Q: Has any one tried Rapid Tac when installing 3M PPF?

or has anyone used the Rapid Clear, polish on PPF? they talked aboout it HERE so I was wondering if anyone has tried it on PPF to get the same affect, or even sell it to the customer?

A: I have used Rapid Tac before and it works fine with PPF............as long as you are dealing with a flat surface. When you approach a heavily contoured surface though, the solution allows the film to "float" in this area and the adhesive cannot grab the surface and hold the film down until a period of 60-90 seconds has passed. This is where your alcohol solution comes into play and by spraying, it flushes the other solutions off the adhesive and the painted surface allowing the adhesive to become aggressive and lay down into these areas. If you want to use the Rapid Tac as your floating solution, the only problem I have seen by doing that is if you are not a very fast installer, the Rapid Tac is designed to evaporate within 90 seconds which will leave the film sticking everywhere while you are taking time to lay an area down on one side of the car. Now where it will come in handy is possibly having it as a finishing solution. Let me explain, lets say you use the regular baby shampoo solution for your slip and the alcohol solution for your tacking agent. After the installation is completed, saturate all edges of the kit with the Rapid Tac (spray them vigorously) and then wait 90 seconds. The edges of the film should then tac rather quickly versus you standing there having to go over the edge a number of times with your thumb or a cloth making sure it is adhered to the surface before the customer leaves. Hope this helps, Good Luck!

A: Thank u so very much. And I see your points about it being a finishing solution.

I know that 3M has its clear coat but woudl the polish help as well. I am not sure if you have used the Rapid Clear?? but as I have heard that it works well on tint film I was wondering if it would have the same selling appeal with ppf customers.

A: Not familiar with the Rapid Clear. I would recommend using Plexus as it works very very well on PPF. Remember on the 3M to use a VERY soft cloth, preferably a micro fiber cloth as the clear coat is extremely sensitive to scratching when wiping or polishing.

A: a wonderfull new rapid tac 2 is avail, and i can wrap a porsche bumper/hood/fenders in under 2 hours alone. it grabs instantly. almost too good. better be good at one-timing it . not for rookies. i almost never ever turn on a heatgun anymore...

A: Good points...

The answer may in fact be, yes... At least CPF has found that alcohol will affect adhesion to the point of pulling paint... why wouldn't something more aggressive do the same.

And let's not overlooked the health hazards in atomizing and inhaling the various chemicals contained in a solution such as RT or it's evolved cousin RT2.

A: thanks on all of the input and stats.

I would like to see the manufacturers publish inof about mounting agents and common solutions to and not to use with their products.

A: CPF's alcohol position is on their paint protection film only... adhesive differences from one to another does not make them equal when installing.

Testing usually is performed as you have stated, yet is retained as crucial in-house information. Hence, the reason for manufacturer's recommended installation procedures and solutions.

Defying manu's recommendations of course leads to other procedures and solutions, and in many cases successful ones, but this does not make the manu a bad boy, if they have already provided safe and effective means to handling their product and not proceeded to ascertain ALL means of handling.

Clear coat detaching did occur during testing of CPF paint protection film on a 96 Taurus. Alcohol was used during the install.