highplains

Sorry, but I have to disagree that precut kits create a 'no risk to cutting the paint'.  Because sooner or later, that pre-cut kit isn't going to line up quite right.  Sometimes.. Not even daily, it is going to need to be trimmed by the installer.  IF (this is the important part, this IF) the installer does not have very good knife skills, then it's far more likely he WILL cut into the paint because he does not practice using the knife day in and day out.
 
Bulk installers ALSO can get into the paint.  I'm not saying they can't just that you can't say the opposite is true with pre-cut kits.
 
On the other hand, I've installed and trimmed out a number of bumpers, mirrors, etc, etc where you might find a hunk of schmegle after the installation is finished.  It's in a spot where I simply could not sneek under the film to remove the contamination, so off came the whole bumper installation (Mirrors are more likely to take 2 installs as I try to cover as much as possible for a 'seamless' look).  I look carefully at all my cuts areas to check if there are any paint cuts just to be sure I haven't lost 'the touch'.

Little bit of White Matte and Feather Gradient. Almost got thrown off the job because I removed my mask for a few minutes while in the sweltering hot/humid pool room by myself, in a hotel that has yet to open with maybe 3-4 people in the whole entire building. Fun times...

I know @Tint Eastwood and @jh812 are both in NC, not sure if they're within reasonable distance to Raleigh though. Perhaps they can give you another recommendation if they're not able to get you taken care of. 

That's a random one. I did this 97ish S90 a few weeks ago 


Definitely had some quote requests on some odd older rides recently. 

‘93 New Yorker 
 
 

I'm going to say you're being excessively ocd. The quarter window having a single speck that small is no big deal, and yes I would call that a speck not a chunk. As far as the top gap is concerned, if there's going to be any gap I strive to make it as even as possible but a sixteenth isn't going to be a deal breaker in my opinion. Generally the only way you're going to get better than that is by bumping the pattern up a bit and shaving the excess, which I do in those instances where the pattern is off significantly but even then you can end up with some inconsistencies due to the bevels on the glass not being perfect. 

Over a decade in the works.... did it today. No after shots - it was hot as balls and I had no energy to go inside to snap pics. But we used HanitiaTek (sp?) DR 10 grey external. 
 
 
 

So here is an update on my situation. I took 2 samples of water to pool places. Took 1 to one place and the other to another place.Both places came back real close to be the same. The water in my new shop is crap... It was crazy the things they told me that were in it. And my old shop was on a well and never had this trouble. So looking into some better filtration systems now. So as of now i have been buying distilled water and mixing it with baby shampoo. I have not been having any trouble since. I have tried Joy and Dawn before and just didn't like the way it didn't give me the slip i was looking for. Now that could have been due to the heat in the shop. I did not have a climate controlled shop before. Its hard to believe that the simple thing of city water can cause such a problem. I will never use straight tap water again. It caused me frustration and a few of my customers that had to bring me the cars back. I stripped every window on them and redid the whole car at no cost. Didn't even think twice about it. But would like to say thank you for the advice that ya'll had given me. 

Of the 4 cars that come through the shop today, 2 were clean enough for a nice install. Shop can be spotless and pressure washed daily, but all it takes I a car full of dog hair. Or...... 1 that doesn’t get cleaned.... once in 5 years. We’re here to provide the illusion of perfection. Pic of my arm after cleaning back glass on 15 bmw convertible. 

I've done thousands upon thousands of windows and I doubt that there was one that didn't have some sort of " speck " in it.  It's the nature of the beast in our world.  Trying for a perfect instal in an imperfect instal situation.  The perfect install never happens.  Unless you have a huge amount of specks together in one spot or more than one or two here or there, there is really nothing to complain about.  Debris happens and doesn't affect quality film.  While it won't go away, it won't hurt it.   Just my two cents. 
 
Look through the film = not at it.  
Good luck.  

