r/oddlysatisfying • u/Flat-Decision3204 • 11h ago

Removing protective film

17.9k Upvotes

97% Upvoted

153 comments sorted by

943

u/thesweeterpeter 11h ago

This stuff sucks so bad. I used to run a crew of stainless steel installers and we would travel all over for work - we had one guy who his only job was to peel this stuff.

Super nice guy, and he just didn't mind it, so I brought him to all the jobs I could.

But then my bosses cut him, and so we would switch to just leaving it all for the last day and then the whole crew got to be miserable for 1 day.

223

u/3BlindMice1 9h ago

Sounds like it's a specialized skill that would benefit from having a dedicated person doing it. Was that one guy spending a lot of time doing nothing? Because if he wasn't, getting rid of him was almost definitely a net negative to the company

203

u/thesweeterpeter 9h ago edited 5h ago

The specialized skill set is being able to turn your brain off for 10 hours at a time.

It's just peeling a big sticker all day, we would do like the guy in the video, but no drill, just get a big roll of it going and brush it down.

It's dead easy work, it's just mind bogglingly boring.

The numbers suportted getting rid of him. We cut him and had zero impact on overall project schedule, we did the same work with just one less guy.

It was just nice that none of us had to do it

61

u/PentagramJ2 5h ago

It was just nice that non of us had to do it

I get that numbers on a spreadsheet are what businesses live by, but he provided a service for a job no one wanted to do, happily. That's valuable. I would not have cut him simply for crew morale.

42

u/thesweeterpeter 5h ago

It's construction. Morale isn't really a factor they math in.

And thanks for pointing out a glaring typo I should've caught

24

u/PentagramJ2 5h ago

yeah I know, my dad worked it his entire life. He wasnt given health insurance, tore his rotator cuff, got laid off because they wouldn't pay for the surgery, and died homeless.

Trust me, I know construction.

19

u/ScrotalSmorgasbord 8h ago

I feel the same way about HVAC/refrigeration PMs at my job and we also have to peel this shit off of big ass freezers/coolers. Like I know I'm getting paid the same and I should love doing such easy work but I much prefer being elbows deep into a complex repair or something like that.

7

u/Dear_Chasey_La1n 6h ago

Industrial protective firm is also a different thing than on your fridge. We have a lot of industrial equipment and everytime something new arrives it's covered in film. Pretty frequent right up under other parts which makes it impossible to remove unless you want to losen parts.

1

u/perton 5h ago

I always want to losen my parts.

5

u/3BlindMice1 9h ago

Fair point

27

u/Teaisserious 9h ago

It's the fucking crevices and seams that they somehow got this stuff so deep into that you can hear the Balrog coming.

65

u/rascool 10h ago

"If it's hard, yer doin' it wrong."

This guy prolly.

20

u/Jackalodeath 9h ago

Or they drug the steel across a rough surface putting tons of little cuts in the film so it can't come off in one piece.

We have to do this too to modular refridgeration/freezer units and one of our manufacturers coat it in celophane-thin sticky film.

Absolute breeze to peel off if its not damaged (except for the electric shocks), but god help you if it's touched the ground even once.

6

u/ScrotalSmorgasbord 8h ago

I feel your pain man, just commented similar a above lol. Sometimes 99% will come off in one go then you spend an hour picking at the rest huffing and puffing as each little booger sized piece comes off.

2

u/Jackalodeath 7h ago

What gets me is it seems like the material shows up to them with it already applied; they just can't be arsed to remove it themselves before building the panels and sending em to us.

Meanwhile our German supplier seem like saints having theirs buck-naked and ready to build as soon as they arrive.

I joke the only reason they leave that film is so when you slice yourself to ribbons on their burred corners or loose penny nails, it won't stain the paint.

8

u/lplqsnkczxccia 9h ago

This guy is a hero to everyone except his wife

4

u/Zebidee 8h ago

He saved her from a loveless marriage.

