Jake

7 hours ago, TomTint said:

Age old problem that won't ever have a solution. As you know, window tinting is a trade, problem is that it is a trade that requires no significant license or oversight to get into. And a surplus of suppliers willing to whore out rolls of film to anyone with a credit card. Once anew hire figures out hitch side of the film sticks..they flee and open up their own "shop" ...been that way since before I started in this business ( 1985 ) ..and will be that way until I'm pushing up daisies 

Are you a solo operation Tom? 

Bagging in the sun is still the best way. I have never liked a steamer for removal. In the winter no sun for us. I got a few IR curing heat lamps and used those with the bagging method. Works like a charm.

I have never done one so I am just stating how I "think" I would go about it from the picture. I would start from the center and lay the film with out any stretch trying to work the film flat as I move outward. I wouldn't put any stretch on the film until I got to the flatter area around the edge. I know this will have a lot of fingers to work out but I don't think you could stretch the film and get it to stay down in the valleys that deep.One shot on a hod like that sucks. I would have a roll over nighted so you have a chance to redo it if you need to. 

I used FVD when I first got a plotter. The patterns were very hit and miss. I have used DAP for the past year. I can say the patterns are way better. What I chalk it up to is how the patterns are being sourced. FVD patters are submitted from all different shop around the country. So consistency is an issue. DAP patterns are all made in house and tested before they are added to the system. This is for newer patterns for the past few years. Old DAP patterns are not always as good because they had to get back log from existing patterns that were not made by them. But, if you are looking for that perfect micro edge every time from a plotted pattern, it's just not going to happen. DAP is as close as you are going to get with out hand cutting though. 

On 1/1/2019 at 5:59 AM, smartie2shoes said:

 if I were to ever get back in the game I would be using Global.

That speaks volumes to global coming from you. 

19 hours ago, CaliTINT said:

I wanted to do the same. They cost too much and don't last long. I bought a training roll and it was expensive! Put it on my Jeep and less than a year later it looks like shit!

 

Talked to a company at SEMA and when I asked them how long the product would last he said about one year. That's not gonna cut it

Also ,other then the cars that have a high dollar shield retail cost to install is about or more then the average windshield replacement.

Nothing. Because non of them last in a place that has any kind of winter.  I see a use for high end cars that see track time but it will still need to be replaced often.

16 hours ago, Midtown Houston said:

It is actually a soap no one will every buy.... Was being stupid one day and decided to use this soap and when I came back the next day, I was like there no water for me to needle out.  So kept on trying it and was really surprise....For over 12 yrs I finally found it.... So I call the company that make it and they willing to sell me 5 gallon of it so I might repackage it and sell it.  I am alway here to help anyone, but this is MONEY IN DA BANK.... email me at Norngllc@gmail.com to get sample...

I sent you an email

18 hours ago, quality tintz said:

Great blessings all films have came a long way...!!!!

Some down , some up!

20 hours ago, Midtown Houston said:

I use to do that until i found the secret soap...i might start to sell it...rarely any water left behide from this soap...so I must say, the soap in your slip matter.

Come on man. Let the cat out of the bag!

On some parts like mirrors I use Speed Wax. Not the Lucus brand. It's on amazon. It's just a spray carnuba wax.

2 hours ago, DynamicATL said:

 

Haven't tried it yet, but same specs as Luxe and Luxe is as easy as it gets.

I've used both. Seems very similar for install. I think you can see the air release a bit more in the Vvivid. 

@DynamicATL Are just getting the Vivid stuff of the website or do they do wholesale?

Different in different regions I guess. Unless you say 3M here in Utah no one knows what your talking about.The funny thing is we have no 3m dealers around us.

I would love to find out he was a Tinter previously.

Looks like the old Land Cruiser FJ 60 wrap around windows. No Bueno!

I do quite a few E and C class. The CLA has the same issue. I am thinking it's a all Mercedes thing. What I have been doing with good luck is squeegeeing the first pass out with a hard card and paper towel to soak up water as it is pushed out. For cleaning I scrubby the glass with foam glass cleaner and just squeegee that for my final clean. Lightly mist the glass before install.

3 hours ago, Stewy said:

@Jake you showed me how to snap shrink back when I was having troubles with metal film ghosting. Ever since you showed it to me I have been using the shit out of it. EVERY single car roll downs is snap shrunk, cept frameless, they seem to have a little more than usual. Anyways, YOU DA MAN JAKE!

Hell ya! Glad it's working for you.

How is that stuff if it gets on door panels/plastic?

The Xpel XRBlack is a great film, we use it everyday. Happy with the match on privacy glass. The XR Plus has more performance, but keep in mind it has a blueish look to it, making it off on color compared to most SUV privacy glass. I have the  XRPlus 35% on my Audi A4. At first I was a bit put off with the blue tone. But after  being on for a while I don't even notice it anymore. But if next to another film it is quite blue.

This thread is going to go way off topic. haha  I saved my money for a long time to build my first good skate board. It was a Psycho Stick with Gull Wing Trucks , Bullet wheels and German bearings. I ran out of money and couldn't get grip tape for a few more weeks. I need to get a repro of it. I also want a Christian Hosoi board, just because I always wanted one and never got it.

Just guessing, but one thought could be a heater core issue in the car. It will fog up the car and antifreeze vapor will get on the glass making it very hard to clean, and have a oily residue. The "only at night" statement is probably that it's only noticed at night because of the interior reflection after the film was applied making it noticeable.

If it has fingers and need to be shrank/formed.Yes.

Watched a video on Facebook about this morning about this. I defiantly want to try it.