White Card Trick

Sometimes using a light to see the border at the bottom of a back glass for handcutting the pattern, just doesn't work especially with darker films, so I found a trick that i use... Just jam your white card on the inside and bingo!

I just use a piece of white paper and a light. You can shove a few of them in all around the perimeter of the inside of the glass. But what you use will work to.i do have another way also maybe I will post a pic of it.

I use white dealer plates (the plastic ones they put on new vehicles on the lot)

its a useful tip, but yeah many of us know about that already. we all use it here and there.

Strips of thick paper (about 3" by 8") that have been laminated work really well too. Just keep 5 or 6 of them around and tuck them all in, this way you don't have to keep moving your little card and they can't get ruined by water since they are laminated.

Yeah i figured you guys probably already knew the trick, but i just figured i'd post it anyways incase someone didn't cause i know when i learned about it, it helped alot.

ever since my shop light broke when I dropped it a couple weeks ago(stupid fluorescents, thought they were stronger) I've gotten really good and the lift, look and cut technique. Lift the film, look under it and follow along the line as your laying the film back down. Saves me a lot of time, especially on two doors not constantly getting it and out to reposition the light

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Cut and Past works on this thing.

Another tip discoverd out of need. Im not one to be asking the shop radio install boys for help. Most are willing to help you out holding a light. I just dont like bothering people who have thier own work to do. anyway, being that i have a background in pinstriping and graphics i decided one day to apply masking tape to the outside of the glass around the black edge to highlight my cutting of the back glass. Films darker than 35% are difficult to see through when cutting out the back glass. All you do is run the edge of the tape were you would cut freehand. The tape does a number of things to help.

1. You can see exactly were you need to cut even in the darkest of tint shops.

2. You have a very clean straight cut.

3. If for some reason you crease an edge when shrinking. you can reposition the film on the glass and see for sure that the crease is out of the way and that you are covering the rest of the area.

This is the steps i take for most back glasses.

1. clean and dry the outside glass good.

2. apply the masking tape, this takes only a few minutes or less.

3. apply dryer sheet coating.

4. allow to almost dry, i like just a hint moisture when shrinking.

5. shrink film

6. cut out film.

7. remove tape and any shavings left behind.

8. wet under film and smooth out again.

9. do your second shrink so that the edges are nice and smooth.

10. well you know the rest you probably new almost all of the above anyway. just a little more for those wet behing the ears.

I know you speed demons will say "man that gonna slow me down" . Sometimes you have to slow down to go fast. I have waisted only 1 piece of film in the last 2 to 3 years doing it this way. I am not kidding.


I am willing to get any pointers or opinions on this. Hope it helps

i have ruined many back windows using this technique by cutting inside the line.

Hey Snappy Im going down to Louisiana to visit my dad for a few weeks. You have any work? i hate vacations all you do is spend money. I like to pay as i go. Im serious let me know.

Holla! Me too....

usually if I get inside a little, its like 1/4" or less, so you can just keep going and once you get on the inside between the shrinkage to the inside, and the extra on the opposite side it will cover it up no problem. I haven't had any that I had to scrap for that reason yet

yea we have been unusally busy considering the way we were a few months back. what are you getting at though?

I use scrap pieces of coroplast(Corogated sign board)

ive even seen this trick used as protectors form the felt bomb cars,,,seen it work well to keep felt out of the tint...there are more like 3 inch strips folded and then also has relief cuts for the cars that have alot of curve.

I use the plastic wrap that comes in the film box (global is white). Use two 36's - tuck them in starting at the middle then laying along the sides of the deck so you can see to cut the bottom and both sides.

on a lot of cars the rubber/plastic gasket on the bottom of the window on the outside follows the exact contour of the black border. Slide the film down before shrinking cut along that edge, slide back up to the proper position and shrink. You have the bottom cut perfectley without having to go back and do it. Still gotta do the sides and top but those are always easier. Can only be done on some cars but it saves so much time!

never heard of "SECOND SHRINK" or cutting on the glass
i always use the old tint backing to make templates first, that way when you have an exact template you can put it in a folder and file it. i never cut on glass, its too dodgey and too higher risk. all you need is some old tint backing some clearpacking tape. spray the glass with water aplly the backing, smooth it out with a rag, draw the outline then cut it out on a bench. ill send some pics of my procedure if you wish. its all very simple. i have templates for side windows and all, cut to measure ready to fit, i can make a template ready to fit. i honestly came here to learn some thing but honestly can say i havnt learnt much
cheers

lmao...so this weekend i wanted to post a pic, but didnt take the pic.

you will so get a laugh out of this one?

i actual used a IPOD to help light up the edge of the bg on a 2010 VW CC. it was a trick that i told sarah i wanted a picture to post, geuss i forgot to take one...lmao

if you have a broken/old LCD monitor take out the backlight and plug it into a 12v point, its what i use 15" and only 5 mm thick can be placed any where and works great for me

You've been on the site for a WHOLE 12 hours, and Your already drawing that conclusion? You must be very impatient.....

You can always try librarydude.com and pick up some tips on how to properly file all those patterns you are collecting

Can you get a pic of that and start a new thread? That would make a great totw.

If it's that bad you can also use a 1/4 inch masking tape on the outside as a guide to cut..tape along the black border..Or just borrow Anakins or Obe's light saber much much brighter!