Old timer

Looks like I got a storm coming Monday or Tuesday. I'll spend tomorrow taking in all the furniture in off the porches. Securing the boat. Looks like it's just going to be rain with a name but got to be prepared.

^^^^they are easier. But I don't sand anything. Heat at lower temp. Problem solved. Learned here on the forum from other member.

I only had that issue on a 2019 Escalade using ATR film. Funny thing is I had no issues with the 2018 which is essentially the same vehicle. Swapped the film out to CTX. Proximity sensor worked.

I've probably done a dozen 2021 Chevy Silverados with high performance film with no issues.

Two things that I've learned since I've been in this business. Within 5 minutes of meeting another installer. 1 they'll tell me how fast they are. 2 how much money they make. Funny thing is generally neither is true.

I did one for a long time customer the other day. No issues. Tons of room at the bottom of the windshield. Put three soak  ropes down. Covered everything else up. No issues. Probably done it a dozen Model S's with no issues. Too much risk for me with the model 3s.

I run a 25 degree angle blade. My Force setting on a new blade is around 13. Worn in a little it can run as high as 17 or 18. If you don't have a Nick in your tape underneath your film. It's most likely your blade holder. By 3 they suck anymore.

20 hours ago, eclipsisNA said:

We tried doubling the amount of slip agent, and the same issue occurred today.

What slip agent are you using?

Not enough slip agent in your water. When you're putting the film on the glass and attempting to slide it into position you're making the marks. A friend of mine who uses global told me that it has a pretty aggressive adhesive. He's a pretty experienced installer I have no reason to doubt him. But I've never actually installed Global myself.

I read on here on another thread to slow down on my shrinking. I ran the same heat on my gun but backed it off about 4 to 5 in from my normal distance. Then I steel wool 000 lines. 2 Challengers not one peanut.

Somebody should tell my wife that an old dog can learn a new trick.

Master computer board on the driver side under the switches got wet. Sorry to say got to be replaced.

Confidence is built through experience. You need to be grinding out cars every day. My experience with people I've trained is it usually takes a couple of years to not struggle. I'm sure some can pick it up quicker. But on average two or three years.

Apprenticed at a friend's shop for about 6 months. Got a job had a busy shop work there for about a year-and-a-half. Got hired by a good guy work for him for 18 years. Toward the end he encouraged me to go out on my own. Been doing my own thing for the last 20 years.

Florida is known as deaths waiting room. I'm amongst my peoples!

What booms said is spot-on. I started putting film on before shrinking. So I had to learn how to squeegee.

 first-time customer estimates have definitely dropped off. Referrals and repeats holding steady. Sales are still good.

So during all of the covid-19 shut down my website views have went through the roof. Pre covid-19 my Views were fairly consistent. Averaging about 1,200 views per month. Last month being the peak 7400 views. Just got my current month report 5600 views. I wonder if the government's ending the $600 a week unemployment benefit is affecting spending. Hopefully this trend doesn't continue. But it has got me to thinking what the offseason is going to be like.

Looks darker than 38. I'd be interested to know what type of film that is also? The back window isn't real curved so he shouldn't have had to it heat real hard. Interesting he burned it wet.

Max I couldn't let something like that slide. If he's incapable of doing a better job ask for a refund and to remove it.

Technically we call those a zipper mark. Most likely the installer tried to Frankenstein it in. Should have back roll it. And to think I obsess over a speck of dust.

Yeah we'll see how it goes. Good luck with your retirement!

This being my 38th year installing film. The thought of retirement does it really excite me. 56 years old and I still love what I do. My new goal I think is the try to make it to 50 years installing film. If I can make it twelve more healthy years. Last year in a discussion with my wife she told me why don't I just slow down. Go to 5 days a week. I agreed! That was over a year ago. Still working 6 days a week. I love my work. This Saturday I'll do a 38 aquilia in the morning. Doing new 2019 Blazer on my way home.lol 

As others have said reverse role is key. Especially in a mobile environment. High top Sprinter van or Ford Transit. Peel Board mounted to the wall inside the van.

I bought a Q series from signwarehouse years ago. Never an issue with it.

If you're going to set up as a corporation you must have your quarterly meeting minutes. This will be the first thing requested by an attorney in a lawsuit against you. You don't have the minutes it's called puncturing The Veil. Your Corp won't do anything to protect you.

I was one of the southeast dealers named in the lawsuit against solar gard for knowingly selling defective films. The conference room filled with dealers at the attorneys meetings would disagree with you. It took me 7 years to clean up the mess. All brands have their issues. But when a corporate policy is to denie the problem for years. It's not company I chose to do business with. In the end if you and your customers are happy with it great. But in my area were solar gard used to dominate the market. Non of the big guys use it anymore.