Pre-cut flatglass jobs

We are really considering pre-cutting film for the flat glass jobs..Our current installer has his own business doing flat and it seems that maybe more film is going out than is neccesary.He'll probably want to take a spare roll with him incase he wastes a piece but if we did that it would defeate the purpose..We really don't want to run pieces out to him either.Will he think we don't trust him (we don't)?? Will this work??We don't have enough work..about three days..to hire a full time flat guy..this works good but I feel we are losing tint and 3m is very costly.Is any of you doing this???Thanks guys.

I don't precut because if the dimensions are wrong, What have you gained besides a peice of film you have to FIND a window for. As for the trust issue thats a call your gonna have to make. but if you don't trust him can you verify your being ripped off ? if you can what's he still doin there ?

Pre cutting is a waste of time, in my opinion, because so many things can go wrong. What happens if the customer decides to add or subtract windows? Then your installer either has to go back out or your stuck with a precut piece. Do you have him mark on the box how much he is using for each job? If not, you should, that way you can match up what is pulled with what was installed. He may burn a piece here and there, but if he is stealing you will be able to figure it out. If he is, dump him, no matter how good he might be. As far as him thinking that you dont trust him, tell him that you want to start keeping a more accurate account of the film, so that you are able to keep your overhead inventory cost to a minimum. If he doesn't like it, then he probably is stealing from you. There is nothing worse than a thief.

Ex,
I do both and in time I suppose I'd give the nod to doing it out of the box on site there and then.
Invariably I find that when I go to cut it at the factory I stuff up somewhere and screw the sheet.
The jury is out for me with the verdict changing from day to day.

I know V-Kool are pre-cutting this business downunder for sub-contractors and many a time it it screwed up by too many fingers being in the pie. The saleman sells and measures, the guy cuts it elsewhere interstate, the installer gets out there to fit and finds it's wrong with no backup or spare film. What a bun fight!
And the pressure of knowing that even if all the pieces are correct, not one mistake can be made.
They don't trust anyone to have material and this is one area where it can never work really well 100% of the time. They have gone through so many subbies it's not funny and the word is getting around how this is bs.

As for trust? Bad dudes do happen and it is almost going to be a certainty that you are going to get stung at some time or other.
Work and fit it yourself because you won't knock it off from your own pocket.
Devil

There are two ways you can tell how much film is on a roll. I was told about this from my distributor years ago when I thought someone was stealing from me.First you can get a wieght scale and calculate by weight, or get a calibrater and measure the thickness on the core before and after.I never followed through with either method, I just fired the guy and solved my problem.

It is easier to weigh the film and also If you are concerned about taking an extra roll to the job for the just in case windows make them bring you the release liners if they have to use extra..

We keep deduction sheets in each box and make those deductions as we cut film off. Helps keep track. But if one of the guys doesn't make those deductions it can screw things up. We always take an extra roll. People always seem to add windows as they see how great the stuff is.

you can weigh it . you can use a caliber to mesure it. but the fact still remains that. this guy cant be trusted. and no matter what you do to keep track of film. you cant stop him from . doing the windows the customer wanted to add. on his own with his own film. so just get rid of him

Years back I did some work for another tint shop and she asked how much was left on the roll," " I said. I looked at the film thickness on the roll and said, maybe 30'. She wanted metint4u2 to unroll and roll back up to check for sure. Not metint4u2, you do it.

She did...

there was 28.5 feet on it. Couldn't do that again if I wanted too.

Weigh it today.

And IMO do not precut prior to arrival...

I precut depending on size, I couldnt live without a Filmhandler. Makes it all much easier

if you keep track, by weight (it's what I would do) you can go from there, or get a running total of the windows ie. 6' tall 4' wide so you know he is going to cut at least 6' off each time (give or take a couple inches, then you can tell how much running film you have left (give or take a foot at tops) if there is more then a foot missing ask him to produce the screw up (I never leave anything at a job site, so he should bring it all back to the shop) screw ups liners papertowels they should all be there.

We still don't trust the guy fully..Any honest flat glass tinters looking for some winter work in a tropical climate at mostly nudist camps??? Hey where is DWIWD been.?Reply.

I will precut for little jobs or for exterior film. other than that, I don't. The problem with precuting is that even if all goes well, you still have the added time of rolling up and marking each piece and that's an annoying waste of time.

BTW, Devil, your lingo is cool! "I stuff up somewhere and screw the sheet." Never hear that stuff in Indiana