PPF...the good, the bad and the ugly?

[RaskyR1]

Rasky or Any Pros.

Aside from the install of film, have you guys peeled off film that was on for 24 months+....that you guys know what the baseline of it`s clarity was when originally installed.
If so, what are your thoughts/opinion be on clarity compared to new.

It`s definitely yellowed significantly on all the films I`ve removed, even the C7 I just did. While the film was 4 years old the car only had 6000 miles on it and is always stored inside and usually covered. When the films on the car you usually only see it on the light colors, though a trained eye could see it and if pointed out the owner probably would too.

 

[mobiledynamics]

At least one person confirms what I`m trying to tell the OP...

I recognize the benefits film brings but optically, for someone who is not aware and spends the big bucks, I hope they understand optics wise, what it does as well. Eh, depends how golden one`s eyes are

 

[BudgetPlan1]

1) I actually applied STEK to the hood of a C7 a few weeks ago and its a very good looking film...it was actually a hair smoother than the Suntek it was replacing. I have it on the deck lid of my wife`s car too and the hydrophobics are impressive so far. That being said I haven`t been able to see how it will hold up long term yet and I would still apply an actual coating regardless.

2) I feel all PPF needs some sort of added protection, whether its a wax/ sealant, or coating. I applied lots of different coatings both pro and consumer grade to self-healing films and I`ve never seen any negative effects from it. I have heard a few others say these 5+ layer coatings can diminish it, but I`ve not seen it myself...probably because I don`t use those coatings.

3) Haven`t tested this myself

4) You will see a little difference just having the film applied (in some cases the film looks better) but as far as coating I think any visible difference would be minimal but it depends on the color of the car and coating used. Regardless, I would coat both the paint and film as the film is still susceptible to staining IMO.

5) in 2-3 years if you decide to recoat the film I would wash the car, decon, clay, and a very light polish just to clean and "scuff" the surface.

6) Light marring should self-heal. Surface scuffs can vary greatly so it`s hard to say. You can polish lightly but it should be kept to a minimum. Aggressive polish can remove the top coat and your self-healing ability.


7) Maintain it like you do the paint.


I think you`d be very happy with STEK film, but Suntek, Xpel, and 3M are all very good too.

Wow...great info, really appreciate it.

Talked with installer, maybe maintain with a `lighter` product such as PA Cosmic Spritz or Overcoat.

The ability for any light/limited self healing possibilities even under a coating is a bit confounding to me but all have said it`s so...so it must be so. Interesting.

 

[BudgetPlan1]

At least one person confirms what I`m trying to tell the OP...

I recognize the benefits film brings but optically, for someone who is not aware and spends the big bucks, I hope they understand optics wise, what it does as well. Eh, depends how golden one`s eyes are

Much like coatings, I`m thinking that PPF does have it`s limitations as well. There are no be-all, end-all solutions methinks but I`m likely gonna give this a go and see how life with PPF is. Coatings age and get a bit less optically pure after a while, not surprising PPF ages as well. Car is gonna be black (of course) so we`ll see how it goes. Downside with PPF is that when time to remove/reapply that`s even a bigger workload than removing a coating and not one I can do myself so figuring that into the longer-term budget as well. There is no perfect solution but interested to give this one a try.

 

[RaskyR1]

Wow...great info, really appreciate it.

Talked with installer, maybe maintain with a `lighter` product such as PA Cosmic Spritz or Overcoat.

The ability for any light/limited self healing possibilities even under a coating is a bit confounding to me but all have said it`s so...so it must be so. Interesting.

Those would be good as well.

FYI: Several year ago now Eric Witt of Tru-Shine detailing brought in some Opti-Coat (or Opti-Guard back then...) to the Xpel Training class where they tested the coating to see if it effected the self-healing ability, which they found it did not. On top of that Xpel is going to be coming to market with their own ceramic coating soon too, which also says a lot IMO about it being fine for use on self-healing films. Obviously there are hundreds of coating options now as well as many film manufactures so that`s not to say some may still be incompatible.

