Window Tinting - General Discussion
An Open Forum for the Window Tinting Industry.
54,109 topics in this forum
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- 1 follower
- 4 replies
- 665 views
I’ve been a flat glass tint installer for about 10 years in Texas. I’m trying to gauge whether my pay is on scale with the market or if I should ask for a raise. I pull in about 60k and get paid by sq/ft. Auto installers, feel free to chime in as well. How much do you make? What’s your experience? Location? Are you paid by sq/ft? Salary? Commission? Would love to hear from you guys. Thanks.
Last reply by TomTint, -
- 1 follower
- 40 replies
- 3.4k views
Hi Guys, Just after some pointers/advice on how do you know that the tint is fully shrunk? Due to WFH/boredom i have decided to learn a new skill, seen the Youtube recommendations and figured seems interesting and want to learn. Got a roll of 3M and tried to shrink to the front windshield. The first piece was a total disaster, inc burned/chard film. Leeson learned, not as easy as Youtube. The 2nd attempt is looking better (ish) but the question I have now. Is how do I know that the film is fully shrunk. Linked a video and I know the reflections of the tarp above make it difficult to see. https://imgur.com/a/EgcPrGB The film had…
Last reply by Chilled, -
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- 519 views
Hello everyone. I am new to the tinting world. Recently I bought a 2019 Mazda MX5 RF and was thinking about getting it to tint. I went to a local store that my friend recommended. Since I only need to block heat and don't want anything fancy, I chose the cheapest option in the store: the LLumar ATR. According to their pricing, it was 295 for a full car. I dropped off the car later on, and when I picked the car up, I realized there was no tint on the front windshield. So I ask about the shop owner about it. According to him, a full car only includes side windows and the rear. Tinting the front windshield will be 200 dollars extra, which brings the total to 450 dollars (Som…
Last reply by TrafficJam, -
- 5 replies
- 1k views
I have a person call and wants 5 vehicles tinted. He says he sold them to a friend and wants the vehicle tinted prior to delivery. 3 2018 Range Rover evoque and 2 Toyota SUVs. He and hour + away and will bring them to me. It just feels sketchy. He wants to pay by credit card and suggested Flagship merchant. I don’t take credit cards currently cash or checks only. anyone else get a call like this. also poor grammar in his texts.
Last reply by pitu, -
- 10 replies
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I had my windows and rear windshield tinted about 2 weeks ago, and the rear had around 5 peanuts on the defrost lines after day one. I was able to work them out completely with my thumb after 3 days with relative ease, but one will not sit. I'm in the Midwest, so it's cold (though I park in a heated garage), but I can't tell if it's moisture that's still there, or if the adhesive is gone totally. What happens though is I chisel it with my thumbnail and it sits for a minute, but slowly works its way back up. If I have to live with it, I will, and I'm not going to ask for a re-tint (there's also a few fuzzies, but nothing too bad), but hoping there's still a chance I can wo…
Last reply by prostcfc, -
- 10 replies
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Currently wrapping the G8 satin black, wrap is from vinylfrog, i have done two doors and two side mirrors so far which have taken me a long time multiple hours, it has been simple but stressful but i am very confident with the knowledge and tools i have. this is my first time ever wrapping ever so am learning day by day and decided it to do it by myself because of the cost it is to have it done professionally. i have accepted that scuffs and visible marks are going to happen because i am doing it myself and of the natural world destroying my vinyl. I have noticed some pretty big "scuffs" not sure what to call them, i have washed it, rubbed it with my hand, post heat…
Last reply by Dano, -
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Has anyone used the EWF HP All Metal film? I've got a customer that I had tinted a car for with 3M Black Chrome years ago that's looking for something similar on his new ride. Getting more Black Chrome from 3M is out of the question so I was eyeballing the Express offering as a possible solution. If you have any pictures or insights I'd appreciate it
Last reply by highplains, -
- 2 replies
- 274 views
Hello one and all glad to be here ive been tinting recreationally since i was about 18 I’ve got my side windows down pretty legit but it’s the windshield stip (8”) per colorado law law and rear glass rusty always end Up botched front the cut is what I struggle with and thr rear getting it stretched out smooth w/ massive fingers what techniques does everyone employ in doing so? My new used b car 07!-“accord has like 30 in the rear and front i have rolls of 5 and 20 i feel Like it would be a good idea to pull up merchant folded over doublet pull up the window make a perfect cut and then I’ll have both my front windows done at the same time and then install them I don’t kno…
Last reply by TintDude, -
- 7 replies
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New to the forums. I’ve see a lot of stuff on here that looks like it comes from professionals. I got my Ram done last weekend and rolled windows down today and saw this gap (1/4”). What bothers me is the passenger side is like 1/16”. But both on both windows the gap is all over the place especially around the edges. There was also a hair in the brow tint. They said they would redo that but had excuses for the side windows. Said the tint could have slid down ??? That shouldn’t be my fault should it? Paid 275 bucks because there was old tint that was really sloppy that had to be removed first .I don’t know I feel like this is sloppy work , especially for the money …
Last reply by AirAssaultTitan, -
- 1 follower
- 7 replies
- 570 views
Hey all, I've been on the hunt for new slip solutions recently as I've found baby shampoo a little tacky in my climate. I stumbled across some cheap bubble bath and noticed the ingredients were actually very similar to baby shampoo and dishwashing liquid. Has anyone tried using bubble bath as a slip before? Did it work well? Is it tint safe? Cheers.
