How to Tint Auto Glass
Tint car windows using a thin, cellophane-like plastic film. This film is placed on the inside of the windows. To achieve a flawless finish, the window must be clean and dry, and only recommended products used. Choose a cleaning or adhesive solution based on the recommendations of the tint film brand you choose. Work in a clean, shaded, draft-free environment for best results.
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Things You'll Need
- Cleaning solution
- Microfiber cloths
- Utility knife
- Extra blades
- Scraper with hard edge, rubber edge and angled edge
- Transparent tape
Instructions
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Clean the inside and outside of the car window thoroughly, then dry it.
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2
Determine the backing side of the tinting film from the front. When loosely folded and rubbed together, the right side is slippery against itself, while the back is slightly sticky. When cutting the template on the outside of the window, the right side of the film is placed against the window with the backing facing outward.
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Wet the outside of the window with the cleaning solution.
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Unroll a portion of the film and place the right side against the outside of the window glass.
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Trim excess film that extends beyond the edges of the window with a sharp utility knife, roughly following the outline of the car window. Use the window as your pattern for shaping and sizing the film.
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Position the film so that it is level on the window, with 1/4 to 1/2 inch of film that falls below the rubber gasket at the base of the window.
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Wet the outside of the film, and scrape the excess solution away with the rubber edge of your scraper. You are temporarily holding the film in place by doing so.
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Trim the vertical edges or sides of the tinting material, cutting it to fit the window glass perfectly.
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9
Open the car door. Gently raise the film off the bottom edge of the window while reaching around and lowering the window by about 2 inches.
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Trim away the top of the film to match the window's edge, using the top of the window glass as your guide. Clean up the corners by pulling the film off the glass and using your fingertip as a guide for your knife.
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Clean the inside of the window a second time using cleaning solution and a microfiber cloth. You cannot be too careful, because any particle of dirt or grime will cause a bubble or blemish in the finished film.
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Scrape the window dry, and use a cloth over the angled portion of the scraper to reach in and clean down inside the rubber gasket.
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Pull off two pieces of tape approximately 2 inches long. Attach one to each side of the film and film backing, holding onto the unstuck portions like tabs. Gently pull the tape tabs apart to separate the back of the film from the front, and peel off the protective backing.
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Remove the backing slowly while continuously spraying the cleaning solution to cut down on static cling. This is most easily accomplished with the right side of the film stuck to the outside of the car window to hold it in place.
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Spray the inside window glass to wet it down.
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Transfer the film from the outside of the window to the inside, folding up the bottom portion to keep it from contacting the upholstery and picking up trash. Slide the film into position, leaving about 1/8 inch clear space along the top edge.
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Wet the outside of the film with cleaning solution, and begin to squeeze the moisture out from between the film and the glass, smoothing imperfections as you go. Work from the top edge of the glass downward.
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Roll up the window and clean the portion that was below the door gasket. Then wet it again and allow the folded portion of the film to lay flat against the window beneath where the gasket rests against the window. Slide the film past the gasket, using the angled hard edge of the scraper to separate the rubber gasket from the glass, creating a gap that allows the film to slide behind the gasket.
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Continue using the scraper to press and smooth all moisture from between the film and the glass, again working from the top edge of the window down.
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Use the hard edge of the scraper wrapped in microfiber cloth to remove any excess moisture from the film and under the window gasket.
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Tips & Warnings
Before cutting film for each window, insert a new blade into your utility knife. This ensures a clean cut.
Always check local automotive window tint laws before tinting your vehicle's windows. Use light pressure and a slight angle when cutting film on the window to keep from scratching the glass.
References
Resources
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