Paint correction is the process of removing imperfections from a vehicle’s paint surface to reveal a smooth, flawless finish. It is an essential first step in preparing a car for a ceramic coating, as a smooth and evenly-textured surface is necessary for the coating to properly bond and perform to its maximum potential.
Some of the common imperfections that can be corrected through paint correction include scratches, swirl marks, water spots, and oxidation. These imperfections can be caused by a variety of factors, including improper washing techniques, environmental conditions, and general wear and tear.
Paint correction can be a time-consuming and labor-intensive process, but the results are well worth the effort. A corrected paint surface will be smooth, shiny, and free of imperfections, creating a perfect canvas for a ceramic [...]
Paint Protection Film Has Come A Long Way
Paint protection film, also known as clear bra, is a clear, thin film that is applied to the surface of a car’s paint to protect it from damage. It is made of a tough, durable polyurethane material that is resistant to scratches, chips, and other types of damage. It even has a self healing layer that makes light scratches disappear when it sits in the sun or by applying warm water.
One of the main benefits of paint protection film is that it helps to preserve the appearance of a car’s paint job. It acts as a barrier between the paint and the elements, protecting it from road debris, harsh weather, maybe the road crew in your state tar and [...]
A new, gigantic, state of the art facility is now open in Gibsonia! Blackout Tinting North Pittsburgh is here.
Blackout Tinting started in a small home garage bay in 2011. Since then, we have moved to a larger location in Latrobe, and added an additional building in Latrobe for our emergency vehicle upgrades. Earlier this year, we have expanded to a second location!
This building is located in Gibsonia PA, about 4 minutes from the Butler exit on the PA turnpike. It was previously a Chrysler dealership, followed by a Powersports dealership – but it’s now the home of Blackout Tinting North Pittsburgh.
The building itself is about 18,000 square feet, most of which is dedicated to installing window tint, paint protection film, and ceramic coatings. For now, another portion of the building will be used [...]
Learn about the 5 most common misconceptions of paint protection film, and why it is still the best option that exists for saving your paint. Paint protection film has been around for decades. It was created by 3M during the Vietnam war to protect blades on helicopters from getting damaged and causing problems with flying. Over the last 20 or so years, it has been used on cars more and more frequently. Like any product, there has been a lot of evolution in design and technology, and there are still some myths floating around that can cause people to be concerned about getting it on their vehicle. Our goal is to share with you the 5 most common misconceptions we come across daily.
Find out the 5 common misconceptions about coatings, and why they still make a lot of sense to get.
Ceramic coatings seem to be all the rage. If you are an enthusiast, or a professional in the detailing industry, it’s all you hear about. While the product awareness is great for companies that install coatings, and good for the consumer (because coatings really are awesome and you should have one) – it can bring some challenges. The biggest issue we face is correctly explaining what a coating will do, and what it will not do. We blame coating companies overstating the effects of coatings, and uneducated consumers spreading half-truths and outright lies about ceramic coatings. Ceramic coatings seem to be all the rage. If you are an enthusiast, or a [...]
A couple of months back we had an idea to invite all of our friends and customers to get together on a Sunday afternoon to bring the exotics out and just have a great time. We got an awesome response from everyone, and in early July we all met up. We expected about 6-8 cars, but we ended up with 13. After some good conversation and some time getting everyone introduced, we had to get some pictures before we set off.
We met at the Parking lot of the shop, and headed East on route 30 with the Jean Bonnet Tavern as our destination. The drive out was great – everyone was enjoying themselves and staying safe. The heads that turned to 13 supercars on route 30 was impressive! I followed in the back of the pack in my Gallardo, behind Jason in his Alpha [...]
When it comes to cleaning windows with tint on them, either tint from the factory or aftermarket tint, it is always a good idea to keep in mind that they should be cleaned carefully.
Why is this you may ask? If you were to use a glass cleaner such as original Windex, which has ammonia in it, the ammonia could potentially damage the film over time. When it comes to selecting a good glass cleaner, we recommend Griot’s Garage Foaming Glass Cleaner which we carry in stock, or Invisible Glass, or any glass cleaner to your preference that does not have ammonia in it. Windex also has an ammonia free glass cleaner now.
Also, when cleaning your windows, tinted or not, we recommend using high quality glass rags; we purchase ours from The Rag Company. [...]
When it comes to polishing different cars, you will realize that the same polishing pad might not work for every vehicle because some paints are hard while others are soft. For example, you may use an orange foam pad on a Ford, but if you try that same pad on a BMW, you might not get the results that you are looking for. Picking the right pad for the job is step one to waxing, polishing, or paint correcting a vehicle. Step two is selecting a good wax, sealant, polish or compound to go with the pad that you have chosen.
There are lots of great pads on the market available from a wide variety of manufacturers including Rupes, Griots Garage, Adam’s Polishes, Chemical Guys, Americana Global, Meguiars, just [...]
Polishing Tight Areas
When it comes to polishing tight, and curvy areas, look no further – the Rupes iBrid Nano is the right tool for the job. A lot of these newer vehicles have various tight body curves and lines, and sometimes the bigger orbitals cannot reach or correct those areas properly. The 3 inch orbitals work well also, but can still be to big for the area you are working on. Rupes has designed a versatile orbital which allows you to reach and correct those areas with no problem.
The iBrid is one awesome tool, it has many features including, 1.25” pads, as well as 2” pads. This gives you the opportunity to change the pads out according to the specific area you are working in. The iBrid also features [...]