$ How much to remove clear bra $

MaximumMD

MaximumMD

New member
Joined
Aug 18, 2010
Messages
95
Reaction score
0
Hey guys,

I'm have a customer that wants a clear bra taken off. I learned how to do it but don't know what to charge. Any suggestions?
 
How long do you think it will take you?, when you estimate a job, what do you base your time at?
 
Removing a bra can be a real pain. Has to be done warm, either in sunlight or with a hair dryer. Then you'll need 3M Adhesive remover to get off the left over adhesive. Then a full correction.
 
jpegs13 said:
Removing a bra can be a real pain. Has to be done warm, either in sunlight or with a hair dryer. Then you'll need 3M Adhesive remover to get off the left over adhesive. Then a full correction.
Click to expand...


Why does it have to be done warm?


This is my method, I don't use steam, sunlight or a hair dryer. Just the way it comes into the shop.

Removing them is really easy. Lift at one corner and start pulling towards your body, away from the car. That way the adhesive stays on the backing, instead of on the car. Pull every piece off this way, do not fold it over and try pulling over the 3M.

This is tough to explain in words.

But you can have an entire Hood/Fender/Mirror kit and Bumper kit off in 5 minutes. Then if you see any remaining adhesive, take a lint free rag, not a microfiber, pour a cap full of solvent on to the rag and gently wipe over the adhesive until it's gone.

Then rinse the area with a water bottle or quick detailer.

I charge $50 for removal on a HFMB

If they're concerned about the line between fresh paint where the 3M previously was and the old haggared paint around it, now is the time to upsell a cut and polish service and 3M re-application at your regular rate :xyxthumbs:
 
Chatelaine said:
Why does it have to be done warm?


This is my method, I don't use steam, sunlight or a hair dryer. Just the way it comes into the shop.

Removing them is really easy. Lift at one corner and start pulling towards your body, away from the car. That way the adhesive stays on the backing, instead of on the car. Pull every piece off this way, do not fold it over and try pulling over the 3M.

This is tough to explain in words.

But you can have an entire Hood/Fender/Mirror kit and Bumper kit off in 5 minutes. Then if you see any remaining adhesive, take a lint free rag, not a microfiber, pour a cap full of solvent on to the rag and gently wipe over the adhesive until it's gone.

Then rinse the area with a water bottle or quick detailer.

I charge $50 for removal on a HFMB

If they're concerned about the line between fresh paint where the 3M previously was and the old haggared paint around it, now is the time to upsell a cut and polish service and 3M re-application at your regular rate :xyxthumbs:
Click to expand...

Have you removed clear film on several cars? I've only had one car where it came off like you describe and I chalk that one up to poor installation.




To the OP, I would actually turn down the job if I were you. I'll probably never do another one again.
 
I do them every day. Most of my work is 3M install and removal. Maybe I can take a video and show you how haha

Super duper easy.
 
Chatelaine said:
I do them every day. Most of my work is 3M install and removal. Maybe I can take a video and show you how haha

Super duper easy.
Click to expand...

I've always been left with adhesive on the majority of panel. I'll have to give it a try without heating it up I guess but even the installer that applied the film suggested heating it up or leaving it in the sun.

Tons on videos on Youtube already BTW. ;)


Cheers,
Rasky
 
If you pull it the wrong way you'll get the adhesive stuck to the car. Change your technique and I'd bet you'll notice better results.
 
Chatelaine said:
If you pull it the wrong way you'll get the adhesive stuck to the car. Change your technique and I'd bet you'll notice better results.
Click to expand...

I'll give it a shot one of these days as I still have the hood piece on my car to remove....it took forever to get the adhesive off on the other panels. :(
 
The clear bras should be designed in such a way for easy removal. I've personally never done one nor seen it applied/removed nor had it on any of my cars, but I would assume there is a simple way to lift as much of the bra as possible, not necessarily at once of course, without issue. And for pricing, $50 seams reasonable.


[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52ZDR7SCFFE&NR=1]YouTube - 3M film removal[/video]
 
He's doing it like I described, you'll notice all the haze on the film is the adhesive and the paint is factory fresh :)

Up here in Canada 3M is on almost 50% of the vehicles to protect from all the rocks during winter. It's a huge business up here. Tons of money!
 
Pretty interesting, in the video when he pulled the top piece, at the moment he pulled the film back over itself you can see where it left adhesive residue, just as Chatelaine said.
 
Dang Chatelaine! If it's as easy as your saying I'm going to be one happy man!! Because I've heard also that you have to heat it up and all of that. I hope it turns out just like you said! I'll have to take some pics and let everyone know how it turns out! And will see if I come back happy or not. Thanks for your help!!
 
Chatelaine,

Are there variablse in how the film was applied or between manufactures that would cause some films to be more prone to leaving the adhesive behind, regardless of how you peel it off? Seems there are so many detailers that have horror stories in dealing with them that it makes you wonder if that may be the case.

