Perseverance is key!

Learning to tint seems a bit easier than it really is. Of course not impossible but challenging to say the least. I first picked up some film during Covid in 2020. I had my car tinted about 6 years prior and paid about $165 for the doors and rear glass. I was actually very happy and not know anything about window film or the installation process. I do remember it being a few hours for the installation.

So after about 5-6 years post getting my window tint. During Covid in 2020 I was looking at my car and realized the tint had nearly faded away. Puzzled on what happened. Then I remembered a couple of years prior I had to remove the front two windows removed due to a speeding ticket where the chp wrote me an extra ticket for window tint. So I thought to myself, "I know I had the fronts removed." "What happened to my rear windows?" So I inspected further and rolled my rear window down to see what happened. Then I saw a black line at the top of the edge of the window and realized it literally faded away. The cheap price came with cheap tint. Go figure!

So Having a lot of free time, I decided to tint my own car. I actually called a few shops and realized it was at least 240$. I thought it was pretty pricey. I normally work with my hands. So good old Youtube University it was. I had bought some film and some tools and went at it. First time handling the film, I had gave myself a mean paper cuts, Twice! One right after the other. I bandaged up my finger then I gave myself another paper cut. As the film is much like heavy duty paper. Then I realized, "Oh shit!" this stuff is dangerous and I hadn't even really picked up a knife. But I'm Not a quitter, LOL!

After watching tons of videos on youtube soaking up game where ever I could. Taking Notes, trying to mesmerize all the steps, I was not getting very good as quick as I Liked. I thought if i could tint a few cars a day I could make more than double what I make now with a lot less stress. Per usual man was I wrong. It was giving me anxiety while I was tinting because it was so challenging. I would watch some youtube stars like Matt Blackmer and Sean Roche. I liked Matt because he was very open and would just spill the beans and I could learn what he experienced over 10 years plus in months. Of course the skills is where it seemed light years away. Sean Roche wasn't really doing Lives on facebook, but his videos were pretty straight forward and I learned what they call 2-Staging. Now he is what they call a Bottom loader.

So after months of practicing and tinting friends and family. I learned a little but was not near a professional window tinter. There are quite a few different variables and techniques the pro's know. The do's and don'ts. What's really necessary and what's over kill. Basically efficiency and non efficient. There's hand cutting, prepping the window, shrinking the film. Tools, the proper slip solution for your area. Whether it's really hot or humid, not to mention all cars or vehicles are different shall I say. I knew I had to get into a shop and learn from someone with experience. So I began my search. Of course everyone wants someone with experience so I Was SOL for a while.

So I had found a shop and started to learn a little bit. I was the only tinter. But still no real guidance. Then Came a guy from Sinaloa. He had worked there previously and returned. A high energy weed smoking tinting machine. I really admired his work ethic and passion for window tinting. I had learned to tint doors pretty well but still struggled with Back Glasses. Still on the struggle bus. He had helped with the little details I was lacking and he actually help groom me to be a better window tinter. I am forever great full. I should also mention that my boss was a really cool guy. An old school tinter but had grown to bigger and better business man. He gave me the opportunity and let me practice and had wasted a bunch of film since I was a lot less experienced back then. In a sense it was his own fault as he did not stick around to teach me as I would have liked. But As I am now and I was determined. So I eventually got better and tried to help him make as money as he could. So it kind of evened out.

After about a year and a half. I decided to go on my own. I started out in my Drive way in a Carport and went Mobil also. 2.5 years later I rented a space in a shop that I stumbled in for a tint Job. I thought to myself, This shop is Badass, I would love to work here. It was clean and a newer building. The perfect space to make some Magic Happen. All the tough Jobs and hard work was paying off. The Space was occupied by two individuals. One guy was detailer, mostly Mobil but did Paint corrections and Ceramic coatings. The other is a Vinyl Wrapper. Doing color changes, Commercial wraps and logos. Very cool environment where we all just work and try make the most out of each day. Kinda Like the perfect trio! Now Its a Duo. The detailer moved on as he was mostly Mobil anyway. Which kind of works but only because you can't really be polishing in the same area as it would cause contamination in our films.

Here I am now on the lease enhancing our work space and creating a great experience enhancing cars and living a great lifestyle. Coming from humble beginnings I'm proud of the tough times and new challenges I have and face daily to continue persevering and thriving at the same time. The learning curve of a new craft and field to increasing my income and becoming a business owner. Its not for everyone but anyone can do it, IF they are willing the Persevere!

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