flat glass questio

September 18, 2003

hey guys, I know how you guys feel about auto tinters trying to shift to flat glass, but I got to do what I got to do, follow the money.

obviously im new to flat glass and I was hoping you guys could help me in minimizing my mistakes.

1) when you do flat glass do you precut to exact size or is it better to cut over and if so how much?

2) I read post on reverse rolling on flat glass and it stated to peel the liner and sqeegee the film to the glass, then cut off excess. is this better then having the final cuts then peeling the liner and applying the film?

3) this is what I would do, correct me if im about to make a mistake or or some thing that will bite me in the ass later.

-prep the glass and edges

-cut the film about a 1/2" over on all side of the glass except he top which I would cut exact, I guess I would use this as me reference line.

-wet the window down -peel the liner about 5" off from the top and apply the film

-anchor the top by squeegeing and work the liner down.

-semi anchor the film and do the final cuts

-finally push all teh water out and check for dirt.

would it be easier to cut to size then apply or do it the way I just mentioned?

help me out guys.

September 18, 2003

THE most important thing is never pack up the film until your done or the TINT GODS will seriously pissed off :thumb

September 18, 2003

sounds good enogh to start..I drop roll the film so the liner is all off before the whole sheet hits the glass..dry adhesive only

Devil with bad attitude · September 19, 2003

1) when you do flat glass do you precut to exact size or is it better to cut over and if so how much?
2) I read post on reverse rolling on flat glass and it stated to peel the liner and sqeegee the film to the glass, then cut off excess. is this better then having the final cuts then peeling the liner and applying the film?

G'day Red,

This is what I do briefly...........

I cut the film off the box on the floor about 2"s longer than it should be.

I roll it up into a size ready for reverse rolling. One I have prepped the pane, I roll the entire length down the glass watching all the time the positioning of the film. (This includes PS film) You have to be quite vigilant that the top doesn't hit the frame and pull dirt out it. (or fall on your head)

It is better to have about 2"s of film left over the sides. Always take advantage of a machine edge too and I prefer to make that on the RHS so I can cut the left more easily.

I don't do any preliminary tacking of the film till I have the entire liner off. I also prefer to install on warm glass with sun on it so it sets off the glue quickly. This is not a generally preferred method but I like the initial adhesive take up and setting down of corners. Warmer glass also prevents water fingers forever coming up from wet timber frames because the soak up is minimised.

I quite often will put a knife in a box to take off excess film when pulling out the material. eg. If a pane had a size of 37" and I have to use 48" film, I would locate my knife at 38"s and pull out the film. It makes it much easier to install when you don't have to contend with a huge 11" bit of overhang. Not only that but it would be often impossible to reverse roll if the pane within the frame was quite recessed.

Fire away some more questions if I can be any more assisatnce.

devil :thumb

September 19, 2003

this is some good advice, I appriciate the insight you guys give, thats why I always hit tintdude.com first.

September 20, 2003

devil, with excess film on all sides being trimmed out how do you keep or more like how do you get nice square corners? do you use a trim guide or a special technique?

Tinitman · September 20, 2003

In the beginning I use the 5-way tool.

Not it is second nature to cut the film freehand.

Devil with bad attitude · September 20, 2003

Ryan.

I use one of those wallpaper trimmers made out of plastic. I think they are called a 5 way tool where you guys are from for the whole window.

Creasing corners is real easy to do and would be one of the biggest problems affecting anyone going into flat glass.

What I do is work my way down to the apex of the corner from both sides and never push the trimmer into the 90 degree. By taking off sections of film as you near the corner from both sides, it minimises the amount of film material jammed into the corner.

I have seen other newby installers fit flat glass without edge trimmers and I'll be darned how they do it so bloody good. I'm too old in the tooth for altering any proven technique that works so well for me over all these years. :woowoo

PS. If you have real crappy dirt box flat glass installs, always pre-cut the pane first with liner intact. Clean down the install as you would normally do and then when you go to fit, the film being templated fits perfectly in one go without sluicing dirt and crud out from overhanging film which is not there obviously.

Devil