Apex Tint

[mention=29693]jh812[/mention] Awesome idea man. I just cut one down about the size of the Tri Edge X. Can’t wait to try it out on some roll ups!
 

 

Unfortunately those little white specs are dirt trapped between the glass and film.  When you first install the film all of the moisture helps hides these imperfections.  Once the film has time to cure,  debris under the film becomes much more noticeable; more so with darker films.  
 
There so many variables here.  Any tinter will tell you "there's no such thing as a perfect tint job".  Keep in mind you're working with a 10 year old car.  The older the car, the more dirt.  Cleaning/good prep methods are crucial on vehicles of this age.  It's import to wipe off all panels around the back glass in addition to cleaning the glass itself.  And don't forget the number 1 rule of tint... never touch the sticky side! 
 
What is your prep method? Step by step?  And how/where are you peeling your release liner?  You could be introducing debris to the film right from the get go if you're peeling from a dirty car.

Ahhh been there before. Lesson learned!

Did one today. One of the easiest cars to pull seals on. Screws behind the release lever and pull/handle. Also need to remove the little plastic triangle piece in the corners - couple of clips there.

Then lift up and pull on the panel and the seal comes right out. And unlike Toyotas, it’s super easy to lift the door panel back onto the seal when you’re done.

Here's a rare one regular cab f1fiddy with some qdp40

2018 Hyundai Elantra GT. Right off the showroom floor! I very rarely get to tint new vehicles so this was nice for a change. Really fun car to tint. Pretty easy tuck, although I would have hit the panels if the owner wasn’t waiting (and watching 🤨). Express Classic Black 5/20.
 
Funny thing is this Elantra was for a dealership employee, and I beat their "employee pricing" on tint by almost $100.  Thinking it's time to raise prices...

tinted in Express HP 30%.

2018 Hyundai Elantra GT. Right off the showroom floor! I very rarely get to tint new vehicles so this was nice for a change. Really fun car to tint. Pretty easy tuck, although I would have hit the panels if the owner wasn’t waiting (and watching 🤨). Express Classic Black 5/20.
 
Funny thing is this Elantra was for a dealership employee, and I beat their "employee pricing" on tint by almost $100.  Thinking it's time to raise prices...

2018 Hyundai Elantra GT. Right off the showroom floor! I very rarely get to tint new vehicles so this was nice for a change. Really fun car to tint. Pretty easy tuck, although I would have hit the panels if the owner wasn’t waiting (and watching 🤨). Express Classic Black 5/20.
 
Funny thing is this Elantra was for a dealership employee, and I beat their "employee pricing" on tint by almost $100.  Thinking it's time to raise prices...

oklahoma is not real strict when it comes to dark tinted windows.  but some cops will use it as probable cause to initiate a traffic stop.  i call it fishing because they use tint as a excuse with hopes of finding something bigger.  when customers inquire about window tint, i ask if they want dark or legal.  if they chose dark, i explain legalities and inform them that some cops in this state can stop you for it.  if customers reply they dont care and want dark tint, thats what i give them because if i dont tint it, the next shop down the road will.

Utah Highway Patrol is brutal when it comes to enforcing tint laws! They literally get off on writing tint tickets. We just did away with annual safety inspections so now troopers are even more strict. Bringing lots of biz my way however.

My dad always told me “Never break more than one law at once.” Usually this will keep you out of trouble.

If you’re gonna traffic meth, don’t break tint laws. If you’re gonna break tint laws, don’t traffic meth. Simple as that! Haha

Utah Highway Patrol is brutal when it comes to enforcing tint laws! They literally get off on writing tint tickets. We just did away with annual safety inspections so now troopers are even more strict. Bringing lots of biz my way however.

My dad always told me “Never break more than one law at once.” Usually this will keep you out of trouble.

If you’re gonna traffic meth, don’t break tint laws. If you’re gonna break tint laws, don’t traffic meth. Simple as that! Haha

Utah Highway Patrol is brutal when it comes to enforcing tint laws! They literally get off on writing tint tickets. We just did away with annual safety inspections so now troopers are even more strict. Bringing lots of biz my way however.

My dad always told me “Never break more than one law at once.” Usually this will keep you out of trouble.

If you’re gonna traffic meth, don’t break tint laws. If you’re gonna break tint laws, don’t traffic meth. Simple as that! Haha

Yeah I’m loving the Tri-Edge. I use the larger version - the Tri-Edge XL I think? These proved to be a good replacement for the EZ Reach which would scratch film way too easy.

Never tried it on a windshield but I shrink sides all the time on big trucks. F250/350 for example I use a 40” roll sideways and it’s perfect. But then shrinking sideways is weird to me so I still turn my pattern 90 degrees so I can shrink the sides vertically. If that makes sense.

So when you’re using the five way tool to trim, does the blade go above or below the five way? Probably a stupid question lol. I’m trying to learn flat glass as well. Way too many people having been asking about it for me to ignore it much longer.

Never tried it on a windshield but I shrink sides all the time on big trucks. F250/350 for example I use a 40” roll sideways and it’s perfect. But then shrinking sideways is weird to me so I still turn my pattern 90 degrees so I can shrink the sides vertically. If that makes sense.

Looks like someone forgot to do a final pass with their blue max lol.

My experience with Legacy Window Film - formerly SolarTint window film. Color stable my ass!
 
This is their “Premium” color stable 20% about 1 year after install.

My experience with Legacy Window Film - formerly SolarTint window film. Color stable my ass!
 
This is their “Premium” color stable 20% about 1 year after install.

My first Benz!
 
2014 C300 tinted with Express Classic Black to the Utah legal limit [emoji6]
 

 

Had my pick tool ready to remove a mirror today on a new F-series and low and behold it had a torx screw on it!  I was shocked and had to look 3 times just to make sure I was seeing it right.... maybe it is finally going to be the way it should be.  No more hammering on a windshield!

My fox body mustangs for many years. But now this is what I am wasteing my money on the last couple years. 

I tint on the side and love it.  The extra cash on the side is nice!  All my biz is word of mouth and referrals.  This time of year is slow, but when it's warmer I stay pretty busy on nights and weekends. 
 
I worked in a shop for a very short time.  I didn't like being rushed and dealing with egos.  But if you have been in the aftermarket automotive industry for that many years these things are nothing new to you haha.

I tint on the side and love it.  The extra cash on the side is nice!  All my biz is word of mouth and referrals.  This time of year is slow, but when it's warmer I stay pretty busy on nights and weekends. 
 
I worked in a shop for a very short time.  I didn't like being rushed and dealing with egos.  But if you have been in the aftermarket automotive industry for that many years these things are nothing new to you haha.