I'm going to say you're being excessively ocd. The quarter window having a single speck that small is no big deal, and yes I would call that a speck not a chunk. As far as the top gap is concerned, if there's going to be any gap I strive to make it as even as possible but a sixteenth isn't going to be a deal breaker in my opinion. Generally the only way you're going to get better than that is by bumping the pattern up a bit and shaving the excess, which I do in those instances where the pattern is off significantly but even then you can end up with some inconsistencies due to the bevels on the glass not being perfect. 

If that one little dot is all there is to complain about, then I would say you got an excellent tint job.
 
Oh, and kudos to the shop for getting $475.00 for a tint job. It's nice to see shops and tinters finally getting paid what they are worth.

I'm going to say you're being excessively ocd. The quarter window having a single speck that small is no big deal, and yes I would call that a speck not a chunk. As far as the top gap is concerned, if there's going to be any gap I strive to make it as even as possible but a sixteenth isn't going to be a deal breaker in my opinion. Generally the only way you're going to get better than that is by bumping the pattern up a bit and shaving the excess, which I do in those instances where the pattern is off significantly but even then you can end up with some inconsistencies due to the bevels on the glass not being perfect. 

I'm going to say you're being excessively ocd. The quarter window having a single speck that small is no big deal, and yes I would call that a speck not a chunk. As far as the top gap is concerned, if there's going to be any gap I strive to make it as even as possible but a sixteenth isn't going to be a deal breaker in my opinion. Generally the only way you're going to get better than that is by bumping the pattern up a bit and shaving the excess, which I do in those instances where the pattern is off significantly but even then you can end up with some inconsistencies due to the bevels on the glass not being perfect. 

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The only one of your questions I can truly speak to is your second one. A 15% or 20% film applied over the factory privacy glass(almost always meters dead on 20% in my experience) in that application is going to net about 5%. Whether or not that's "too dark" is largely dependent on the individual making that judgment for themselves, if you're hoping to maintain decent visibility out of the rear windows at night I'd recommend going over them with a lighter film. A 35% will typically net in the 8-10% range and a 50% will get you closer to 15%. As far as your number 3 concern, I haven't done any full windshields but I've done plenty of sun strips on them and I've only ever had one that acted up and it was an older model that was fine after it dried out for a couple hours. That was also before I really started taking precautions to deal with the excess application solution. 

Hope everyone at least takes Saturday off for some rest and fun.  I know I am.      
 
Happy 4th ever E body.   

I'm house/dog sitting for a friend... so while I won't actually be with anyone... I'll be BBQ'ing and out in their pool all weekend.
 
 
 

Happy Independence Day weekend everybody.
 
Long may it wave.  

I've sampled all three of those suntek lines and while they weren't for me I will say I liked the CXP the best of the three. My biggest complaint with suntek, which echoes most others ive seen, is that it scratched way too easy during installation but im also really heavy handed. As a consumer you're probably not going to notice the difference and the quality of the installation  should be more of the deciding factor. 

I've sampled all three of those suntek lines and while they weren't for me I will say I liked the CXP the best of the three. My biggest complaint with suntek, which echoes most others ive seen, is that it scratched way too easy during installation but im also really heavy handed. As a consumer you're probably not going to notice the difference and the quality of the installation  should be more of the deciding factor. 

Man I take zero pictures anymore but hang on... brought to you by condom sense window tinting. 

It's amazing how the "real customers" with the high end, expensive vehicles don't get that picky about a speck or two.  It's always the "wanna be's" that wish they could have afforded the higher end ride but settled for what they got and now they think it's "all that" and want it to be perfect.     Those are the ones that bring a magnifying glass to the delivery of the vehicle. 
 
I pulled a kid away from his truck because he was trying to get me to check out this spot on his rear window (20% over factory 20 mind you) that you had to look at it with your head at an angle with just the right light showing to see the quote "spots".  I made him step back about two feet and show me where the spot was.  He said " you can't see it from here, you have to look like this at it"   You just made my point sir.  Look THROUGH THE TINT, not at it.  
 
These customers will always exist and usually have a predetermined mindset for acting that way to begin with.  You just have to learn to deal with them because they were going to act that way even if it was perfect. If you are letting crap work out the door, well that's your own fault.