minty

Knifeless tape is a nightmare. The promo video for it, they used it to cut off a piece from top of partial hoof (you might as well use the side of the roll for that to get a better cut) i tried it on this film and its crap, it comes off jagged a little. None of my clientel would approve (i mainly focus on high end jobs, and most of my work is full front ends or full vehicles)
 
@CaptainSpod thank you so much, means alot.
 
The colored PPF to install on a same color vehicle is no different then regular ppf (but why would you use colored)
 
Changing colors its a MASSIVE workload. If you are doing a full vehicle. That spoiler took me 6 hours (too many curves) + few hours for trunk lid.
 
It would cost $15000 to wrap the vehicle in colored ppf (considering labour + quality of work + film cost *cough* almost $10sq/ft)
 
Why would you do this instead of vinyl? Why is my client doing it?
 
He wants 1of1, something no one has done.
 
Quality finish of film is ALOT better then vinyl, it really looks factory painted, even pictures dont do it justice, its like a flawless paintjob.
Doesnt scratch like vinyl
Self healing (vinyl isnt)
Wont rip easily if rocks hit it.
10 year warranty.
 
Wait until i do the rear bumper, the GT3RS sticker isnt coming off and it will look 3d engraved ;) i left a sample piece on it today (going to leave it until i get to it, to see if it bubbles up around letters)used only my alcohol solution (no soap)

@Alberts316, I bought a roll last week but have been too busy to play with it as yet.
 
Steve

Ok, I am impressed fella. That corner is a work of art, would love to see the live video as well when you lift the embargo.
 
Steve

Ok roof is done. Here is the corner and front windshield area.

@XPEL Jeff
 
@minty with a very fine pin you can do wonders. Heat it up and tuck and make it hold then let go. Just tedious. Here is mid install

@minty i am pure ppf as well. I am tucking it ALL with a very thin card. Cutting alone takes half a day for 1 panel because i have to trim so close, i am pretty good with the knife (very steady hand) but what i noticed is this film has 2 layers (a layer of film and a layer of paint  underneath, because i am not putting enough pressure to go through the second layer a very fine layer of black paint layer was leaving behind and if i put more pressure i dont want to cut paint, so not risking it). Just going extremely slow with this install. I added a picture of the roof edge for you to see.
 
The door was really tough beside fenders, because its really tight.
 
@XPELJeff  i never back down from a challenge lol that quarter panel took 3 days and 2 attempts but i know the exact route for the other side so i will mimick my steps and manipulate the film. Thank you, thats amazing to hear. Alot of stress hahahahah this is actually a secretive project. I am only showing you guys, there will be a big showing at an autoshow (cant say more) Jeff we are going to put vinyl decals on top for their company logos and even put #XPEL, there is a magazine its going into. Cant mention more about what mag. 
 
Like i mentioned, there is a professional video being done. I am wearing go Pros on my head and body hahahahha there are more go pros on ladders way up above and high end cameras recording from side. To showcase all the issues we run into and how we overcame them. Dead batteries on GoPros are prolonging this too hahahah
 
I am more then positive the company owner would want some XPEL website exposure possibly if you wanted to contact me in PM jeff with email and i can pass it on to the owner of the vehicle and what he wants to do.
 
This will be showcased in Monte Carlo France as well ;)
 
 

Following with interest, How are you going to get around the glass and roof guttering rubbers. Any vinyl installers are probably rolling their eyes at the moment but I come from a purely ppf background.
 
Steve

Cutting is an install of its own. Covering all edges.
 
Here is another teaser. Should have 1 side of the car done today. Tomorrow is shot, have a Lamborghini Huracan Performante being dropped off for full wrap in matte XPEL Stealth

i will poop my pants if my quarter million dollar car looked like that haha

Sorry for delay, the project is on pause until next week. As i am wrapping a Full 2017 Mercedes S63 AMG. 
 
......but the car has finally been stripped and i will post progress pics as i go along

Ok so film came in, it is quiet expensive, double of XPEL Ultimate. Quality of the film is really good, no orange peel like on most vinyl wraps. Tested the self healing as well.
 
I am waiting for confirmation and i will start wrapping a new Porsche GT3 RS on Thursday. Film only comes in 54" (biggest roll) so i will see how it's going to work. Guaranteed the A-frame + Quarterpanel + Rockers 1 pc won't work, will probably have to make a seem at the bottom (rockers separate). I will look at it on Thursday and setup my plan for it.

