy to use. The most secluded places of the investigated object are available to him. The device sends a pulse to the surface and displays the readings on the display. Moreover, calibration of this model is not required. The seller sends detailed instructions, so there will be no problems with the settings either. The reviews praise the quality of the screen - all the information on it is readable, as well as a small measurement error. The only drawback of the thickness gauge is not the most budget price.

2 WINTACT WT100A/WT130A

The WINTACT ultrasonic thickness gauge is presented on Aliexpress in several modifications. The most popular models are WT100A and WT130A. They are distinguished by the built-in memory for storing measurement data, the possibility of choosing a probe and operation at high temperatures. The cheaper model WT100A comes without a remote probe, which significantly reduces its functionality. Otherwise, all parameters are identical. They charge through USB. The screen is color, with the function of adjusting the brightness.

The frequency range is quite wide, especially considering the low cost of the thickness gauge. The device works correctly with different materials. It is suitable for testing: plastic, ceramic, glass, aluminum, copper, rubber, gold. Measurements can be taken in various metric units. Conveniently, the instrument stores 500 (WT100A) or 1500 (WT130A) results.When idle, the automatic power off function is activated. Feedback on the operation of the device is positive.

1 Benetech GM100

Ultrasonic portable model with sound speed range 1000…9999 m/s. The device has 12 settings, suitable for most industrial materials. The speed of sound, like other indicators, is chosen based on the type of material being studied. How to do this is written in the instructions. It is convenient to use the device, as it is equipped with a backlit LCD display, which displays all the necessary information.

A feature of this model with Aliexpress is automatic non-linearity compensation. This function can greatly improve the measurement accuracy. In the reviews, users write that they like how the indication of the presence of contact with the surface works. Thanks to these features, the tester was included in the rating of the best Chinese thickness gauges.

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All Sun

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Yunombo

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VDIAGTOOL

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