How to Tint Auto Glass Windows
Tinting auto glass is real easy. I find the best method is to you the plastic tint film that comes in rolls, as opposed to the spray on tint.
If you follow the steps and with a little effort you should end up with a professional looking job.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Unroll the tinting film on a large flat surface. Place a heavy towel or throw pillows on top of film to flatten the film out.
-
2
Purchase a heavy roll of craft paper or a roll of freezer paper that is the same width as your tint film. Unroll a piece of paper that will cover the area of the window you wish to tint and cut it about two inches longer than the window.
-
-
3
Place the paper up to the window you wish to tint. This will become a pattern. Spread the paper out from the middle using a small foam paint roller and be sure the paper covers the complete window. (This may require a helper.) Use a Pizza cutter wheel and push the paper as close to the interior window molding or rubber as possible. continue to roll the paper pattern out from the center to the edge like the rays of the sun. Once you have the paper pattern flat and in place. Outline the pattern using the pizza cutter roller as close to the edge as possible until you can begin to see a distinct line. Once complete, use a pencil or marker to mark the edge of the pattern.
-
4
Remove the pattern. Lay it on a flat surface and cut it accurately on the marked outline. Brush or roll the pattern flat on the flat surface, then check the edges of the pattern for a clean cut.
-
5
After cutting the pattern, take the paper pattern back to the window for a final fitting. Place the pattern up against the window and be sure it fits properly and covers the complete window. Do not worry if there is a small gap where you trimmed the pattern because you will cut the film about one inch bigger than this pattern.
-
6
Once you're sure the pattern is accurate, take it back to the flat surface where the film has been laid out and lay the pattern on top of the film. Then trace the pattern adding about an inch around the complete pattern. Remove and discard the pattern and trim the film at your marks.
-
7
Note: If the window glass is bowed, not curved, but bowed like a bow in a fish bowl, then it may be necessary to apply the tint in linear strips roughly five inches per strip. Most tint will go on fine with curved glass as long as the curve is in one direction like a coffee mug.
-
8
Spray the interior window with a warm water solution of dish soap. With the water soap solution on the window, use a single edge razor blade scraper or razor blade sticker scraper and scrape every inch of the window clean, using the solution as a sort of lubricant. This will clean your window the best. Once you have scraped the window clean, then spray it clean again and dray it completely, taking care to leave no streaks or fuzz.
-
9
Once again spray the window with the soap solution, and then separate the glue cover from the tint film and spray the glue side of the film wet. Once the sticky back gas been removed and the film sprayed with solution apply it to the window. Be sure the film has covered the complete window before applying it. Then spread the film. It is possible to reverse roll the film and roll it onto the window, but this takes a little more skill.
-
10
With the film in the proper place spray the interior side of the film with soap solution. This will act as a type of lubricant so that squeegee doesn't scratch the film when you squeegee out the bubbles.
-
11
Use the squeegee and work out the bubbles between the film and the glass pushing the bubbles to the edge of the film.
Use a clean shop cloth/paper at the edges where you squeegee the bubble to sop up the excess solution.
Work the bubbles out from the center to the edge like sun rays until all bubbles are gone and the film is dry.
-
12
After you squeegee the film tight to the windows edge around the perimeter of the window interior, trim the excess film using a sharp razor blade or Exacto knife with a small tip, as close as possible to the trim so that the complete window is covered with tint.
You can assist the drying with a hair dryer if needed. Never squeegee the film unless it is wet with a soapy solution or you may cause scratch lines in the film. Good luck
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Tools you will need:
One small paint trimming roller.
One Exacto knife
One sharpie marker
One Pizza cutter roller
One razor blade scrapper
Purchase the proper tint shade that is legal in your state. If your tint is to dark, some states, that have vehicle safety inspections will reject your vehicle and therefore you will not be able to get your vehicle inspected. Check the vehicle codes in your state or some tint packages declare its use is permitted in a list of states.
It is best to have at least one helper for large areas
Be sure the window is clean
If you happen to get a bubble between the film and glass you can not squeegee out, take a pin an prick a tiny hole in it and push the film.
