The production of thin particulate films on stainless-steel substrates using a doctor knife is investigated. The used Al2O3 nanoparticles (x(50) = 139 nm) were dispersed with a three-roller mill. Using nanoindentation the influence of gap width and drying temperature on the mechanical properties is investigated. In particular the establishment of nanoindentation routines for particulate thin films is discussed. Nanoindentation appears to be an efficient method for analyzing mechanical properties of said thin coatings. The influence of the substrate is excluded for coat thicknesses greater than 10 mu m or small indentation dents while the coating's surface roughness influences the analysis routine of the nanoindentation.