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Tint Slayer

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  1. Like
    Tint Slayer reacted to Bham in Tint recommendations   
    The way I look at it, why would you buy a film from an accessories company (and expect it to last) when you can buy film from someone who only deals in film ?  Even if I didn't know anything about film this just seems like a bad idea.  Scorpion, DUB, and I'm sure there are more are just alarm and electronics, or rims and accessories companies that just decided to pick up window tint (as cheaply as they can) just cause it fits with the other stuff they sell.  It's kinda like expecting shoes from Wal-mart to be the same as shoes from Academy Sports or an actual shoe store.  Yeah, they are similar but the quality and longevity just isn't the same.  
     
    When on the other hand, Llumar, 3M, Global, etc,, are strictly film companies and that is what they specialize in.  Not rims or car alarms.  These would be my first choices for a reliable film.  That plus a little decent research and you should be able to decide on a film line.  
     
    Offering only ceramic is a big risk especially seeing as how good the HP dyed films from reputable companies perform and last these days.  Not offering an entry level dyed film that goes along with your ceramic line is just giving up easy money in my opinion.  
  2. Like
    Tint Slayer reacted to Bham in Xpel training   
    Llumar has the same practices with controlling the amount of shops in the area that have their product.  Both Llumar and Xpel have the right to control their product any way they want to.  If they don't want to offer their product to you, they don't have to and no one can force them to allow you to attend classes or carry their product.  They have control and can do with it as they see fit.  Sorry.   
     
    edited to say that most decent distributors have this sort of practice.  Or at least say they do.  Some of them stretch their standards and sell to shops a little closer together than what they say they don't allow.  Anyway, this is to try and not flood the area with all of the same product.  Competition brings more business and if there is only one product in town, the demand will go down and their will be no customers. 
  3. Like
    Tint Slayer got a reaction from Diablo's Tint in Opening new tint shop...need all the advice that I can get.   
    You should work for someone or get some training. Call Xpel and ask for training and guidance, you can learn tint and more from them and i've heard the classes are good and they'll offer you guidance in the hopes you'll use their product which is a good thing. 
    You should know what your doing before opening a shop, would you go to mechanic with no experience? It's not fair to the customer to be your guinea pig.
    If you are going to open a place anyway, hire someone who can show you what to do, because from what i just read you don't, and all the comments in the world won't make you do a clean a job from the get go.
    My 2 cents bro, good luck in your endeavor.
     
     
  4. Like
    Tint Slayer reacted to Tintguy1980 in Some advice for a newbie please   
    Presuming the questions are related to cars:
     
    ~ Classes can serve as a jump start, not as a means of entering the market. Classes give a person insight into the 'how to' and into whether or not they are cut out for the trade.
     
    ~ Free visual resources can be found through a search of this site or over at YouTube.
     
    ~ Practice on your own vehicle first and foremost before asking friends and family to guinea pig their vehicle. You should be able to recognize your strengths and weaknesses by the end of friends and family.
     
    Personally, I was self-taught and was a natural (naturals are few and far between). It can take anywhere from a couple of months steady practice to in excess of 6, 8, 10+ months to achieve skills worthy of public payments. Everyone is different in their ability to hone their skills IF, they are capable of installing film.
     
    Things to ask yourself:
     
    ~ Am I an artist in any shape or form? Film just becomes another type medium.
    ~ Am I good with children? Patience is key.
    ~ Am I an engineer/McGyver type person who easily thinks through challenges in the moment? Installing film is a challenging task.
    ~ Am I good and steady with my hands (Not with the women but with other type delicate things such as window film)? Window film damages easily.
    ~ Ever successfully laid wallpaper, cupboard paper, vinyl or other large sticky backed material? This helps as a jump start.
    ~ Am I able to understand the correlation between thin plastic and the impact of a heat source directed at it? Window film has the capacity to expand when heated and shrink as it cools using direct heat to form film to curve surfaces. Mastery of this process takes the most time.
     
    If zero of the above asks fit you, I suggest another trade. 2 or more you have a chance and if all six, you might be a 2 monther.
     
    Good luck!
  5. Like
    Tint Slayer got a reaction from Diablo's Tint in Zola tools SGD   
    FYI they had an 866 number on their site, the new number to call them is (614)264-0147
    The guy told me he's going to change it on website he didn't know it wasn't updated
  6. Haha
    Tint Slayer reacted to Roach in Thoughts on this, tint topic?   
    I know this is a super old, dead topic... but I just watched one of his latest videos, which is probably the first time since this post was made.. so 5 yrs.. and he is still a tool. 
     