 

[mobiledynamics]

BP. Found a old pic on my computer
Wild guesstimate is 3 year old film

It was sealed since day 1 and constantly sealed as I know how porus and how grim it sucs in. Notice the color or clarity, however you want to interpret

 

[BudgetPlan1]

BP. Found a old pic on my computer
Wild guesstimate is 3 year old film

It was sealed since day 1 and constantly sealed as I know how porus and how grim it sucs in. Notice the color or clarity, however you want to interpret

https://www.dropbox.com/s/jwjwd3r4ue06cm4/oldfilm.jpg?dl=0

Nice to see a bit of the dark side as well. Like everything, there is no absolute great answer for every situation, no certainties.

Sometimes ya just gotta saddle up and take a shot if you really, specifically wanna know for sure if it works for you and what level of your particular requirements will be met.

Sometimes learning hurts...although I hope not in this case.

 

[pdqgp]

Pondering PPF and I`m guessing that (much like coatings) sometimes the hype doesn`t live up to the reality of the situation. Cost aside, for those that have experience with this kinda thing what are the downsides? I realize that if a tremendous boulder gets kicked up and punctures/tears the film, fixing that is more involved than a coating, requiring removal and reapplication, but just how tough is this stuff in daily use? Aside from minor scratches and nicks from road debris, what happens if it gets lightly scuffed/marred? Can it be lightly polished out without compromising the top coat? Is coating on top REALLY necessary?

Tell me your horror stories (or your love stories) regarding PPF...cuz I haven`t a clue...

I`ve had and used PPF`s on nearly a dozen of my cars and have had bad rips or damage done to them by rocks and other debris. One was a goose even. Still very much worth it IMO. Keep in mind, they have a layer of clear coat on them thus will get sand-blasted just like regular paint and will also benefit from coatings but the idea overall is they do protect the paint under them. In my case, the best part is when I remove them prior to selling a vehicle in order to reveal a perfectly preserved front end. I`ve done that twice and both times on black vehicles.

 

[mobiledynamics]

BP. Have you decided 100% if you`re going film. Vet vet VET vet out your installer. If you care for your vette

Ever see where lines/wraps are perfect . Imagine a panel with a 4/5 dimensional plan and the film is just perfect cut to a recessed line on the plane. You know how custom cuts are made. They literally tack the film down and run a sharp olfa on it - in the precision cut where the blade is piercing the film enough to cut the film but not the paint. I`ve removed enough old film on various cars to know what really happens to paint with those custom cuts...

 

[BudgetPlan1]

BP. Have you decided 100% if you`re going film. Vet vet VET vet out your installer. If you care for your vette

Ever see where lines/wraps are perfect . Imagine a panel with a 4/5 dimensional plan and the film is just perfect cut to a recessed line on the plane. You know how custom cuts are made. They literally tack the film down and run a sharp olfa on it - in the precision cut where the blade is piercing the film enough to cut the film but not the paint. I`ve removed enough old film on various cars to know what really happens to paint with those custom cuts...

Still pondering but still leaning in that direction. Got to get up close and personal with some PPF`d cars recently...poked around `em for a good bit and honestly couldn`t find anything that would be objectionable to me. Couldn`t find much of any indication of film, actually.

Now, dont really know what exactly I was looking for, just looking in obvious areas for things that would make me say "Hmmm...".

 

[The Driver]

PPF is ALWAYS the way to go if you have a rare car, a car you care for, new car and you know a great installer. Knowing a great installer is key, the horrors I`ve seen from poor jobs are what really make or break the decision. I personally have 2 of my cars done, both full front end, A pillars, half sunroof + door handles and tailgates. It`s just so much better than OEM brittle paint, even helps against door dings.

 

[The Driver]

Also see how they "tuck panels". I`ll take a video this weekend for you of both my cars point out what works and why as well as the differences between the films. I have both Suntek and Xpel Ultimate they are definitely different.

 

[mobiledynamics]

Is that due to the difference in thickness/hard vs softer ppf, and whether they can tuck and seal in one vs. relief cuts ?

I`m okay with either methods , but what does count is those tucked edges are adhered to the paint one hundo....otherwise over time, dirt, etc seems to find its way.

Ha, if Accumulator saw how they stretch and pull or squeege a full wrap hood with contours, he might have a heart attack on the process.

 

[Accumulator]

Ha, if Accumulator saw how they stretch and pull or squeege a full wrap hood with contours, he might have a heart attack on the process.

Heh heh heh...that was good. But actually, I`m OK with processes that might *seem* terrible but are actually OK. With the PPF between the paint and the squeegee and the latter wielded properly, I`d expect a *GOOD* installer wouldn`t even mar Jet Black.

