Paint thickness tool/gauge questions

[Chas]

Need a little schooling here. I've always been one of those guys that run a magnet over the rockers/fender heals/lower quarters of cars I'm looking to buy. Been reading about these newfangled gauges that you run over the panel and it gives a readout in mils of the paint thickness/bondo. Only problem is, I've seen these tools go for $20 up to $325. So, what should an amateur like me get? Any recommended brands? Where to buy?

[Whit Otis, 1188]

Back when I was in the hydraulic equipment business we used a film thickness device to measure the chrome thickness on cylinder rods. This was a pen sized device with a spring loaded plunger which was about 1/8" in dia.  The tip was magnetic.  You would hold the tip on the item to be tested and then gently pull up on the outer shell until the magnetic plunger broke free. The outer shell had a scale on it and a "window" where you could see through to a line on the plunger and hence get a reading on the film thickness. They were quit precise and expensive at the time.  Surely by  now someone has come up with a less expensive digital gizmo to do this.  I think the unit I have was made by Biddle.  I'll look tomorrow when I go over to the garage and also take a picture to post here.
Whit
1188

[Chas]

Bump

[35-709]

Go to Google and enter something like automobile paint thickness measuring tool  --- that is the wording I used.  You will find many.  Here is just one ---

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/112047085997?lpid=82&chn=ps&ul_noapp=true 

Supposedly also available at Harbor Freight, if you have one of those nearby, or order it from them.