Stewy

1980 ... my second year of college after leaving the Navy. Needed some material to present a 'how-to' for speech class so, stopped into a local tint shop. Before leaving asked if they needed any help ... yes, I've tinted before, I told them. The day I went to, eh hem, work along side their seasoned tinter, she stopped my half way through my cut and said, you've never done this before have you. Pray tell, how did you come up with that, I says. Her answer tells it all ... you are not fluid with your cutting. I begin to pray. Didn't help. By lunch time they booted me to the street but, not before setting up their main competitor by telling me that place over on Clearwater Rd needs an auto tinter.
 
Next day I go to Clearwater Rd place after class and ask if they were hiring. Yes, they say but, do you have any experience. I said, yes, I worked for that place for awhile. They then proceeded to give me tools, film, the keys to a late 70's Ford Fairmont Wagon and point to the auto tint bay. I was to tint the car a bring it back for their inspection before I would be hired. Off I went and did the best I could returning the keys to reception. Boss man and reception lady go out to investigate the work. I pray. They come back in and the Boss man says, nice job son, there's just one thing I'd like you to do when you start for us tomorrow. I says, what's that? He says, can you bring your time down from 5 hours to just a couple hours per car; I can't make any money at the rate you're going?
 
I did just that and three months later I was taken off minimum wage and put on 35% commission only. I was shown how to do invisa-seam back glass instead of overlapping strips and went on to work for them for another two years before the IRS shut them down for not paying taxes, which included Social Security taxes. If you were to see my Social Security income report you would see 0$ for 80 an 81.
 
A few days after shut down I contacted the boss man and said they still owed me $2500 in back pay and since they were strapped for cash I have a list of things I would take instead and call it even. I was given all I needed in tools and film to start my own gig and did so in the new location the were to move to before getting shut down. I also took the client list. 14 years later I went to work for a major manny in sales, migrating to tech support in less than two years.
 
Never mind the story of how I would 'blow' the shops that I had during that 14 year period.
 

Yay 2 in a row!

I was way off on my bottom cut. Atleast I bottom loaded though. 

As has been stated by S2S, look at Hanita. It's the best quality exterior film on the market today. 

My friend was tinting for best buy and he told me that it was really hard. I'm a competitive person so I tried it and installed a roll down pretty good. But to me it sucked. He showed me while they were on a verge to opening an electronic shop. I told them that I will get really good at tinting and my other friend told me to do it. 20 cars tinted off of youtube videos and I was still not satisfied. So I went to training with @flat rock stan facility, found him on this site about 10 months ago. After training with him, 2 weeks later we took off. We landed 5 delearship accounts within those 2 weeks and now we are getting booked almost every week with walk ins and call ins. We probably have to hire soon. I dont think people understand how much help I am giving them when I recommend Stans training. But, like I always say, this site and Stan has changed my life. It's up to the individuals who ask for help to grasp my knowledge and experience or not. Keep in mind that all of this is done in under a year, we are about to to do PPF in 2 weeks period. Stan taught me that. NEVER STOP LEARNING. He is pretty *cough* old *cough* but he is still learning new things. 

I was way off on my bottom cut. Atleast I bottom loaded though. 

Start here:
 
http://www.hanitacoatings.com/films/products/solarzone/xtrm-films

Suntek also carries an exterior Neautral 35

This is the perfect example why  you should never cut on the glass on a customers car.  All the glass that is cut has to be replaced.   Glass has gotten softer and softer over the years.  I noticed glass  really starting to change back in 2004.  Since then I have gotten completely away from cutting on the car.  I use a sharpie if I have to free hand a car.  Xpel's DAP tint patterns are my tint patterns of choice.  I cant say enough about how well the patterns fit.  

Yup they are. The body shop would rather get it done themselves cuz they make more. But, if the insurance doesnt give them much they have no choice but to PDR. So, we give it to them for cheap and they upcharge 25% or more.

I was actually thinking the same thing. I mentioned it to the body shop but its not just the hood. Its the hood, roof, bed, and doors. The body shop that we are doing it for told me that a new hood means they have to blend the fenders to the hood. Basically new paint looks very different from old paint. So the hood alone will be around $2k to $3k for them. 

Not knocking it on your part but found that exact hood on eBay for 635, if that's all it is. Appears to be the same color as well, primed was only 300.

Can't wait to get this thing started. I will be posting pics before and after. Any tips or tricks?

@highplains went back and forth like crazy. Ended up doing Ding King. It was a great experience! I think that going through them was the best decision. If I would of went with the other smaller training they would of been explaining things to me that is beyond my knowledge and it would be hard to retain. Ding King will also offers to retrain for free if I feel as if I didnt learn anything. Their advance class is also free. I am going to go back in 6 months to do their basketball size dent training. 

There was a recall on this thing. No recalls for SFX though!

There was a recall on this thing. No recalls for SFX though!

Can't wait to get this thing started. I will be posting pics before and after. Any tips or tricks?

Very Easy car. It is similar to a Passat, but you don't need a screwdriver or need to remove any trim panels as the tops pop up and out of the seals like other VWs.
 
Only thing to watch out for is the panels are clad, like a new F150, so need to be careful you don't pull the cladding off the panel. It feels like they are held on by weak plastic welds.

It’s been a while! Finally back and installing VK70 here. Merry Christmas 

Adding this to our service!

I just realized I can put a 1/4” dent in my Tahoe in 2 seconds and walk away carefree😂

Good morning
I am one of the original TINTDUDE members....I have been tinting for 35 years,,,,Been retired for the last 7...im 53 years old and decided to get back into the game....going to be selective on what cars I do but looking to go full speed with the flat glass. I cannot believe the advances in the quality of films since i have been away..Wish me luck gents

Adding this to our service!

Adding this to our service!

Graduated! I just realised that I can take a quarter size dent out in less than 5 min. $50, minimun, in 5 minutes is not bad.