Midtown Houston

They came to my shop...so I stop everything I was doing to test the film...it scratch easy...the guy was more of trying to sell a warranty product more than the windshield product. “You can charge customer additional $150 for up to $1000 for their windshield cost” I heard this with Bray and other detail product like Perma Plate....I will not sell a product that don’t work. But we do need a windshield protection product that the scratch coat can be more durable...but this is not it...

I've trained half a dozen people. We machine cut. I teach them running the plotter first, as it's main reason we hire them, but if they're serious about learning then we go to installation. 
 
After watching me install for a while I usually start them off doing small, no tuck, windows, so they have a grasp of handling film and dealing with squeegeeing a piece that slides around everywhere. Ask them to identify what they've done wrong, and ask them how to avoid doing that again. I can always tell what they did wrong, so I just tell them if they can't figure it out. Then we move on to squeegeeing film I've placed and tacked, so they get used to the hand motions and so I have a good installation(unless they crease it).
 
Really depends how busy we are. Teaching them to help me is first thing, then installation when it slows down. Have them work on one window once they learn the basics. Most of the time, with a fresh installer, I will have the entire vehicle finished by the time they get that 1 window done. They usually put a lot of pressure on themselves in that situation, so they will drive themselves harder. Nothing feels worse to them then when I've tinted an entire car and they haven't finished 1 window. I just smile and say to them it's part of learning. You aren't going to learn this in a day. You may understand installing, but you will need to train your muscles, hands, eyes. Takes time.

I have been training new and not so new tinters for longer than I wish to remember.  Back when I started I used to get lots of hate ranging from late night calls to hate emails....now everyone is a "coach " which I guess is the new catch phrase for trainer.
And we had to walk uphill in the snow to learn
 

I'm not the best teacher in the world, and some of what S2S said I agree with...What I disagree with is letting them find their own way early on. .. I insist they learn my way until they are competent enough to install without supervision. I know my way works, and I know what happens and why, if steps are not done correctly. I have no interest in letting a newbie experament in the learning curve, and trying to figure out a way for everyone's different approach to be successful. .. Learn my way.. master it.. then if you can improve on it .. have at it. 

I started newbies by having them cut a picture out of window film they themselves applied to a piece of glass. We were big in window film graphics back in the eighties so there were plenty of liner tattooed pictures on display. Had them pick one they wanted to do. This gave me an idea of their working through challenges skills, how well they installed the film to the 12 x 12 glass and their ability to handle an olfa knife without cutting the glass, all in one fell swoop.
 
After the test and they start from scratch (not to the picture glass LOL) and if they don't show signs of 'getting it' within a couple months, window film installing may not be for them. Anyone with experience can see a bullshioter a mile away so, you'll know.
 
Show them how you do it but don't chastise or brow beat, if they work out a different approach than yours. I would start them the same way I approach each car. In other words break down your approach into segments (tiers if you will), they have to work at until moving on to the next. Don't be afraid to let them handle film, it will cost you money in time and film but, the sooner they know film handling the better. It'll cost you about the same to have them attend a training course (dependent upon cost of training) as it would to train them yourself.
 
Ask the newbie these questions:
Do you have any artistic skills (not autistic, artistic)? Many natural installers have an artist strain in their blood.
Can you play a musical instrument? Manual dexterity is a must.
Do you problem-solve like McGyver? Problem solving skills without the need to wait for or ask for guidance.
Have you ever installed vinyl, wallpaper, shelf-lining material, decals, etc.? Got at least a jump-start on those who have never done any of this.
 
In 18 of the 20 years I spent training newbies, I only spied 3-4 naturals. They are rare but they're out there. Had one, who appeared to be all thumbs, take the tool apron off halfway through day two saying this isn't for him. I could tell by the end of the first day who might succeed and who would be a nightmare in waiting. Women make the best tinters because they are already meticulous and methodical. I only had two men work in my shops over the course of the 80's to early 90's, one I let go after three months, the other turned out to be a she and a damn good tinter at that.
 
This isn't the gospel according to one trainer, it's simply my input to a subject that will bring about much input from those that have been there.
 
Good luck.
 
Edit: And in the words of Cheech or Chong, you don't need no stinkin' poll (to get your answers).
 