Exactly. White will reflect more light and make it much brighter. Black would be a bad idea. All the detail shops I work at have white walls and floors and it makes it much easier.

Detailing and PPF installs are two totally different things. Detailing bays are painted in dark colours for two reasons. One, it helps to highlight swirls when using a focused light source, especially on lighter coloured cars. Secondly, it helps show high spots when installing ceramic coatings. For PPF, you want it brighter. I'd use a semi gloss white paint on the walls. 
 

@highplains, quite agree about the amount of light needed and my walls and ceiling are white at the moment but when you start looking into detailing bays a lot of them are painting their walls dark colours as this supposedly stops the reflected light confusing what you are looking at. Gtechniq have recently invested a chunk of money on their flagship detailing studio and have gone the 'dark' route.
@drtint I have often thought about the paint booth route as well but having worked in a couple at paint shops I never really felt any benefit, and the constant noise of the fans did my head in.
 
Steve

If it were me I would be looking at going bright white on the walls and ceiling as opposed to black. In my opinion and experience your work area can never be too bright. 

We are building our from the ground up slowy but surely 

We actually have a paint booth that the old body shop had here. bright white walls and lights. the filters and fans insure as good as can get outside an surgical room.

Floor drain

I agree except the Google reviews. A local Xpel "certified" shop opened up about a year and a half ago. The guy ended up setting up three DBAs and for each one he had a company create a lot of fake Facebook profiles all to write fake Google reviews. The "North Dallas" guy threated to kill my 4 year old daughter at the time when I called him out on them. Needless to say I called the police on him and reported him to the state... although to this day the guy has made hundreds of fake reviews for his business. I always recommend taking reviews with a grain of salt. Go actually see the work first hand and make a determination then.

Hi guys, we are thrilled to announce the new PremiumShield Elite SH - with Self Healing ability!
 
We are happy to send out 30" x 8' sample rolls to any tintdude members who are interested. Just contact the office, or myself at brett@premiumshield.com 
 
Take a look at 3 quick videos we just added to our youtube channel - 
https://www.youtube.com/user/MrPremiumshield
 
Along with the new film, we also have our extensive pattern program, which is free for all PremiumShield users. 
 
Download your FREE DEMO by clicking the link below, you will be able to cut 10 times before demo is fully utilized -      Username - DemoUser    (yes, it is case sensitive) Password - demo123!

Nope, I am also in the UK and was paying Xpel a monthly access fee plus meterage, the first I knew about it was when I went to access DAP and found I could no longer get in, no phone call, letter or email explaining the situation just pulled the plug on me. I can see why, they are haemorrhaging dealers to other films and want to tie them in to their film by the software. This is why I learnt to design my own patterns, I can pick and choose what film I want to use and the company with the best customer service and although Xpel film is good I believe Suntek is just as good if not better with less orange peel but easier to install, Premiumshield is as good but with far superior customer service with them bending over backwards to help the dealer rather than expect the dealer to come to them cap in hand and beg to use their product. I would rather work with a supplier than for one. I hasten to add these are my experiences of the UK PPF scene.
 
Where are you in the UK AWS50M?
 
Steve

I've been installing PPF for 5 or 6 years and still have day where it makes me wanna hurt myself!

The same could be said for any new film, Suntek have a new film out, how do we know that that will perform as you say in years to come (I am not bashing Suntek here as I love their film and to my mind at the moment is the best on the market). I have STEK on my car and it's doing a fine job. If you are not prepared to put film on you own cars whose cars do you test on? I use my car because it is used and abused on a daily basis, when it is washed it's taken through the local 'hand car wash' with all the associated chemicals and old wash mits and if the film stands up to this I am pretty confident to offer it to my customers. If you are not even willing to try these things we would still be putting helicopter tape on our cars.
 
Steve

The same could be said for any new film, Suntek have a new film out, how do we know that that will perform as you say in years to come (I am not bashing Suntek here as I love their film and to my mind at the moment is the best on the market). I have STEK on my car and it's doing a fine job. If you are not prepared to put film on you own cars whose cars do you test on? I use my car because it is used and abused on a daily basis, when it is washed it's taken through the local 'hand car wash' with all the associated chemicals and old wash mits and if the film stands up to this I am pretty confident to offer it to my customers. If you are not even willing to try these things we would still be putting helicopter tape on our cars.
 
Steve

This DB11 front end is fully wrapped in STEK.
 
Steve