Last reply by Tintguy1980, -
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Hi tinters, Completed a C300 Benz 2022 model a month ago and customer is saying that there was malfunctioning buttons for the boot, tail light and petrol lid. They're saying that the guys at MB said it was due to the use of water during the tint install that dripped and caused corrosion that messed up the electronics. Never had an issue using my soap water combo to clean and install, until now. Cars are featured with drain holes, wires are covered/proofed and so on, am I missing something here? Ta
Last reply by pitu, -
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Hi folks, Just got my car tinted and there were some edges that were bothering me, but I have very high standards and wanted to get some other thoughts on how reasonable/unreasonable I am being. I had picked a tint shop with excellent reviews and used computer-cut tint. I paid $500 for side and back windows (Llumar IRX film), so I expected a very clean job. Window 1: Gap looks uneven and larger near the pillar Window 2: Tint starts sloping down before the pillar and there's a small triangle of the window that is not covered by tint. Window 3: Gap starts sloping down near the pillar and edge doesn…
Last reply by pitu, -
- 4 replies
- 356 views
Hi , I got a friend of my wants me to instal Nova 70% from Madico, this is for Residential and Commercial. The question is ; Can instal that Window Film in car’s windshield ?
Last reply by Ryker, -
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I would like to hear some stragtegies or ideas on how your shop would handle customers like the one I am about to describe? I had a customer today that just ruined my day and would love some support from brothers in the same industry. We tinted a silverado 1500, just the 2 side roll downs to match the rear factory and the front windshield with a clear. 3 days pass and the customer rolls up in front of the shop and steps out and starts getting irrate in front of other customers saying that he thought we were pros and he said the tint job was absolute garbage. he wants a redo or money back. he says a perfect job is like how the factory tinted his windows. I take…
Last reply by Dano, -
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- 746 views
Need Help! 2009 lexus is250 I've had my driver side tint replaced twice to now find out I notice after time something in the door panel is causing tint to lift...any suggestions
Last reply by pitu, -
- 1 follower
- 5 replies
- 667 views
50% Windshield tint + 5% strip 🤔 currently 5% all the way around Hey there! I have been following this page for a while and just realized I could sign up so forgive me.. I have 5% all the way around and was looking to do 50% on the windshield - is there a need for a 5% strip? It would be smaller I don’t like the super thick ones..but that is that Mainly don’t want to go too dark but don’t want the sunlight …
Last reply by jnfs1121, -
- 8 replies
- 1.1k views
Every film co I apply to be a dealer has denied me. Llumar, xpel and sun tek. So how do you get started? Iam looking to start in Flat glass window films. Please any help would be appreciated -Eddie
Last reply by Ryker, -
- 1 reply
- 570 views
We typically use XPEL Prime XR Plus 70 for most of our marine work but this customer was very particular and compared it to the Clearview Plus 70 and decided to go with that one instead. We did the installation and the moisture between film and glass is taking forever to dry. Its a fairly large job and an expensive film - looking for some feedback from those that have worked with it please. It has now been about 2 months since install and there are still water pockets in the film and the customer isn't being very patient. We are in south florida - some of the windows are under neath overhangs so do not receive direct exposure to the sun all the time. …
Last reply by LB55, -
- 1 follower
- 4 replies
- 567 views
Hello , I'm a consumer, not a tint professional/installer. Can I bother you with questions about tint brand recommendations? Thanks in advance
Last reply by Dano, -
- 1 reply
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Anybody in the greater Houston area have any experience tinting glass on a helicopter? It’s a Bell 429. Client desperately looking for someone to tint his windows on this aircraft. He is well aware of the complexities with plexiglass. He had a gentleman who used to tint for him annually (same vessel), but Covid changed that, unfortunately. There have been no takers thus far. Just trying to help the gentleman out.
Last reply by VWaholic, -
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- 286 views
I searched for a lot of window films and tried to install some, but I still feel that this one work better on Amazon. What kind of window film does everyone use? Can you give some advice?