I've also heard of several instances where it lifted the paint too.
 
This video is how my installer told me to remove the film. Doesn't look like the adhesive stuck to the paint here. I've only done it a few times now but out of them only one came off without leaving any adeasive behind...which makes me think there is possibly another variable to this???

I really want to try it pulling off the film the other way but I have Opti-Coat on my car now so I may just wait.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQ6Rg6yd_PA]YouTube - Honda clear bra removal[/video]
 
RaskyR1 said:
Chatelaine,

Are there variablse in how the film was applied or between manufactures that would cause some films to be more prone to leaving the adhesive behind, regardless of how you peel it off? Seems there are so many detailers that have horror stories in dealing with them that it makes you wonder if that may be the case.

I've also heard of several instances where it lifted the paint too.
Click to expand...


Not in my experience, no. The clear bra manufacturers that I have dealt with include 3M, Avery and Xpel. The main difference between each would be the backing paper/adhesive as well as the top coat. They've all been the same to install/remove. But there are tons of companies emerging with their own variations of the film and adhesive, so it's very likely there's a company making a certain adhesive that's tough to remove. In MY experience there's no real way to MAKE the bra hard to remove. Whether is be using the wet method or dry method to apply, it peels off all the same.

And yes, you very well can take paint off with the removal. But only if there's paint failure already in place.

Examples of when you'd have to be extra careful removing the film:
- Repainted surface <- Big one
- Damage
- Expanding on damage:
- Huge rock chip that pierced the film and the paint has chipped. The surrounding paint may be loose and tugging off the film will take it with it.
- Contact with an object, film is scuffed badly, might be a chance the paint is cracked below it and the film is the only thing holding it in place.
-3M was applied to a badly chipped surface initially.


I've only had paint peel off once. It was a red NSX with a repainted front bumper. Peeled off the 3M and there must have been a bubble so big in the paint, and the paint was so terribly applied, a huge piece just peeled right off. Not flaked off, peeled off. As if the paint hadn't cured properly. This was by no means my fault, and the body shop warranteed the front bumper. But I clearly explained the risks involved before we started so the owner wasn't to miffed.

On an OEM original car, you would very rarely, if ever, have to worry about paint coming off unless there's damage. But, if you're pulling it off in the wrong fashion, anything's possible. The WORST way you could pull of the film is perpendicular to the surface. Straight up. All the force is directed down to that one stop of paint. The best way is like shown, as flush to the surface as possible, away from the film and towards yourself, standing opposite the film.

Go peel off your neighbors film as a test haha.Im the MAN


Just kidding, don't do that lol
 
RaskyR1 said:
This video is how my installer told me to remove the film. Doesn't look like the adhesive stuck to the paint here. I've only done it a few times now but out of them only one came off without leaving any adeasive behind...which makes me think there is possibly another variable to this???

I really want to try it pulling off the film the other way but I have Opti-Coat on my car now so I may just wait.

[URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQ6Rg6yd_PA] - Honda clear bra removal[/URL]
Click to expand...

That is crazy old film. Like early 2000s. the new stuff is nothing like that. But either way, he made that a lot harder for himself haha
 
Thanks for the info! :props:


If I find the drive to try and remove the last piece from my hood I'll let you know how it goes. I really don't want to re-polish and re-coat the hood but I do want the film off. If I ever buy another new car I will be applying film to the whole hood and not just 18" across the nose! ;)
 
This is a LITTLE off subject but, I was wondering especially from Chatelaine if there is a way to help maintain the clear bra...like how we polish and wax paint to keep it in good shape...is there a way to keep the clear bra in good condition?

I dont personally have one but I run into customers with them. The other thing ive noticed, especially on darker colored cars, is a color difference between what part the clear bra coveres and the paint right next to it. Can anything be done about that or is that one of those 'it is what it is' deals?
 
Wills.WindowsAndWheels said:
This is a LITTLE off subject but, I was wondering especially from Chatelaine if there is a way to help maintain the clear bra...like how we polish and wax paint to keep it in good shape...is there a way to keep the clear bra in good condition?

I dont personally have one but I run into customers with them. The other thing ive noticed, especially on darker colored cars, is a color difference between what part the clear bra coveres and the paint right next to it. Can anything be done about that or is that one of those 'it is what it is' deals?
Click to expand...


You can polish it just like paint. You can get most of the scratches out and clears it up almost perfectly. I use Menzerna SIP and top is with wolfgang 3.0

Then when you're doing the final detail and wipe, to get the build up polish from out of the ridge I use a plastic razor blade and 50/50 mix alcohol and water or a light solvent or wax remover.

I'll see if I have any before and after pictures of cars I've done with the problem.


*edit* When you're polishing it you have to be more careful about how hot it's getting to avoid burning the plastic. I never use a rotary polisher on it, only an orbital (FLEX is what I use) and if you're having trouble getting the SIP off then I go over it with 85RD and it'll wipe right off.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top