Golf983

Finally got my tint done couple weeks back, drove couple hours to a well known tinter with good reputation. It came out pretty much flawless, not one bubble or spec on the side windows. Plan on going to him for all my cars, pleased with his work.

I went with pinnacle 35, they actually carry pretty much all the shades available (30,35,40 etc). Told that lady that shows you the options I wanted pinnacle 35 and also told the installer pinnacle 35 when we went over my car and he asked me what I wanted. I was so impressed with his work I didn’t look at my invoice/warranty sheet until I got home and it said pinnacle 30, lol. Called them up and he said lady up front wrote it up wrong on the invoice but that it was pinnacle 35 which I requested. Said he put it in the plotter himself and would show me with the light meter if I wanted. They sent me an updated warranty card with pinnacle 35 on it. I think it looks great.

21 minutes ago, TintDude said:

 

I'm sorry but this is a forum for those in the industry, you came here originally for advice regarding a tint job for your car, then called us lazy, was asked to leave, now you're giving advice about running a shop?

 

I'm confused why you are here.

I didn’t realize this is a forum for only window tinters, I’m confused why there are so many posts from those asking about tinting their car if that’s the case. I’m into all things cars, thought his comment was interesting in regard to money made tinting cars. I came here wanting to read up on tint films that are available and what constitutes a good tint because I bought a sweet car that had limo tint all around and needed to switch it out.
 

In regard to lazy comment, I have come across many tinters in my area who basically whine about having to remove tint or anything that is more than just slapping some tint on an easy car for 400 bucks. I have however found some good tinters who take pride in their work and I’m not calling them lazy at all, in fact they have my business.

Ryker kept coming at me and said need to have thick skin around here, thought I was ok with my comment it that was the case. 

2 hours ago, Bham said:

 

   This,,, this is what I am currently doing and it's about to kill me.     

I would love to hire someone but training is so expensive on the backend and they usually leave after a year anyway.  

Finding an experienced tinter who is honest and not methed out and won't rob you blind is hard.  

The ones who are good are usually happy where they are and don't ever leave,,,,,

the ones that jump from shop to shop are tough to tell and you just hope you don't get one of those. 

 

edited to say that I only do 3 cars a day and some sets of doors every day.  4 cars is tough unless they are easy.   :tired 

I don’t own a shop but as single operation would have to schedule farther out I suppose. Maybe do 3 one day 2 the next day pattern.

11 hours ago, civicrice said:

gross or profit? 

you figure $300 a car  is $210 after you pay Biden his cut -$30 in material - $45 (roughly) for overhead= $135 net profit

you do 100 full cars a month on the good season (700 for 7months) and 300 cars on slow season (5 months worth of cars)= 1,000 cars a year 

$135 x 1,000 cars= $135,000 I didn't include insurances and based the shop rent at about $1,000 a month. 

 

totally doable for a 1 man op but the stress can be devastating. 

100 cars a month= 4 cars a day if your open 6 days a week. 3 hours per car = 12 hour days with no breaks as a single man operation, in other words not manageable if you are actually that busy. You would have to hire some people 

Don’t be a lazy tinter, I’ve seen too many of them in my search for window tint but I suppose that comes with being a “window tinter” for a living 

16 minutes ago, Ryker said:

Chicago also tried to have "home rule" on tint and didn't want to allow any on the front.  They were writing tickets on parked cars.  Thankfully the ILCS got updated to make that not be lethal any longer.

 

You have stated you asked the tint shop about tinting in colder weather but then asked us because you don't trust them to tell you the truth....

 

35% range is a great film but most aren't happy with it no matter the law. They want darker.  I personally like a 35 on vehicles but have my own darker.

 

Exterior color will make a difference in the way it looks too.

 

Like i said, I hope you find happiness but I question that you will.

I did ask and he said it takes longer to cure but they tint year around. On my particular car forum there are guys who have done it in winter and been fine but some did say they had haze issues, bubbles etc for a long really time while curing.  
 