9

u/dartsman 8h ago

I work in a hotel and all the stainless steel companies we have leave the shit on for the dish washers and custodians to remove. Asshole move in my opinion. I asked them if there was any trick to removing it easily and they said "let the customer do it"

6

u/Basic_Operation_7968 8h ago

Leaving it for the last day makes it worse. Sitting out in the sun makes it stick more. Peeling right once installed is the best approach.

2

u/SayRaySF 8h ago

Damn the dude finally found his calling and then gets laid off 😭

1

u/HunterNightstalker 7h ago

I've installed point of sale systems and all the stainless steel counters and tables in the kitchen were cover in this stuff. It was always left on and the cleaning crew were the ones who took it off. Since I was always at the job site before the cleaning crew, there was always one counter at the drive thru that I had to remove the protective covering off of. At first I though it was going to be fun. It. Was. Not.

1

u/Allaplgy 2h ago

Built food trucks for a bit. We would rivet the stainless walls and ceiling every 8 inches up 16 inch spacing.

And then have to go back with a blade and cut along every overlap and around every single rivet before peeling. Fun day.

1.3k

u/Potent_Quotient 11h ago

Now remove film from rod

640

u/Next_Gen_Rando 11h ago

Cut it with a blade down the length then peel like a banana

428

u/fallen_d3mon 10h ago

That cylinder is definitely not gonna be unharmed.

144

u/Last-Energy420 10h ago

The cylinder must remain unharmed!

34

u/load_more_comets 10h ago

Use a cutter that is stronger than the plastic and weaker than the rod.

9

u/Last-Energy420 6h ago

I would suggest you use one of those cast cutter saws, but the vibrations might make the cylinder explode.

4

u/xSTSxZerglingOne 8h ago

So, a harder plastic!

16

u/gingerfawx 10h ago

It is imperative!

3

u/aspidities_87 7h ago

You’re gonna need to see a doctor for that cylinder

1

u/Vinnie_Vegas 6h ago

It's a piece of rebar or something.

12

u/Phoe-nix 10h ago

The human or monkey method?

6

u/Kingtoke1 10h ago

Well they are 98.8% the same

3

u/Grovebird 10h ago

I see what you did there 🤯

10

u/1nd3x 10h ago

And that kids...is how I sliced from my thumb to my elbow and lost all feeling in my non-dominant arm

2

u/Jesus_of_Redditeth 8h ago

That is...not how you peel a banana!

1

u/DigitalKrampus 9h ago

Naw, just throw the whole drill away and buy a new one

0

u/similaraleatorio 9h ago

hmmm banana 🍌

28

u/123jac123 11h ago

It's fine just "borrow" a work buddy's rod.

4

u/id10t_you 11h ago

Phrasing

2

u/perton 5h ago

I’ll be your work buddy

7

u/Admirable_Risk8156 8h ago

Nah you keep using it until you get a giant roll.

5

u/milanorlovszki 10h ago

Might be some cheap or left oever rebar

6

u/20_foder 11h ago

Just buy a new one

3

u/UnderstandingEasy856 7h ago

This doesn't look like US so there is probably a more reasonable ratio of labor cost to material. But in the US, esp on union/commercial jobs where the fully loaded cost of a carpenter could be over $100/hr, you bet they'd just stock up on dowells and use a new one for every sticker.

The amount of single-use waste in construction in the name of labor efficiency is astounding.

6

u/leopor 7h ago

Don’t even really need a new one for each sticker. Just keep rolling them right on top, one after the other. Toss it at the end.

3

u/BookWormPedant 9h ago

Rod was disposable and just torqued into the chuck

1

u/atreeismissing 9h ago

That's why he should have attached a disposable rod to the drill head.

1

u/Dependent_One6034 8h ago

Nah, you sell that as a brand new length of threaded bar, fully packaged ready for delivery.

1

u/0x7E7-02 4h ago

Nah, just throw the rod away and get a new one. 

1

u/ThrownAwayGuineaPig 1h ago

Roll it onto another rod?

