Tinting car windows
Can someone give me a step by step instructions on how to tint car windows? I want to tint two truck windows and the rear window.
Thanks
Thanks
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First thing you do is find a shop that tints windows and then ask them how much for the three windows. Then go to your local auto parts store and check the price of the film. You'll decide. 0 -
Then after you do it yourself you peel it back off and take it back to the shop and have them do it over . 0 -
I'd have it done professionally. It'll probably run you about $115-130 from Ziebart for the darkest legal ting. that's what it cost for the Tiburon. Two windows(rather large) and the rear window(hatch, also rather large).
They did a great job.0 -
you cannot buy good quality tint from a store like a shop provides
while it can be done and is not as hard as you may think, a bit of trial and error may occur, follow the directions, and use plenty of soapy water, and allow for shrinkage, have several good clean razors, and do not do it in the sun, the temp of the window will cause bubbles0 -
Had it on the ol' daytona car, When it gets hot the glue starts to run, it gets bubbly, Just take it to a shop. 0 -
Agree with the dissatisfaction of home tint. Wife bought a Camaro once that had the door windows home tinted. All the stuff posted above about bubbling was true in our case. My advice is buy factory tinted windows and have them installed. 0 -
don't know, I'm not an expert! sorry. 0 -
Make sure it is legal in your state.... 0 -
look at it this way too:
do it yourself. screw it up. do it again, paying both times.
have a shop do. they screw it up. they fix it, for free0 -
If you use the mirrored tint make sure it reflects to the outside of the vehicle. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by LaidbackDan
If you use the mirrored tint make sure it reflects to the outside of the vehicle.
Unless your so full of yourself that you just want to stare at yourself the whole time.[:)]0 -
It can be done yourself, and work well depending on what windows you're doing.
I've got a 94 chevy work truck that I used the film on to tint the back window and it looks great. No bubbles. I used the stuff on my first truck too. You can get it at autozone or walmart.
The key is to clean the window extremely well. Don't use Windex. I can't remember why but you don't want to use it. Use a lint free towel to dry it off. Inspect the glass for any lint or particles.
Be sure to buy the bottle of fluid it says to use with it also. You pour the fluid into a jug of distilled water and it makes like a soapy water.
Then I cut the sheet to rough size, leaving plenty of overlap at the edges to begin with. Use a brand new razor blade and cut the first corner close to what you want.
Soak the window down with the solution you made. Then, peel the backing off your rough cut piece of tint (may require assistance).
Soak the sticky side of the tint down also. Put the corner in place that you cut close and work your way down and across, trying to keep as much air out as possible. If the glass starts drying out somewhere, apply more fluid, and lay the tint down.
Now you have a little time to work with it before it sets up. Usually the tint comes with a rubber squeegy. At this point, you would use that to drag across any air bubbles and work them out to the closest edge. This can take quite some time to get it right and again, having the glass perfectly clean is key.
Once it's flattened out and you're not seeing any air bubbles, use your razor blade to trim it down to the final size. I had what looked to be a few tiny, pin head sized air bubbles but as it set, they went away.
Some windows have a raised black edge around them. They will really mess with your tint because it will leave air under the gap. Your outside edge will have to stop at the black.
It will not lay down over heater wires in back windows either.
My Eclipse has those and also has the black edge including little raised black dots inside them, so there was no way I could use the film on any of it.
Side windows are trickier and you'll have to use extra to get it down behind the weather strip.
I could not get it to work well on curved glass either.
If you have normal, flat glass that is easily accessible with nothing else on it and it's cleaned spotless, the film tint can work great.0 -
If you do do it yourself, I recommend taking the glass out of the doors and rear frame so that you can coat the entire window to the edges. It'll look a lot better once you're done. 0 -
Everything I've owned since high school has had or does have tinted windows. I did the first few. I learned alot. When I bought my first black Suburban I took it to Rogers Stereo in Greenville and had them do it. $100. Guaranteed for life. I didn't have to fool with it. Same thing now. I guess its old age, but I do think having it done is so much better than doing it yourself. 0 -
vess1, the guys in the detail shop at work told me the secret to doing curves...heat gun! that stuff really stretches when warm, unlike the stuff we had when i was in school.
for extreme curves they peice it, cut on the overlay so as to not show a gap
same with the defrost wires on the back window, carefully cuting along the edge of each wire..very time consumeing.
only tinting i have done in the past 20 yrs or so was my mothers enclosed porch. done 2 yrs now with only a couple bubbles (dog hair snuck under the film!)
as long as there are NO bubbles left under the film it should not lift/bubble. the air under the film expands from even a pin-point size to a very noticeable bubble when it gets warm0 -
some states it isnt legal to tint front side windows 0 -
One of my first jobs was as a window tinter. I did cars as well as regular windows. Depending on the car it can be quite complex. For cars, use a pro. 0 -
Having done (and attempted) a few cars and trucks, it really isn't any fun. Window tinting is not for everybody. You really need to take your time and do it right.
I never knew they cut it along the heating wires. My back window is very curved and has the wires. After trying it once, I wouldn't even attempt it again.
Comes down to how bad do you want them tinted and what's your money and time worth to you?0 -
Like others have said already don't try it yourself unless you've done it for a living. Otherwise you'll end up with what looks like windows that have had purple bubble wrap applied for tenting.
Smitty0 -
I tinted the windows on 2 of our cars; never again.
Bought professional tinting film so I'd have the right materials, put it on correctly but after 3 years in the hot Texas sun it started streaking and bubbling. Took it all off, and haven't replaced it.
I just wear dark sunglasses. [8D]
The professional shops use a vinyl cutter and a special program to cut out the tint, they have almost every car or truck listed -- and they use a heavier film than is sold at auto parts stores.
If you choose to have it done make sure you get a warranty.
As others have said, if you do it yourself it will have to be redone no matter how good a job you've done. Just take a close look at cars/trucks in your area that have had their windows done a few years ago!0
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