PaintShield Protection Film fitted to Focus RS - Pictures

[robk84]

HI All,

Not sure if this is in the right forum - perhaps could of been in readers cars, however thought there was relevenace in here.

Weekend Before last i took a trek up to Tom at PaintShield to have their protection film fitted to my Focus, I was sure i needed to have it done. However i was worried about the end result, it looking obvious where the film stopped and started, it adding a nasty depth to the paint, or just looking pure tacky.

I know a few of you guys have had it done, they covered the mirrors, front bumper and all black trim, whole bonnet (was put off with other companies half bonnet covers) front of rear arches, and scuff plate on the back bumper.

All in all, i am very happy with the film, the clarity is very impressive, it actually makes the glossy black surfaces, look wetter, they have done a fanstic job with the vents, and in direct sunlight, unless you look for the seams, you wont know its there, the film wraps round the bonnet edges really well.

There are a number of small air bubbles, which i need to speak to them about, however they arnt in obvious places, and was waiting to see if they disperrsed - anybod experieced similar?

These are not amazing photos, due to the light, however they help to show the glossy finish is retained.

[H13BSM]

Looks sweet bud, but after a few months let the car down as they are hit and miss when it comes to correction. Also from cars ive worked on (mostly being gt3 rs's) they seem to turn yellow or milkey.

[H13BSM]

WOW sorry, there was no intention to upset you, just because your in the clear film industry. As far as 'DECENT' detailers go, I know meny of the uks best, and they also have problems with them thank you very much, hence why I said they are hit or miss. As for after care, I hardely think that thats my problem when I turn up to a new clients house and they are milky. Yes i know there is a thread on how to correct it, but its far from easy and simple as paint, especially for the everyday guy.

[H13BSM]

Im do apoligise that my remarks make you this aggressive. It was just a few cars that I have turned up to that they all seem to be discoloured. But for instance I paint corrected a 911 turbo with a film across the fronts of the rear arches, and the driver side corrected to around 95% yet the passenger side corrected to about 40%, hence why I said it was hit or miss. Everything I have said is not to deter the public from having films as they have there purpose and there good at it. But just because I have a point of view doesn't mean you have to go on the defence. But as you have already have framed me as some one who knows nothing about detailing i'll leave it at that. Except I won't argue the concept, and i'll let my work talk for itself with my 100's of very happy clients.

But to those who took my comments the wrong way I do apoligise because it is very good, aslong as look after it from day one.

Regards

Mike

[H13BSM]

Excellent then, well next week I have a dbs in for 6 days starting on monday 1st november. This has 3m film on the fronts of the rear arches and all the way across the nose to the front of the front arches. I'll pm you my email address, and you send me the indepth guide on you personal best ways on correcting and maintaining the 3m films. I will quite happily use your technique, and document it on here to see how well it went. Now obviously im sure you know everything to do with body films, so im sure it would be good info, insight and knowledge on treating them the right way. If you do this Im more then happy to document it, and praise your knowledge to all on here to prove that you are right.

Regards

Mike

[exigepete]

Just to add my opinion.

Have had four cars done over the last few years by Tom, including my GT3 RS last week which was also exceptionally detailed by Roy first.

Follow the care instructions and use a decent lambs wool wash mitt and the film will stay looking as good as the day it was fitted. Regular careful cleaning is the key. I did 17,000 miles in two years in my VX220 which was silver and it was like a little bullet proof vest on the front, no chips, film marks, yellowing or milky colouring. Also performed flawlessly on my Evo 9 and Carrera 2S.

Edited for spelling lol!

Edited by exigepete on Wednesday 27th October 20:25

[Mattt]

Tom did (not personally) my T350 - and it still looks great several months on. Keep it topped up with Dodo Juice wax when I wash it, and any dirt/bugs etc just wipe off when washing.

It used to be a bit 'staticy' when first applying the wax, but that might be my applicator pad.

[H13BSM]

Guam said:

H13BSM said:

Excellent then, well next week I have a dbs in for 6 days starting on monday 1st november. This has 3m film on the fronts of the rear arches and all the way across the nose to the front of the front arches. I'll pm you my email address, and you send me the indepth guide on you personal best ways on correcting and maintaining the 3m films. I will quite happily use your technique, and document it on here to see how well it went. Now obviously im sure you know everything to do with body films, so im sure it would be good info, insight and knowledge on treating them the right way. If you do this Im more then happy to document it, and praise your knowledge to all on here to prove that you are right.

Regards

Mike

Will do better than that give me a call on 01733 390777 and ask for me (Tom)

Will need to know whether the film is True 3m (Scotchguard) or Rebadged Venture (the advice will differ depending on which) if it was fitted at the factory it will likely have been 3M scotchguard.

Happy to help Mike, PS find out if you can who did the install as many Venture dealers are rebadging as 3M now so it will help in assisting you with the correct advice.