After many years of building, buying, and collecting heat lamp display through out the last 12 years....This is the best one. It is made from aluminum and wall mounted. The size is 30" x 28" x 7 3/4". We are selling $500 plus tint because of this box daily. We spend less time explaining and selling to customer because of this heat lamp box. The box and graphic serve as a informative and heat display all in one. It is very user friendly, the film will sell itself using this box. We have hundreds of customer that walk up to this box and say I want that one. 
I have 9 left and will custom design your brand film of choice. I would just need to know the 3 films you want on the glass. I will grab the spec of the film and design, print, and install. All you need to buy is the IR bulbs and installed it to the wall.
The box with no graphic is $500 and with custom graphic installed is $650 plus shipping. You will get your money back from the extra profit this box made in a few days. Email me at NorngLLC@gmail.com if you are interested. Mike Norng (713) 560-0669

After many years of building, buying, and collecting heat lamp display through out the last 12 years....This is the best one. It is made from aluminum and wall mounted. The size is 30" x 28" x 7 3/4". We are selling $500 plus tint because of this box daily. We spend less time explaining and selling to customer because of this heat lamp box. The box and graphic serve as a informative and heat display all in one. It is very user friendly, the film will sell itself using this box. We have hundreds of customer that walk up to this box and say I want that one. 
I have 9 left and will custom design your brand film of choice. I would just need to know the 3 films you want on the glass. I will grab the spec of the film and design, print, and install. All you need to buy is the IR bulbs and installed it to the wall.
The box with no graphic is $500 and with custom graphic installed is $650 plus shipping. You will get your money back from the extra profit this box made in a few days. Email me at NorngLLC@gmail.com if you are interested. Mike Norng (713) 560-0669

that must be some good kool aid. 

Hire his tinter...problem solve

So I tried the heatgun on a Forte bg and took 10 min to shrink it, not practical at all not to mention arm fatigue.
Milwaukee being a stand up company reimbursed me as it did not suit the purposes of shrinking tint in a timely manner

Red Dot, olfa ss blades. I have a second Red Dot with a thin black carbon blade for the top edge on roll ups. Anybody see these titanium blades? they really last, but pricey.

DO NOT BUY IT....It is good to do wrap from our 1 day test before I return it.  The cfm is like 4-6 cfm....heat is not hot.  Less heat than a Wagner $20 heat gun.  I love milwaukee tool but this one is on the DO NOT WANT LIST.
 
 

Yelp has done wonders for our business. I truly believe we wouldn't have been as successful as we have been without the site. I believe it brings us about 40-50% of our new business. We avoided the yelp sales people for the last few years and haven't paid for yelp ads or any advertising for that matter.But They kept bugging and bugging and because I wanted to find a way to increase business even more I took the plunge and decided to do the yelp ads because I know the site drives us a lot of traffic already. 
 
The sales people definitely try and pressure you into the most expensive package and long term agreement. But to get them off my back and try it our I opted for the
cheapest package and a 6 month period. I would have to say it has increased business and the inquiries I get for price quotes/information have increased 4 or 5 times. I'm having to stay an hour or so later almost everyday just to respond to all the traffic it drives to my yelp and email inbox.
 
Just my experience.
 

DO NOT BUY IT....It is good to do wrap from our 1 day test before I return it.  The cfm is like 4-6 cfm....heat is not hot.  Less heat than a Wagner $20 heat gun.  I love milwaukee tool but this one is on the DO NOT WANT LIST.
 
 

We are obsessed with removing sweep or door panel to do a clean job...I’m on my third heniken so I let the picture do all the talking...

The panel just pop off so you can remove the 3rd brake light.  It is remove the same way a BMW 3rd brake light.  Pulled the tab out on each side with a small hook tool.  Every windows on this vehicle will have to be shrink......Good luck on shrinking the front 2 windows. I did this vehicle with 3M Crystalline and it was time consuming. 

I am going to ride this ride until the wheels fall off.  

No

Cut long pattern and shave the top...

Used infrared lamp and be done with....This equipment is our secret weapon with charger / Accord style back glass and Corvette style side glass ...

Used infrared lamp and be done with....This equipment is our secret weapon with charger / Accord style back glass and Corvette style side glass ...

3M Crystalline, full front 3M Pro Series ppf and Ceramic Pro Gold Package on this rare GT350R

3M Crystalline, full front 3M Pro Series ppf and Ceramic Pro Gold Package on this rare GT350R

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