tinting windows

[hayabusa]

hay all i'm tinting my windows. this being my first time doing it myself do you have any sugestions.

[djdanger]

Not too piss on your parade, but, let a pro do it. Unless you are exceptionally gifted, and lucky, the back window will never turn out right.

If you do tackle it, I wish you the best of luck.

[hayabusa]

my auto teacher is helping me, and he did the windows on his chevelle so i figure he's good

[djdanger]

cool.....best of luck then, only advice I can give is, take your time, and make sure the glass is clean.

[TA^Guy]

Clean the window, then clean it again.

Use Windex and crumpled up newspaper. Newspaper leave no lint behind and scrubs the glass well.

Before removing the backing lay your tint on the outside of the window and trim it with a very sharp razor blade.

Soak the glass with glass cleaner, carefully remove the backing on tint and soak the backside.

Stick it to the glass and slide it around to where you want it. Start from the center with the squeegie and push the water out towards the closest edge.

When all water is out you help dry i tfaster with a hairdryer. If you use a heatgun on it don't be surprised if you burn through it.

Like others said, Good luck.

[hayabusa]

thanks i'll do my best and hopefully it won't look like crap

[XoticGA]

Yikes, good luck

[Chain]

Do not use windex it has Ammonia in it. Thats one of the big no no's cleaning tint is not to use anything with ammonia in it.
Thats what they use to take it off.

[hayabusa]

oh then just soap and water, oh and mi think my car has defogger in back(those organe lines) do i have to do anything specail for that

[Chain]

I never done it, I figured with all the PITA involved I just paid the 150.00 and had it done.
Heck man you can't go wrong with life time warranty.
But heck give it a shot, if it don't come out right you can always say you gave it a shot.
I would go down to one of the shops that do it and see if anyone will take to ya. Thats how I find out most of info I get is from talking to the pro's.

[sudden_impulse]

Hay, I believe that you will have to cut strips for the tinting to go around the defogger lines, otherwise it will turn out bad and won't last too long.

[hayabusa]

like put the strips in bet ween the lines

[TA^Guy]

Originally posted by Chain
Do not use windex it has Ammonia in it. Thats one of the big no no's cleaning tint is not to use anything with ammonia in it.
Thats what they use to take it off.
Not all Windex has ammonia. It's true not to use ammonia on tint, it'll turn it blueish over time and make it appear faded.
And they use acetone to remove it.
Originally posted by sudden_impulse
Hay, I believe that you will have to cut strips for the tinting to go around the defogger lines, otherwise it will turn out bad and won't last too long.
Not so. You can tint right over the defroster. I have done it on several vehicles.

[sudden_impulse]

TA, it probably depends on the quality of the tint. A forum I used to go to talked about this and they said the tint likes to bubble on the strips if not done properly. I know my friend's vinyl on the inside of his window has come unattached where the strip is, but is still stuck to the rest of the window. But you're probably right, since you have experience and I'm only commenting on what I've heard and read.

[TA^Guy]

Originally posted by sudden_impulse
TA, it probably depends on the quality of the tint. A forum I used to go to talked about this and they said the tint likes to bubble on the strips if not done properly. I know my friend's vinyl on the inside of his window has come unattached where the strip is, but is still stuck to the rest of the window. But you're probably right, since you have experience and I'm only commenting on what I've heard and read.
Yes for windows with the defroster lines glued to the glass surface it makes it more difficult to get the bubbles out. My first tint job on my Camaro had a aftermarket defroster. The side lines were maybe 1/4" thick, those I could not cover with tint so around the edge there was maybe 1/4" clear that I covered with electrical tape. That was the only real issues I've ever had with defrosters.

[matts]

i can use ammonia on my tint :D it's metal

[nick_moser]

ok when u do the back window its easier to take the non sticky side towards the back window in the outside and cut it out then. then after u cut it out peel it off then put it. GOOD LUCK

[tenspeed]

I'm suprised no one has mentioned the paint dots on the top of the back window. My tinter applied a black vinyl drop from the top of the window to the top defroster line. I have also heard of people sanding them down or painting them.

I also covered the rear speakers in plastic to keep water out.

[T-DigGA]

Originally posted by djdanger
Not too piss on your parade, but, let a pro do it.

I used to tint windows..and got where I was pretty good at it. Now I'd rather just pay someone to do it.

Originally posted by sudden_impulse
Hay, I believe that you will have to cut strips for the tinting to go around the defogger lines...

Definitely, DO NOT do that. Getting the bubbles out from around the defroster lines...that's one of the reasons i'd say "go with the pros". As well as, when an edge won't stay down, if you can't get a bubble out, and getting hard to reach places. Not to mention being very uncomfortable twisted up inside the car.

Good luck if you do it yourself. It WILL be a learning experience.

[New_RevenG]

Theyll charge me 170 to take off the old one, which is still in great condition and put on new limo and smoke. I just got an alarm With them, so i guess they'll continue to get my buissness. Maybe ill try to learn on my mother-in-laws Cavi... LOL!

[hamiltonaudio]

a friend and business associate is one of the best custom tinters in the area (the guy does WILD stuff) and I've had beers watching him tint rides HUNDREDS of times...seen every step done professionally over and over...

and I still would NOT touch it ;) For the few bucks (literally) that ur gonna save, let a pro have it bud...

bmoney

[coupe]

^^Agreed.

But hey ya mess it up....whatever....take it to a pro when you give up...and you will.

[hayabusa]

yeah my buddy who shop said they would do it for free i f i just came in and helped them clean up the shop some time( the owner is a close freind too)

[1badAED]

for the defroster lines you do not have to cut strips just do one solid piece for your window it will come out fine