     

     
     
    That is all.....
     
     
     
  7. Like
    Tint Slayer got a reaction from TintDude in How to remove the glue   
    Spray it with ATR again and let it soak, back blade to scrape glue off (meaning drag a blade not push and take off defrosters). 
    LA Awesome works well at $1 a bottle at Dollar store
  8. Like
    Tint Slayer got a reaction from TintDude in Stocking my tint shop   
    I mostly use a ton of 35% (i push the 35% i feel it's the sweet spot where you have tint and the cops don't mind it), then second is 20%. and distant 3rd is 5%.
    If you want to save a few dollars get 36" rolls.
    for the 35% and 20% i try to keep 40"x100' and 20"x100' rolls of each shade, if things are tight you can easily split the 40".
    to answer your question maybe start with 35% and 20% and some 5% (i'm in the Northeast, you're area may have different laws and preferences. Some areas want ceramic more, around my area they just want their windows darker).
    I don't know why it's important to be a Llumar dealer, i've never had a customer ask for it or any brand really, you can buy rolls here and there at a time from other companies without minimums. And the only time i saw someone install Llumar the film curved towards instead of away, i feel like that alone would drive me nuts. Just my 2 cents.
     
  9. Like
    Tint Slayer reacted to pbalentine in How to remove the glue   
    Those are nice. Put them in my Amazon cart to try. I’ll let you know how it goes with the discs when I have a chance, thanks. 
  10. Like
    Tint Slayer reacted to Bham in Dust specs and film defects - am I being unreasonable?   
    Ghosting will not go away because the film has been altered with improper heating.  
    Glue smear "might" go away with time as it cures but is on the lower side of that actually happening.  
     
    Wrong tint shop, not necessarily.  Just a new or improperly trained installer.  Everybody has bad days.  
  11. Like
    Tint Slayer reacted to pitu in XPEL EZ-Tint??   
    I used it too. Very helpful. But. Be careful. Once the protection film comes off. It could scratch windows. I did on a civic. Had to replace one of the front driver s. Now I stopped
     
  12. Like
    Tint Slayer got a reaction from Roach in Dust specs and film defects - am I being unreasonable?   
    Your decision not the forums, the thing that bugs me is i think he could've fixed those when he did the install. Ultimately, you have great film but a not so great install. 
  13. Like
    Tint Slayer reacted to Bham in Dust specs and film defects - am I being unreasonable?   
    That is up to you and how bad those spots bother you.  They should not cause any further problems and you have good film installed so it depends on whether it bothers you bad enough to have it redone.  
  14. Like
    Tint Slayer got a reaction from Bham in Dust specs and film defects - am I being unreasonable?   
    Your decision not the forums, the thing that bugs me is i think he could've fixed those when he did the install. Ultimately, you have great film but a not so great install. 
  15. Like
    Tint Slayer reacted to pbalentine in How to remove the glue   
    I have some of the scrub pad discs. The steel wool on a disc is a good idea. I also have one of the adhesive removing wheels. Thanks Tint Slayer!
  16. Like
    Tint Slayer reacted to Tintguy1980 in Brands and cleaning   
    You can't really go wrong with the Madico name, they've been doing film since the genesis of the industry.
     
    In regards to dirt, well, it's everywhere. Here are some recommendations to minimize contamination of film before it touches the glass:
     
    - Use filtered water.
    - Clean spray bottles, spray tanks, and squeegees frequently.
    - If using a tank spray system with hose, splice in an inline filter and change regularly.
    - Tape off top and side vertical auto window gaskets, if felt. With rubber gaskets, a good clean wipe in lieu of tape. 
    - In automotive, spray and squeegee clean any surface the film is to be laid on, whether the surface it is to be installed to, the outside surface of auto glass when hand cutting patterns and the peel board surface before each pattern is placed on its surface.
    - Spray mist the path from peel board to auto glass and mist the pattern (liner) surface on your peel board before peeling the liner.
    - Residential, lightly spray the area path to window before peeling the liner.
    - Do not have fans running during installation.
    - Do not wear clothing such as sweaters or other materials that easily shed fibers or collected airborne particles.
    - Rinse fingers tips if they will be in contact with the film's adhesive. Use only (rinsed) thumb and forefinger when handling exposed adhesive.
    - Keep fingernails clipped short.
    - Enure body hair (head, face, brows, etc.) does not pose a shedding threat. I would even spray mist my arm arm hair when in short sleeves and spray mist my head before entering the back seat when installing a back glass pattern.
    - Lightly mist back seat and headliner (caution should exercised with some headliners that are sensitive to water staining).
    - Ask the client to wash there car before they arrive or rinse the car yourself before entering the bay.
     