Roy Kunz is happy to talk you guys through working on films as well (he did the How to on DW) as he is "one of you" he can talk your language and help with alternative compounds that work that we may not think of as we are limited in the range of compounds we would recommend (not being Detailing Experts)

If it is "true 3M" you will need some neat IPA to hand (pretty sure you probably have some)

Edited by Guam on Wednesday 27th October 19:47

Sounds great. The owner has new ones in a box for the rear ones just for future reference in a box, and the backing on them have 3m scotchguard,so im sure they are. Yes I have neat IPA to hand, and my polishes, compounds and pads are all 3M. I run a shinex and a 3m rotary and a g220 for dual action (Im sure these could help keep the heat down on the ppf?).

[H13BSM]

Excellent I will call you tuesday as thats when I will start the correction and I will be next to the car.

Cheers

Mike

[S1MMA]

Hi Tom.

I have a White 997 GT3 with factory film in front of the rear arch, and its gone yellow, more on one side than the other. Do you know what film this is likely to be and the best way to correct it? I'm in Dubai so don't have access to pro detailers here...

any advice appreciated

[Roy K]

Not really sure if I can add anything here. Cars that I’ve seen with Yellowing film can mostly be fixed with a combination of a good clean and a light polish, even the worst neglected cars can be significantly improved.

I witnessed a white Audi R8 turned around earlier this year at Tom’s, from memory the owner admitted to rarely washing the car in the year following the install, definitely no waxing or protection added. It look well, almost orange! And the edges of the film were black but after a careful wash, then a good going over with a special cleaner left the film looking like new again.

Things I would recommend.
-Protect with a good Carnauba Wax, (Swissvax, Zymol, and Dodo Juice)

-Use a good wash mitt and Shampoo (Dodo Juice)

-Avoid TFR’s and stuff like AutoSmart G101

-Remove bugs and bird bombs a little sooner!!
(May be a pain, but bugs staining can easily acid etch in to normal car paint! These can prove very very difficult to remove from PPF!)

-Polishing (maybe more for detailers) use something like Menzerna FF with a medium polishing pad on your Dual Action machine.
(This can remove most swirls and light scratching, but with also clean up the film nicely if discoloured)

Cheers, Roy.

Edited by Roy K on Thursday 28th October 13:57

[Roy K]

H13BSM said:

I run a shinex and a 3m rotary and a g220 for dual action (Im sure these could help keep the heat down on the ppf?).

Hi, I don’t know why I’m cringing here, but ditch the 3M compounds for use on the film. (I don’t know of anyone using 3M on film? I could be wrong though) Try some Menz 106ff on a Yellow pad, you should get good results from this.

Your right to use a DA over a Rotary, Rotary polishers can be a little grabby and you don’t want to overheat the film.

Roy.

Edited by Roy K on Thursday 28th October 14:22

[blueg33]

Hi Folks

I have just bought a Tuscan with film already on it. What do I need to do to look after it?

I wash the car with Zymol wax free shampoo and wax with Dodo Juice soft wax. I also sometimes use Zaino Grand Finale Seal. Are these products ok for use with film?

[H13BSM]

Roy K said:

H13BSM said:

I run a shinex and a 3m rotary and a g220 for dual action (Im sure these could help keep the heat down on the ppf?).

Hi, I don’t know why I’m cringing here, but ditch the 3M compounds for use on the film. (I don’t know of anyone using 3M on film? I could be wrong though) Try some Menz 106ff on a Yellow pad, you should get good results from this.

Your right to use a DA over a Rotary, Rotary polishers can be a little grabby and you don’t want to overheat the film.

Roy.

Edited by Roy K on Thursday 28th October 14:22

I never said i use 3m compounds and polishes on film, I said thats what I use for correction, and they give awsume results and work very well for me. The compounds and polishes I ended up using on the film was corrections 1 and 2 from CG as they seemed to work quite well.

[blueg33]

Guam said:

blueg33 said:

Hi Folks

I have just bought a Tuscan with film already on it. What do I need to do to look after it?

I wash the car with Zymol wax free shampoo and wax with Dodo Juice soft wax. I also sometimes use Zaino Grand Finale Seal. Are these products ok for use with film?

There is some discussion about Zaino on PPf and currently our advice on the films we use, is dont use Zaino on the film, dont get me wrong its a really good product, but one film manufacturer has question marks over the product and until they resolve it with Zaino talking to them then I would advise not to use it.

In general stock advice is to use hard carnuba waxes rather than paste waxes (Dom can kick in here I am sure)

As in general terms paste type waxes contain more solvents than the hard ones (of the kind that can cause the pores to open in the film), DODO juice along Wih Swissvax and Zymol are highly recomended for use on film by most film manufacturers (certainly by many installers worldwide), I am currently testing something new from more than polish (cheers Mark) on a couple of our cars and that looks pretty good at the moment, will have a better Idea in a couple of months but so far so good

Edited by Guam on Thursday 28th October 15:50

Edited by Guam on Thursday 28th October 15:50

Damn, I have just bought my tub of Dodo Juice purple haze, but its a soft wax. So I should go and buy the hard version now? (its hard enough explaining one tub of wax at over £30 to the mrs, let alone two!)

