TomTint

We printed this gradient. 

My reference was silver 50.... and it is actually relatively invisible if it's on IG. ... But if you are talking about a ceramic 35... that particular film will have TSEA in the high 50s / low 60s...very suspect on IG units. Better option would be a DR film and the same dynamics hold true with TSEA and reradaiting heat with the ceramic..just worse. 

I spent the day on the printer. Have to install this on Sunday.

Not today's project, but a pretty cool little job we did on Sunday. 

Not today's project, but a pretty cool little job we did on Sunday. 

Ain't that the truth

think of solar film like the yellow pages...of course there are going to be a certain segment of the population who do not have the know how or technology to google things... But that population is dying everyday. At some point..they will be all but a memory. How you operate your business and how anyone else dos has zero bearing on the sustainability of said yellow pages. In fact if anything, the small mom and pop general store may be more at risk due to their inability to switch gears in time. 

We are 90+% deco. That market is still strong, but as I said 3 years ago...it's beginning to get whored out just like every other film. A few years ago few had their own print capabilities..most relied on 2 of 3 sources..that's changed as well. Now there are numerous shops who also have in house printers. 

Invest well......I have been buying property all these years. Spending money on that and not beer or clubbing. Real estate is the single largest creator of wealth in America. Rent is for suckers. ..Buy it...rent it yourself..let it appreciate..sell it. 

I started in the summer of 85... I have about 3-4 more years to go before I retire from the trade. We have some real estate to sell and then I'm tail lights. 

Tinting in a body shop.....going to be a mess. ..imagine someone sanding bondo next to you while you are spraying a car black......Decades ago we did work for a few body shops..always had to tint inside the spray booth, or have them bring it to us. The body shops booth is where they make real money..the last thing the owner wants to do is tie up a booth to make dimes while stepping over dollars. 

Tinting in a body shop.....going to be a mess. ..imagine someone sanding bondo next to you while you are spraying a car black......Decades ago we did work for a few body shops..always had to tint inside the spray booth, or have them bring it to us. The body shops booth is where they make real money..the last thing the owner wants to do is tie up a booth to make dimes while stepping over dollars. 

We do skylights all the time in Silver 20, sky always looks blue ..even on a cloudy day. Keeps out 75-80% of the heat. Steer clear of the xterior films from Llumar, they simply slap their AG coating and PS adhesive on their basic films and call it "exterior". Should you for some reason want it on the xterior...Hanita products are the most advanced on the market. PR 60/70 would not provide and measurable difference in heat load. 

I dont have any opinion of how it was before and how it is now after Avery, ...but I can tell you with 💯% certainty..when a conglomerate buys any entity..and has little to no knowledge of the industry ...it NEVER improves things. It ALWAYS gets worse...ALWAYS.. 

There are 3 things Window Film is capable of doing with heat and light. Absorb it, Reflect it or Transmit it....nothing else.. if it's not shiny...it's absorbing the heat ( ceramic ) if it's absorbing it..it will re radiate it. ..( think about asphalt ) ..soaks up the suns radiation and re radiates it back.. Film is no different. 

There are 3 things Window Film is capable of doing with heat and light. Absorb it, Reflect it or Transmit it....nothing else.. if it's not shiny...it's absorbing the heat ( ceramic ) if it's absorbing it..it will re radiate it. ..( think about asphalt ) ..soaks up the suns radiation and re radiates it back.. Film is no different. 

For flat glass I prefer the film to bo on the roll liner out. Autoi would assume liner in would be preferable.

I don't know your financial situation or your geographic location, but ..if you are mobile now and covering your expenses..and are able to save a bit of money..keep saving until you have enough for a down payment to buy your own space. Renting or leasing is only good for the land owner. You pay their nut..and they ride the wave as the property escalates in value.. then they raise your rent... IMO..wait till you can swing a purchase and thank me in a few years. 

I don't know your financial situation or your geographic location, but ..if you are mobile now and covering your expenses..and are able to save a bit of money..keep saving until you have enough for a down payment to buy your own space. Renting or leasing is only good for the land owner. You pay their nut..and they ride the wave as the property escalates in value.. then they raise your rent... IMO..wait till you can swing a purchase and thank me in a few years. 

I don't know your financial situation or your geographic location, but ..if you are mobile now and covering your expenses..and are able to save a bit of money..keep saving until you have enough for a down payment to buy your own space. Renting or leasing is only good for the land owner. You pay their nut..and they ride the wave as the property escalates in value.. then they raise your rent... IMO..wait till you can swing a purchase and thank me in a few years. 

Hard to put that cat back in the bag.

Eastman bought ST for 2 reasons. First they wanted their PPF technology and 2nd.. They posed to much competition for them. After the purchase they systematically gutted quality control at ST deliberately. Its now the red headed step child of the Eastman portfolio. As others have suggested look at Global. It's a rock solid product.

Some will tell you that PS is advanced to the point where it will last longer than the films expected life cycle... this is usually parroted by those who have PS flat glass films they want to sell. I have been doing this for the better part of 35 years.. I do not recall ever seeing a DA adhesive failure ..where as I have seen PS failure more times than I can count. While DA adhesive is most certainly a PITA to remove..PS requires a razor blade in most cases as well.. which will inevitably cause the same issues in glass with fabrication debris or other surface 4 coating. That said, the glass that is being produced today is typically such high quality and energy efficient..adding window film is quickly becoming a loser based on ROI. .. 

Many years ago I had him make me a couple pouches and a nice bag to carry tools.. used that bag for years until someone left the cover off a Triumph and slit the side wide open.. 

I have always been a big advocate for telling dealers with in house tinters to F.O. .. if. You are truly a skilled tinter.. ( and not in just 3-4 models that were plotter cut ) ..than your skill set is in demand. Like Roach said, there is more to running a business than just slapping plastic on windows. In fact... many of the most successful business owners I know..don't tint themselves at all.