WHAT IS MIL THICKNESS?
A "mil" is a unique unit of measurement used to determine coating thickness. Special instruments called Mil or Coating Thickness Gauges are used to measure mil thickness. How thick is one mil? An average credit card is 30 mils thick. One mil is 1/30th of the thickness of a credit card!NOTE: A mil is 1/1000th of an inch. A mil is NOT equal to 1 mm.
How thick is one mil in the real world?
The average credit card is 30 mils thick
A good frame of reference is a credit card. The average credit card is 30 mils thick.1 mil is 1/30th the thickness of a credit card. THAT IS VERY THIN.
FALSE:
1 MIL = 1 Millimeter
1 MIL = 1 Millimeter
TRUE:
1 MIL = 0.001 Inches
1 MIL = 0.001 Inches
TRUE:
1 MIL = 25.4 Microns
1 MIL = 25.4 Microns
A mil is it's own unit of measurement
HOW DOES MIL THICKNESS AFFECT CERAKOTE?
The mil thickness of a coating not only affects the appearance of Cerakote coatings, it can also affect the performance and protective qualities. A coating with a mil thickness that is too thin may have less than 100% coverage leaving the substrate vulnerable to corrosion. A coating that is too thick can have lessened overall durability. It is important to always strive for the correct mil thickness when applying Cerakote.MIL THICKNESS GAUGES
We highly recommend using the Cerakote mil Thickness Gauge to check for proper coverage of parts sprayed. The gauge we offer works on ferrous metals such as cast iron, carbon, and stainless steel, as well as non-ferrous metals, like aluminum.GOOD
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For more information on Mil thickness and how it applies to Cerakote, you can check out our video:
Article Published: September 16, 2025