[kds keltec]

Interesting and usefull subject and topic this is turning into


I cleaned / machine corrected / then sealed paint film with no problems in the past or to date .

I have used the latest 3m compounds with great success too

Here



befores





during



and afters





All carried out with the slowest rotory on the market (600rpm) very light pressure and small amount of compound at a time ,with many light hits then clean down with strong shampoo solution (such as dodo juice supernatural) then finally waxed with either supernatural of best of show .

more film pics









I was lead to believe that some solvent where much safer than others and the latest 3m range mostly has naphtha solvent (petroleum) content which is safe on films .

Even the bad solvents(in compounds etc not strong chemicals like thinners) if wiped on and off quickly and properly removed are most likely not to cause damage to films in the right hands .

cleaning around the edges of film



ready for this





you would not know unless up close the film is on the car



HTH kelly

[blueg33]

Guam said:

blueg33 said:

Guam said:

blueg33 said:

Hi Folks

I have just bought a Tuscan with film already on it. What do I need to do to look after it?

I wash the car with Zymol wax free shampoo and wax with Dodo Juice soft wax. I also sometimes use Zaino Grand Finale Seal. Are these products ok for use with film?

There is some discussion about Zaino on PPf and currently our advice on the films we use, is dont use Zaino on the film, dont get me wrong its a really good product, but one film manufacturer has question marks over the product and until they resolve it with Zaino talking to them then I would advise not to use it.

In general stock advice is to use hard carnuba waxes rather than paste waxes (Dom can kick in here I am sure)

As in general terms paste type waxes contain more solvents than the hard ones (of the kind that can cause the pores to open in the film), DODO juice along Wih Swissvax and Zymol are highly recomended for use on film by most film manufacturers (certainly by many installers worldwide), I am currently testing something new from more than polish (cheers Mark) on a couple of our cars and that looks pretty good at the moment, will have a better Idea in a couple of months but so far so good

Edited by Guam on Thursday 28th October 15:50

Edited by Guam on Thursday 28th October 15:50

Damn, I have just bought my tub of Dodo Juice purple haze, but its a soft wax. So I should go and buy the hard version now? (its hard enough explaining one tub of wax at over £30 to the mrs, let alone two!)

What colour is the car??

Cheers

Tom

Reflex purple. Should be on my profile

[H13BSM]

Kelly you are the god of wet sanding, i need to learn your jedi ways of the random orbital skills lol. Yey for 3M, I too don't have a problem with 3m, but glad someone whos been around a long time and a very well respected detailer can inform this.

[Roy K]

Why do I feel I’m being ganged up on here, I started with Swissol, yes that long ago! I think I was one of their first detailers in the UK to use Cleaner fluid Professional, so the Menzerna, Scholl Concepts style of compounds and polishes suit my style of detailing.

I have had plenty of in dept conversion with other detailers, and you either like 3M or Menzerna, both if used correctly will get outstanding results and keep your customers very happy.

H13BSM I don’t know you so I was only recommending what I know works very well on film, like I have to countless other detailers over the years.

Example http://detailingparadise.com/forum/showthread.php?...

I was only cringing because I’m not that familiar with the 3M polishes and couldn’t guarantee the result. I’m not going to recommend something I haven’t tried, seems fair I think.

Kelly knows his stuff, so if he gets on with 3M that’s good enough for me chap.

Please keep us updated how your detail goes and what products you decide to use, and please tell other detailers, if only to stop others damaging or ripping the stuff off when it can be fixed.

Regards, Roy.

[H13BSM]

Hi guys

Sorry I didnt finish work till 9pm, and then went out with friends. You need to understand, that I am not trying to step up and prove any of your wrong. All of you are going to have vast knowledge over me on film and detailing on me. The internet can be a funny thing when it comes to responding as it can be taken the wrong way. As far as detailing im still 'very new skool' and love to obsorb information from guys such as kelly who have not only been going for years and years, but have made a very good name out of themselves. This is the same for film, as i have only come acrossed it a hand full of times, so therefore no nothing to the level you guys know. This is why im happy to to listen to you vast knowledge and learn for future reference. Especially when its becoming widely used and i'm sure im going to come acrossed it alot more. Roy I totally appriciate that you only are trying to help and go with what you have always used. At the end of the day why change products when the ones you have always used work very well. What I was trying to say is that after a while i decided to stick to 3m for paint correction as they work with my techique so therefore i have stuck with them. Like I said I loveguys who have been in the industry for years and I have nothing but time for your knowledge, especially when its free and you're nice enough to help people understand the correct method of practice. So yes as far as ppf I'm very happy you have the time to explain this indepth because its nothing but positive help for me in the future. As for not calling you, like I said I went out with friends, but did say I'll call you next week (tuesday) when I can tell you exactly what protective film is on the car and how to go about it depending on the level of defects within it. But yes your information is valid abd much appriciated, so keep it coming. Like I said i'll put it up on here for all to see, as i'm sure it'll interesting for all to see how to clean, protect and maintain ppf in the future.

Cheers

Mike