    Okay, I'll let others think of more.  Good luck!
  17. Like
    Tint Slayer got a reaction from TintDude in How to remove the glue   
    It'll gum the disk, harden on the glass from the heat and it'll shoot everywhere. I thought about it too, but i wouldn't get far with the fine grit sandpaper needed to not damage glass. 
    They make flap disks that are basically steel wool on a disk, rotating wire brush, scotch brite disk or a bristle disk, maybe that's a way to try. just a suggestion.
    They make adhesive removal disks for glue and emblems on car paint, that's a thought but may take of defroster lines idk
  18. Like
    Tint Slayer reacted to highplains in Stocking my tint shop   
    Ya gotta pay to play. Stocking your shop to start out is always going to be a hefty investment up front. As far as shades go your market will dictate what you need to carry but I'd seriously consider adding a 15 or 20 to your mix.  In my shop I stock 5, 20, and 35 in a color stable dyed line as well as 5, 15, 20, 35, 55, and 70 in ceramic. I primarily use a plotter to cut so all my film is stocked in 40" rolls and I always have one full roll of film in reserve alongside the open one so I never run out of a given shade.
  19. Like
    Tint Slayer reacted to Bham in Stocking my tint shop   
    Like Highplains was saying. You need to carry whatever shade is legal in your area, a medium shade and some limo.  And then possibly some windshield film. Your customers will ultimately determine what you stock them most of.

    I have to add that with Llumar, you better have the customer base to keep ordering.  If you only order ever now and then and don't spend the amount of money THEY want you to spend, they will pull their film from you or go up on your pricing.  Good with them but be careful.  
  20. Like
    Tint Slayer got a reaction from TintDude in Offering tint to shops/dealership   
    I've never done dealer work. I don't understand the benefit of cutting your prices so deep so the Dealer can make more money for nothing and at your expense.
    I'm also in construction as a sub-contractor and if i hired someone outside to do a job for me i get their full bill, pay them and i forward my bill of that work to my customer with a markup of 10 to 15%. Pretty standard.
    Why give dealers 30%-70% when they do no work?
    My opinion is do it for your full price, your film, your service with your name and they can mark it up 10% to 70% after you get yours. Why go so cheap? What makes dealers appealing that i'm missing?
  21. Like
    Tint Slayer got a reaction from Roach in When did you know it was time to go out on your own?   
    When your side gig pays more than your main gig
  22. Like
    Tint Slayer got a reaction from alberts316 in Selling Tint Business   
    I went to your website. If you multiply all your prices on that website by 1.5 you may want to stay in business. Your prices are way too low. If i was thinking about buying your business i'd see that low price structure and think you had to really lowball to make money.
    Just giving my 2 cents
  23. Like
    Tint Slayer got a reaction from Tintguy1980 in When did you know it was time to go out on your own?   
    When your side gig pays more than your main gig
  24. Like
    Tint Slayer got a reaction from Bham in When did you know it was time to go out on your own?   
    When your side gig pays more than your main gig
  25. Like
    Tint Slayer reacted to Tintguy1980 in Comments on this one are .....well..... interesting !!   
    When presented with a medical exemption request I would always clarify the condition; are they sensitive to light, or are they sensitive to UV, or both. This determines the best approach while staying within the guardrails of state law.
     
    If they are sensitive to UV light then a dark film isn't necessary and if they still ask that it be done, I'd refer them to another dealer. For instance, Lupus sufferers are sensitive to UV light from the sun and artificial (UV) light  such as that put out by florescent bulbs, not necessarily visible light, so a legal tint will protect them. I lived with a lupus sufferer in my mid-20's and can attest to the fact it is not a fun disease. I suspect she did not live to 45.
     
    I always tinted to FL legal standards (1980-1996) and if anyone pushed me to do otherwise I'd hand them the phone book and say there's plenty of other listings that might do it for you. I'm not one of them. And, have only done windscreens for my cars or family members.
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