Monday, May 17, 2010

Armoring My Van In McAllen - With Blast rated Film!

3:30 p.m. McAllen, TX.

It’s HOT again. I went to the McAllen Convention center this morning at 9. They were just opening the doors. Very little rain has been falling from what people have told me. It was 94 degrees today - and will be in the mid-90's all week!

McAllen is a Beautiful city and has a beautiful convention center. I set up the booth and then did something I've never done. I started putting Armor Glass 8 mm security film on my own van -- right then and there. I wanted to "Armor its Glass" -- because of the proximity of Reynosa!

Normally this 8 mm life saving stuff goes on houses and buildings so you can throw away the plywood, not cars!! But they use a very thin film on cars --(2 mm or even a 1.5 mm). I wanted a THICK 8 mm film on mine! Basically I was putting on the same film on my van that was used on the DC federal buildings after 9/11.

I got a little too engrossed in the installation. I heard something and realized that they were about to box me in with fire trucks and tents and exhibit vehicles! I got out fast and pulled under a small tree in the parking lot --and finished putting CLEAR 8 mm security film on the inside van windows--to stop more ‘smash and grabs’ like what happened to my GPS after I first got the Montana (if I'd known then how fickle TomTom was, I would not have missed it so much).

Coming to the increasingly wild west border made me quit stalling and get into action mode on my own vehicle--armoring its weakest link, its glass.

Normally you can't put something as thick as 8 mm on a car - car tint is usually 2 mm or LESS. But I wanted SECURITY film not just flimsy solar film on my personal vehicle. When car glass gets struck with a hammer, etc., it wants to break into a thousand small pieces that normally fall in -- and pile up on your car seat --while the thief is grabbing and going.

But with the 8 mm film on the (inside) car windows, the film --and its adhesive-- will bond the small pieces together, forming a barrier to penetration - versus none (which is what everyone has.) It will definitely be a game changer from the usual "hit the glass, grab and run."

The guy who put in my replacement car window said that he was busy replacing car windows because people leave computers or valuables in view in the car (like my GPS) -- and in 10 seconds even a poor thief with anything hard can smash the glass, reach in, grab the item -- and be gone. All in 10 seconds - UNLESS there is a barrier. Armor Glass security film provides that barrier.

The same film is actually bomb blast rated film. Although I don't expect to need it, it is still nice to know it comes with it! Whoa! I just saw a local TV news item about someone leaving a "homemade bomb" in the middle of a street in McAllen. No kidding! Well, maybe we'll need that bomb blast protection after all....! Holy smokes.

It went on fairly well today, considering that I had to do a first-ever car install without my crew (who do buildings, not cars.) I finished by noon. When I looked down the front of my Armor Glass shirt was soaking wet.

So I broke for lunch, then went by HEB to pick up some wine and a frozen dinner for the room microwave!

We are facing an 'above-normal' hurricane season. Get your house prepared before it comes. Doing that will give you a bonus 24/7 'smash and grab' protection for your house (with or without the wine). I can't tell you how many people are reporting bricks thrown through their glass by burglars.

4 comments:

  1. I am in total agreement with you. I am always the cautious one, telling everyone not to leave anything in their cars especially in these bad economic times. I am also aware of the dangerous UV rays that our dear Sun pours down on us daily.

    I believe I found my car's window tint while searching on this site http://www.sun-protection-and-you.com/car-window-tint.html .

    I hope everyone realizes that UV rays can lead to skin cancer, and if you drive a lot, you'd better have some UV protection car window tint.

    Good luck.

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  2. Our company doesn't do cars but our supplier does make car films. The commentor is right about UV - our security film eliminates 99% of it in your home and office. You also need to shield yourself from it in your car.

    Car film is very thin film - it isn't security film. However, i did manage to put our security film on my vehicle, for break in protection.

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  3. I am suggesting you try window tint I prefer it because of this features Block 50% of heat.Block 99% of UV rays.Reduce glare from sun .

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  4. The problem with tint in a hurricane zone is that it only cuts solar heat but doesn't provide breach protection. Our films do BOTH, so you really get something for the investment - and no more stupid, heavy plywood!

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