I think my tint would of turned out ok in time given what people have said but I don’t really need tint now during winter. My tinter also broke his foot and covid is going crazy, not a good time. Had I not researched I admittedly would of regretted getting it done in winter had I ran into some issues I mentioned above, might as well do it in better conditions to dry out faster

9 minutes ago, Ryker said:

Is you neighbors car the exact same? Year, exterior and interior color?  If not then yours will look different. Are you getting the exact tint? If not it will look different.

 

My customers don't all many questions and when they do they trust me. I have never had someone listen to be and be unhappy.  22 years has given me that insight.  Only ones that have had issue with what they got came in and told me they knew more than me because they had looked up and got info from the internet.  

 

Overly "educated" with misinformation.  

 

Look up "the dilemma of choice" and you'll find one of the reasons I saying you won't be happy.....you will always think you could have done something better...

haha your full of ..., maybe next time I order a car I’ll have the experienced car salesman tell me what color and options I want without looking into it. That way I won’t think I could have got something better. See how ridiculous your reasoning is.
 

I am also asking tinters their advice and the shop I’m using, not saying I know better.

My neighbors car is the same year, model, trim, and interior. Exterior color is different and tint is different but it gives me a close enough idea. I’m on a forum for my particular car and 35 all around is one of the most popular choices and generally they are satisfied with it.

Really though I don’t have much of a choice, 35 all around is the law in my state so that is what I’m going with. In Chicago, they are ruthless with tint tickets. First offense is like 250, second offense becomes a misdemeanor. I’m not a dumba** 17 year old and just going to throw dark tint on it 

Also my neighbor has the same car I’ve got and has 35% tint, I think it’s perfect. I wouldn’t go any darker but that’s my taste. That’s the reason I’ve done my homework, so I don’t regret what I have installed. 

it sounds like you have dealt with a lot of people who don’t figure this stuff out prior to getting tint and just bring it to the shop nearest to them on the corner, then have regrets, which ironically you are accusing me of being the opposite. You should want customers who ask first and research like myself 

4 hours ago, Ryker said:

This is the "thunderdome" and you must not have been around long!

 

 

The truth is this golf guy is NOT going to be happy. He is going to think that he didn't get dark enough, the heat rejection isn't what he thought it would be, defroster lines will be sparkling with headlights behind at night, the normal less than perfect tint job will have to many "bubbles" of dust, he'll see the imperfections in his window glass that show up with tint applied!

 

He will not be happy....so I told the truth.

Your nuts man, my car had tint when I bought it and it had a few tiny dust bubbles, I thought it was a fine install. It was 5% tint, 20% front and wasn’t ceramic so I’m changing it out. I didn’t notice any sparkling on my defroster lines with the limo tint on back, in fact it was much better vs. being blinded by cars in my hatchback.

ive also checked out the tint installs on cars at my gym where there are alot of nice cars and they all seemed like pretty good installs to me. 
 

ive looked up your shop and I wouldn’t do much talking if I were you

11 hours ago, Ryker said:

You answered your question by searching.  Is your forecast "freezing"? NO!  Even if it was i bet you park in a garage....

 

I don't think you are going to be happy with any tint you get.  You're way to worried about EVERYTHING and second guessing everything!

 

Do us all a favor and either just get the tint and trust the shop or don't.

dude, chill out, you don’t have to read my posts and no I don’t have a garage right now. I’m asking simple questions and yes it is getting below freezing at night and I’m waking up to frost on my windows, forecast has changed some. 
 

I’m planning on just waiting until spring, I don’t need the tint for winter really and covid is going crazy. 
 

1 hour ago, Ryker said:

Dude! Talk to the shop that is getting your business!  We can't answer for them.  You've had all this answered and if not then SEARCH the forum! I promise the answer is there.