But there`s the (usual) rub..how to find somebody who really *IS* good. Just like with most everything else, I`m simply unable to find competent people to do, well...much of anything.

 

[mobiledynamics]

What what about the infliction of whats happening on the squeegee and film ;-)
It really is quite the sight for us paint - no marring nerds - if you see 4-5 guys on a full wrap hood. 1 guy maybe doing the stretch/pull/tension, another apply heat via steamer or even flushing/spraying with hot water off the tap, and then 3 guys very Vigorously squeezing ever nook, cranny and curve so that film hugs every contour.

It`s kinda like going to the dentist. You don`t want to open your eyes and see what he`s coming with a needle....
You`d rather just see the final results

 

[Accumulator]

Heh heh, guess this is veering more and more into one of those things where "oh, [Accumulator] is just....different..." (to put it nicely)!

As long as I`m intellectually onboard with a process, and trust they guys to do it right, I wouldn`t mind watching that at all. In fact, I`d insist on it just as I usually do with most anything like that. I can watch for those little tells that mean "uh-oh, wonder if he noticed.."

It`s like... "Why would I be nervous? SHOULD I be nervous? SHOULD I lack confidence in you?!?"

They *CAN* do that PPFing without marring, right? Not that I want any big areas done, but I still wouldn`t want any issues...I mean, we assume that all the PPF jobs we see here went 100% fine, but you know how I am about anything on the internet that I haven`t seen with my own eyes. And IRL I just don`t see acceptable work out of, well...much of anybody in any automotive area. Sad but true, with very few exceptions.

AND, hey...Dentists? That`s another of those topics...I have zero issues with it. These days Dentistry seems to have the whole pain management thing pretty well sorted out (and eh, I`m kinda fanatical about Oral Hygiene anyhow).

And with injections, I insist on watching. Makes it a zillion times better/easier for me, basically just an interesting experience these days what with such small-gauge needles for most things.

 

[mobiledynamics]

Ha. You know it`s just one big JK when I type this. Personally, I`m the latter. I don`t like it when people stand over me when I work and I get its human nature....so when work is being done on my stuff (whether it be a contractor, mechanic) etc, I don`t stand over them. Eh, my my mechanic, I suppose it`s different as we`re practically friends/brothers at this point so I`m in the shop shooting the ```` while he or his tech is working. And man, knowing how the PPF get`s some rough squeeging, I`m the complete opposite. I`d prefer to not see it being installed. ~eeks~.

Sorry BP. Last response. Took this OT.
I really hope you find a PPF installer you like. It`s a huge market of installers out there

 

[RaskyR1]

Is that due to the difference in thickness/hard vs softer ppf, and whether they can tuck and seal in one vs. relief cuts ?

I`m okay with either methods , but what does count is those tucked edges are adhered to the paint one hundo....otherwise over time, dirt, etc seems to find its way.

Ha, if Accumulator saw how they stretch and pull or squeege a full wrap hood with contours, he might have a heart attack on the process.

I`m still new and learning with PPF but I was surprised last night by how much stretch was required to get the film to suck into this back hatch and lay flat on the top....and this is nothing compared to some of the jobs Ive seen guys do.

 

[BudgetPlan1]

Ha. You know it`s just one big JK when I type this. Personally, I`m the latter. I don`t like it when people stand over me when I work and I get its human nature....so when work is being done on my stuff (whether it be a contractor, mechanic) etc, I don`t stand over them. Eh, my my mechanic, I suppose it`s different as we`re practically friends/brothers at this point so I`m in the shop shooting the ```` while he or his tech is working. And man, knowing how the PPF get`s some rough squeeging, I`m the complete opposite. I`d prefer to not see it being installed. ~eeks~.

Sorry BP. Last response. Took this OT.
I really hope you find a PPF installer you like. It`s a huge market of installers out there

No worries...any discussion even marginally relevant is valuable and worthwhile. I`ve got a pretty good idea that the installer will do well, definitely not their first rodeo. Have seen their completed work, both current and past, talked with the owners of some of those cars who have no complaints or issues. At the end of the day, though, sometimes ya just gotta roll the dice I guess.

All good fun regardless, new frontiers and all...

 

[mobiledynamics]

Looking good Rasky. Was that a 4 hand job or solo. I love WIP pics more than finished pics