Last reply by joyness, -
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- 441 views
Found this article disparaging most of the stuff we do. To be fair the article suggests getting aftermarket stuff from other than the dealer, but some of the stuff they make sound shady. Don’t Get Suckered Into Paying for These 20 Useless Things at Car Dealerships WTF is so shady about dent removal? Ouch
Last reply by highplains, -
- 4 replies
- 1k views
I was at a local outpatient surgical place and spied low angle haze in the front windows around 9:30am. The first picture is taken inside the waiting room facing SE. The second picture is at the other end of the waiting room facing SSW. And, the third picture is capturing two end panes, one with serious haze, the other not so much. Here's the quiz: 1. What film is on the glass? 2. Why is the one pane of the two pane picture more hazy than the one to its right?
Last reply by mobiledynamics, -
Tintdude Tshirts 1 2
by TINT- 1 follower
- 10 replies
- 1.2k views
Hello! 😂 Whats a guy like me gotta do around here to get a damn Tintdude Tshirt? LMAO Hope everyone is doing ok.
Last reply by Roach, -
- 2 followers
- 2 replies
- 566 views
Looking for someone that has worked with a window tint shop that does SEO marketing targeting local google maps to get in the top 3 box in searches . Hard to know if someone is good as your taking there word . If someone is working with some one that gets good results i would appreciate the referral
Last reply by watchdaride, -
- 5 replies
- 939 views
Can anyone share a list of window film distributors. Not looking to become a dealer -tint enthusiast
Last reply by TINT, -
- 1 follower
- 5 replies
- 424 views
I bought some cheap tint on amazon (MKbrother) just to see if I had the skills and/or desire to tint my home's windows. I should've read the reviews before I purchased it but I didn't. The reviews all commented how hard the tint was to work with. I quickly found that out. I struggled to peel off the outer layer without having the film stick together simply because it kept wanting to curl up. After a few wasted pieces, I finally got it on the window and had success moving it in place. No bubbles. My trim work sucked. But it was at night so I think I could've done better with some daylight. With that being said, the one thing my wife didn't like about the tint was it had a …
Last reply by Tintguy1980, -
- 8 replies
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Hi, I just bought a used vehicle and the windows are way too dark. I happened to notice they are double tinted. Is there any way to remove the top layer of tint without damaging the other layer? I would like to leave the bottom layer to keep from having to retint them all. Thanks!
Last reply by Jaywhatyougot, -
- 4 replies
- 777 views
I recently got the interest to start window tinting, and I was planning on doing mobile. Is there any tips on how to practice, should I pay for a class, YouTube videos. And how should I go about charging customers
Last reply by Tintguy1980, -
- 6 replies
- 718 views
Hello, I just got the windows tinted on my 2019 Mini Cooper S. It was a lease turn in that we saw the day it was brought in prior to any dealership detail or checks. I mention this because the condition of the vehicle was immaculate from the previous owner and it was clearly well taken care of with low miles. A day after picking up the car from the tint place we noticed a bunch of scratches on both of the rear quarter windows. We brought it back to the shop the other day and the guy told us those were scratches on the glass and that they use stainless steel blades that do not scratch glass. Not sure if that is true. He also mentioned it is probably from the…
Last reply by Tintguy1980, -
- 1 follower
- 2 replies
- 678 views
A few years ago, I received my 3m Crystalline Certification at the tint shop I was working at. I have since then left that job and my new place of work wants to know if I'm certified as an individual or if my 3m certification was only for the place I was employed prior to them. So basically, when I became certified was that for me or was it just for my place of business at the time? I hope what I'm asking makes sense.
Last reply by DynamicATL, -
- 1 follower
- 0 replies
- 316 views
Hey guys here is a last call for savings https://www.premiumgard.com/ code: black20
Last reply by Premiumgard, -
- 2 replies
- 460 views
https://www.housedigest.com/1114534/how-effective-is-window-film-at-keeping-in-heat/
Last reply by Tintguy1980, -
- 1 follower
- 0 replies
- 264 views
Hi everyone,This is Windsor from Shanghai Radix Vacuum Metallising Co.,Ltd. We are a leading window film manufacturer located in Shanghai China. Why choose us? 1. Best quality optical material,and advance hard coating technic 2. High coating technology skills(18 years of miro coating), business partner of World Top 500 Enterprises 3. My IR films are 2 ply, not easy to fadin or peel off. 4. China First and only manufacturer to use Titanium Nitride(TiN) material in window film field,makes real constant color, 5. Radix added 28 nano particle, while others are still using 50 or 100 nano…
Last reply by Windsor, -
Who Owns who now 1 2 3
by ronp- 1 follower
- 24 replies
- 2.6k views
I remember back in 2015 a discussion was formed about what companies own what film. Let's update it.