Yea, I have used the search, most say doesn’t matter with some saying not to do it below freezing temps. I have asked the shop, said it just takes longer to cure. Obviously, he isn’t going to turn me away to make money so researching it as well 

so I don't really need tint this winter but could get it tinted on monday next week. Do you guys think these forecasted temps are worse than ideal or should I wait until spring if I want the best tint job possible? I know its possible to tint in cooler temps I just want the best tint job and don't really need it this winter. 

....

Here’s close up pic of the rear window 

wonder what kind of tint it is too 

Yea, its at least 35 and pretty clear in person, looks slightly darker in pic. I was wondering if it was 35 or 40. There is no way that’s 50 percent tint right?

What percent you guys think this tint is? 

5 hours ago, Desolo said:

 

To further complicate it, the crystalline certified tinter i am referring to is also the manager. The only person above him is the owner.. 

be honest with him and tell him it doesn’t look like crystalline but another 3m film. Doesn’t have the same qualities, get it removed and refunded. I wouldn’t let him touch my windshield again. Find a better installer even if you have to drive more than two hours or pick a different film 

Call and tell the manager your concerns that it’s not crystalline they installed. I wouldn’t let them do it again though, I would have them remove it and refund. I think the only way to prove it’s not crystalline, is to remove and send a small sample of it to 3m

I’ve noticed if you look on the bmw, Audi etc, more luxury cars forums, they tend to like the lighter tint shades, 40 and up a lot more than others.

12 hours ago, Ryker said:

I use Global HP 40.  It will meter 32 to 35 or something like that.

well this is pretty much the last week that it's going to be mild weather, 60's. After that is 40 or below, I would be a better tint job in warmer 60 degree weather, right?

I’m thinking of checking out crystalline now as well, I have a feeling it was crystalline on that Audi, seemed like a lighter tint.

anyone have experience on crystalline tints? I’m wanting to stay legal 

30 minutes ago, Ryker said:

A "35 %" is just a classification.  One 35 can be darker than another.  There

is also a tolerance and variance in the darkness of a film allowed.

 

Meters have a variance and tolerance as well.  If you are so worried then don't get the job done or go with an even lighter film.  

 

OR, go with the shop you feel most comfortable with, get the work done, get a promise that you will be within legal limits of you want.  Anyway about it WE CAN'T HELP YOU anymore than we have unless you went to drive to one of our places!

 

 

qdp35 specs on their site is 38 vlt, llumar IRX35 specs is 38 vlt and ctx35 is 37 vlt.

The qdp35 has the same vlt spec as the llumar and was 27 on my front windows. I just don’t see how ctx35 or IRX35 would be 30 or higher on my windows but the stores tell me it will be. They don’t carry a 40.

im asking you guys because you guys lay these tints 5 days a week on factory windows. I don’t want to drive two hours to these places for my appointment that carry llumar and have it test below 30 so am just doing my homework. 
 

Ryker, your in Illinois, whats the lowest you use for people who want to stay legal on sedan? I understand there aren’t many who care about being legal but it can become a major pita if cops do care, only takes one.

On 10/29/2020 at 6:52 PM, Ryker said:

Most 40% film will meter out about 32 to 34.  A 35 will meter out under 30.

 

QDPC 38 should have metered out closer to 30. Bear in mind that film with liner and not installed will be a bit off on the meter. 

so why are these shops telling me llumar ctx, IRX 35 won’t go below 30 on my factory windows with 75 percent factory tint already? I’ve had multiple tell me that which are too far away to just have them test it first. 
 

my test with shop close to me says that is not true, the qdp ceramic 35 held up to window was 27, are they lying to me just to get sales?

I was at the gym today and walking in I saw this white Audi that had tint that I liked, wasn’t too dark and looked like a good install. Waited for them to come out and asked where they got it done, they didn’t know and said they bought it like that.

going to try getting a pic to see what percentage and type of tint you guys think it is next time they are at the gym

Well it’s the qdp 35, think it measures at 38 though