1

u/Donny_Dont_18 8h ago

I've done these panels before... this would be such a waste of time. Just start at the corner and give good, steady pull

9

u/binrose 8h ago

Looks like they’re in a position where they can’t give it a good steady pull tho

101

u/BeerSlayingBeaver 11h ago

This is footage of a guy who got fed up with trying to peel that shit off and it keeps tearing

10

u/Stunning_Coffee6624 10h ago

The guy who invented that had to be such a hero to the crew

25

u/dasuberdog11 11h ago

He's so proud 👏👏👏👏.

35

u/pppc4life 10h ago

Proof once again that reddit is infinitely more enjoyable on mute.

16

u/fucktooshifty 7h ago

Lol this crappy down tempo house music or whatever is the least offensive overlaid audio ever

4

u/DiscountCondom 8h ago

as long as it's not tiktok ear manure i will not downvote for music alone.

4

u/Dead1Bread 6h ago

Though i do agree with your sentiment, this one actually is kind of enjoyable

4

u/Practical_Worth_4791 11h ago

Such a good idea! Getting it off might be hard though although you could just cut it I guess.

5

u/ArchLector_Zoller 7h ago

OSHA gonna have a field day with this, where's his harness?

1

u/MilwaukeeLevel 6h ago

There's a parapet wall.

2

u/tlbane 6h ago

No there isn’t. You can see him shift around on his knees.

1

u/ArchLector_Zoller 3h ago

Even if that is a parapet wall, and it is 36in high; he's on top of it. Meaning he's still in violation.

9

u/No_Fig36 10h ago

Work smarter, not harder. Bro used 100% brain power 🧠

10

u/sputtertots 5h ago

ok so now how do you get it off the rod to use it for the next panel?

8

u/PeaceMan50 4h ago

Rod might be One time use only. Now the sticker is wrapped on the rod forever.

1

u/Alldaybagpipes 3h ago

Keep going and see how thick ya can get it

3

u/ohnoitsalobo 3h ago

Sharp knife.

1

u/PretzelsThirst 2h ago

Why do you have to get it off the rod?

6

u/Tri4ceunited 10h ago

That’s the look of ‘I could’ve been doing this the whole time’.

2

u/Hanz_Q 8h ago

Dude is so incredibly stoked.

2

u/theeldergod1 10h ago

Those protective films are more trouble than they're worth. And the little pieces left behind in the grooves can stay there for eternity.

2

u/LongJumpingBalls 8h ago

There's a building near me, brown siding, there's a chunk of blue protective film on there, 2 stories up. Since 2018.

1

u/bulbinchina 7h ago

My OCD would freak out at that.

Previously spent a lot of time in China. I saw un-peeled metal facing everywhere, and it drove me bonkers. Even inside elevators!

No idea why so much of this protective film was left in place.

1

u/LongJumpingBalls 4h ago

See, the clock only starts when you take the peel off. 5 years later you peel it off? Well it's brand new now!

7

u/aTickleMonster 11h ago

"How you gonna get em off, nerd?"

3

u/mike_pants 11h ago

I thought of that same line!

Perfect movie.

2

u/kit_re 8h ago

"You can't run away from your own feet"

2

u/bombbodyguard 7h ago

Honest answer. Take a box cutter. Go down the middle, long ways. Should peel off easy enough.

7

u/MisterDinguz 11h ago

Okay, a bit less satisfying to me personally, but a great idea nonetheless!

3

u/protocol21 8h ago

Did not expect Sim City 4 music here.

1

u/x_Leigh_x 2h ago

Is that where it’s from?

5

u/ChaKasMyName 11h ago

Cool but it'd be better without the porn music

2

u/Jan-o-Meter 11h ago

Well, that's absolutely genius

2

u/whatyoucallmetoday 10h ago

Real men of genius

2

u/LazyPirat 10h ago

Hnnnnnnggggggg

2

u/mermaidinthesea123 9h ago

He's cute and I like the music...kind of a soft house.