Last reply by Roach, -
- 2 replies
- 1.4k views
Looking for a light window tint to complement jazzy blue car. I don't want too dark as it will dull and make the blue darker. I had Huper Ceramic C50 on a similar blue car in the past and loved the OEM baked in glass and high reflectivity look. That's no longer available in my area and I'm looking for an alternative. I was thinking Xpel 55 would work and would love to see if anyone has pics of Xpel 55 or 45 installed. Thank you.
Last reply by BodegaBay01, -
- 1 follower
- 18 replies
- 2.4k views
Got my GMC Sierra tinted in 5% tint. But I have major reflections looking out driver window. Pretty much a mirror of my interior, especially a certain defrost vent. Which causes very poor vision looking out. Which isn't safe. Noticed that it's worst when sun shining directly through windshield. Pretty much have to have window rolled down full time now. Anybody else have this issue? Have pics but won't let me upload.
Last reply by Ryker, -
- 2 followers
- 2 replies
- 684 views
Thinking of trying yelp monthly service . People either love it or hate it . Have you had success with them .
Last reply by DynamicATL, -
- 1 follower
- 2 replies
- 750 views
Hey guys, first off, I am new on the site, although I have been here multiple times. A little background. I have been tinting for about 15 years and have only dabbled in residential/commercial very little. I am a Suntek dealer and have been for a long time. Recently I had a long time really good customer with a travel trailer come to me with a request. I have taken care of all his vehicles for years. He wants me to tint this trailer. His requests for it seem normal, but after doing some research, evidently are not. The Trailer has 2 big windows in the slide of this and his TV is adjacent to it. It is all flat single panel glass. He and his wife wife like to sit and watch …
Last reply by TintDude, -
- 0 replies
- 587 views
Good evening, I live in Nicaragua and would like to tint the windows on a toyota corolla and renowned window tint brands such as 3M and solargard get sold here though the prices I appear to me like very low; to the point that I think that they probably sell fake 3M and solargard window tints; for example one place offers 3M window tint for USD 100 installed and another place offers Solar Gard Nanoceramic for USD 65 installed; do these prices seem right? If they don't seem right; where could I buy the 3M and Solargard window tint roll without installation in the US so I could import it to Nicaragua? cheers
Last reply by somerandomguy1,
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Can this be fixed? Wondering how this happens
Any impact from polishing, if the mar responds to polishing, would result in no or little visible trace. Anyone experienced in buffing glass will likely say, no guarantees; unless they've experienced the same mar on glass. -
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Boat window tinting tips
I use(d) these that are readily available through grocery stores; on installs that should not have a blade running across their surface. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Scotch-Brite-3PK-Dobie-Cleaning-Pad/580762256?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=101033794&gclsrc=aw.ds&&adid=22222222227580762256_101033794_160178497084_20981201920&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=689850595863&wl4=pla-2274697737319&wl5=9008682&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=255470249&wl11=online&wl12=580762256_101033794&veh=sem&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIyo335LbOhQMVo0tHAR1HpQC8EAQYASABEgKydfD_BwE Need to know whether the boat has glass or does it have plexiglass (acrylic) or Lexan (poly-carbonate). Glass is not worrisome, the other two are. Plexi will blister from out-gassing in no time at all, whereby, Poly-carbonate is a crap shoot as to when and how serious, if any, blistering of film occurs. Both Plexi and Ploy may also be difficult to remove, if the need arises down the road mainly getting the adhesive of without damaging the surface. Both should not be warranted given the aforementioned potentials and these conditions should be discussed with the owner. -
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Can this be fixed? Wondering how this happens
thank you - great to know polishing should remove it. 🙏 I appreciate you and all the others who took the time to reply. -
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Can this be fixed? Wondering how this happens
We've seen it on new vehicles, polishing it should remove it. Definitely not the shops fault. -
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Can this be fixed? Wondering how this happens
no, aside from window cleaner I’ve not tried anything else yet like goo gone, a razerblade, etc… I’ll probably leave that to the detailer. question: when polishing glass will it impact the visibility after? I guess I’m now weighing between having them try to correct it or just leaving it be. -
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Geoshield vs Maxpro
Global HP and Ceramic. Using it full time for seven years and not a single failure that wasn't my fault. -
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Boat window tinting tips
Where can i get a white scrubbie at locally like stapels, home depot, etc. dont have one in my toolbox yet -
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Boat window tinting tips
I start those at $750 and go up. Best advice is no cutting on the glass and white scrubbie only, no cleaning blades. That glass is super soft. You may want to use a film liner to make a template to cut your patterns. -
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Geoshield vs Maxpro
Hi! I’m new to the tinting world. Just completed a 5 day tinting course and want to purchase some films to start my mobile tinting. We trained with Geosheild, but there was a lot of talk about Maxpro and how it was good as well. Does anyone have experience with both of these? Which one is better to work with and easier to shrink? Prices on both are pretty close to each other. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. thank you!
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