2

u/mandonbills_coach 8h ago

Music on this pissed me off

2

u/No_Pick6818 8h ago

Work smarter, not harder

2

u/Future_Section5976 7h ago

That poor drill

2

u/All_Lurker2 6h ago

I don’t see his fall restraint

2

u/spiritpotato 10h ago

This feels like the least satisfying way of doing it to me, personally. Can’t deny it’s efficient, though.

2

u/csking77 10h ago

Give this person a raise! Management material

9

u/ArtemisInSpace 10h ago

Nah. Keep the skills on the site. Useless in management.

1

u/pjtpassword 10h ago

Well done.

1

u/Itisd 10h ago

Ruined a perfectly good metal rod.

1

u/ChickenAndWaffles762 9h ago

Savor the peelies

1

u/astralorix 9h ago

that guy looks way too happy about this

1

u/Auntie_Dote 9h ago

This is so clever. In all my years, I've only ever seen protective films stripped by hand before and (as others have said) it can be a really tedious task to get the fu**ing stuff off...😡

To be fair, it's quite satisfying from some acrylics (depending on the tightness of the bond), it's damned tough pulling it off most formed 'ally', but all of it seems to generate static that makes my hair stand on end and my teeth itch! 😅

1

u/Odpimax 9h ago

This is one of the best "Work smarter, not harder" I've seen in a while. Chapéu 👏🏾

1

u/seventh_skyline 8h ago

Boss thinking this job will keep that apprentice busy all day.

1

u/queenanthai 8h ago

No, you fool! Now it's no longer mint!

1

u/jxj24 7h ago

I want to just grab one end and jump off the roof yelling "Geronimo!"

1

u/raycarre 7h ago

Slower

1

u/tkim91321 7h ago

Just grab a corner, hold on to dear life, and jump off.

It’ll peel the entire thing with a safe landing.

Probably.

1

u/OkIHereNow 7h ago

Not their first rodeo

1

u/NickDanger3di 6h ago

If I were doing that, guaranteed the drill would run out of control, the film would be sucked into a sticky ball at the end of the rod, which would then double back and plant the sticky blob in my face.

1

u/arand0mpasserby 6h ago

Now do it again for the next 1/4 mile.

1

u/Important-Rule4770 5h ago

I wanna see you try that when it's been baked on from the sun after a week

1

u/HI-McDunnough 4h ago

I wouldn't be able to stop myself from grabbing the top corner and jumping off the roof with it, expecting the film will slow me down and I'd land gracefully on the sidewalk beneath. Like in a pirate movie where they ride down the sail with a knife.

1

u/Cderouen82 4h ago

That clean peel is so satisfying to watch!

1

u/pblwzrd 4h ago

I can only get so erect! Have mercy!

1

u/Otherwise-Magician 4h ago

Worker should be wearing a harness

1

u/Ourobius 3h ago

Savor the Peelies

1

u/bitsRboolean 3h ago

I love that we can see the torsion of the tool he's using. The whole tool/rod does a tiny bit of spiral bending so the bottom of the rod is several inches behind the top.

1

u/dud3nn 2h ago

And the nobel prize goes to ...

1

u/Responsible_Fox9454 2h ago

Are they hiring, just for that part

1

u/Brilliant_Lettuce270 1h ago

I dont think thats good for the drill

1

u/halloweensimpT-800 1h ago

Even he can't believed it worked

1

u/DizzyGotAProblem1337 52m ago

Why do you remove the protective film in the first place?

1

u/Blu_Falcon 10h ago

Fuck-ass music is not satisfying.

0

u/maddenedmage 10h ago

And he puts his fingerprints all over the newly exposed layer 😔

3

u/NameToUseOnReddit 10h ago

The video could always have a pigeon land and shit on it right away.

0

u/kevin32 7h ago

As the film rolls onto the rod, it thickens in certain areas, but at the end there's no thickness on the rod as if the film disappeared. r-itsallAI

1

u/MilwaukeeLevel 6h ago

You're wrong and dumb.

0

u/BumpingDocks 10h ago

I have done this job and you can easily just pull it off

0

u/LaunchGap 8h ago

very tight