Window tinting

[Zephod_beeblebrox2]

The instructions were simple. Application was hard because after peeling the backing off the film, the film was crinkly and fought back with a vengeance.

I'm dissatisfied with the look but I'm noit dissatisfied enough to produce cash for somebody else to do it. I'm saying its an old bus. It's only ever going to be an old bus lol

[crazycal]

There's a trick they use. Can't remember if it is soap or diluted vinegar in a spray bottle used to work out the bubbles.

[Zephod_beeblebrox2]

Oh. I did water in a spray bottle. Might try adding soap.

[Scooternj]

Originally Posted by crazycal

There's a trick they use. Can't remember if it is soap or diluted vinegar in a spray bottle used to work out the bubbles.

Its a soap solution and a squeegee; and work top down, inside out. At least that's what we used to hang window tint on the patio doors of our house.

[Zephod_beeblebrox2]

OK. I'll try that next.

[milkmania]

Originally Posted by Zephod_beeblebrox2

The instructions were simple. Application was hard because after peeling the backing off the film, the film was crinkly and fought back with a vengeance.

I'm dissatisfied with the look but I'm noit dissatisfied enough to produce cash for somebody else to do it. I'm saying its an old bus. It's only ever going to be an old bus lol
Attachment 7832

tinted my limousine windows and double tinted them several times over the last 8 years....... plus several suburbans
I don't know what instructions you used....

scrape and wash the windows, and scrape and wash them again.....
cut a piece CLOSE TO SIZE,
wet the window, (in my cases, it was the outside of window... buses shouldn't apply.)
throw it up there,
cut out with SHARP SHARP SHARP Razor knife,
pull tint off window,
spray window,
peel tint apart,
throw it up there,
squeegee it out with rubber squeegee (center to edge),
trim to size,
squeegee,
lather, rinse, repeat
and always remember, Don't sweat the small stuff!


tips:
in a spray bottle, use water and a few drops dishwashing liquid for lubricant. spray water/detergent liberally!

SHADE & NO WIND!

The best knives I've seen are these kind.....
snap the blade off often for new edge!




You're dealing with relatively flat glass, and lot of repetitions.... if it were me, I'd have several sheets of tint cut closely to the size beforehand.

start on one, get it the way you want it.... spray it down, spray the next glass squeegee the previous one, and form assembly line fashion.



As Tango says......
Q: "How do I get to Carnegie Hall?"

A: " Practice, practice, practice".

[Hvbuzz]

That's how I do it also. I usually just use dish soap in spray bottle. I get one corner started then a top edge peeled back. Place open edge on really wet window. Then peel back the rest of the clear film. Cheap tint is harder to work with, but that is what I used on the bus too. This is the stuff I used. I can't recommend it other then the price.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ilpage_o02_s00

This is the front door and top visor tinted.

20150706_185734 by Hvbuzz, on Flickr
The white haze on the door is the glass starting to delaminate.

Back windows tinted
20150530_124004 by Hvbuzz, on Flickr

[Zephod_beeblebrox2]

Lol. We have the same stuff! It's almost impossible to find an edge to peel!

[milkmania]

Originally Posted by Zephod_beeblebrox2

Lol. We have the same stuff! It's almost impossible to find an edge to peel!

two pieces of scotch tape, one in left hand, one in right hand....

join them together on a corner, sticky to sticky.... pull apart


found internet pic....

[milkmania]

my current tint is 2 layers if 5%


amazon pic

[HolyBus]

I just painted my windows black because they are behind the shower unit. Any others that will be tinted will get something like Luminaire 80. It is a high heat reflector but almost clear. That is except for the other side bathroom windows. They will get frosted film and the front doors will get something decorative that wife chooses.

[Zephod_beeblebrox2]

I'm going to 5% all the windows I haven't painted black. Bathroom windows will be 5% with a piece of shower curtain velcroed over the window.

[REDD]

MILKMAN has it, take the blade out of your knife and use the whole edge to scrape your windows, that will remove any grinding, spray painting, fly/bug $#!t off the glass. Green painters tape will work to. In a litre of water, use half a teaspoon of dish soap. As your taking the backing off you can spray the tint [if the tint curls you can get it apart if it's wet] as well as the window. I pre-cut all mine, most of my glass was the same size. Did the back 6 windows with black vinyl from a sign shop [can't see through, no curtains needed] and the front 5 windows limo black.

Don't know what kind of paint sticks that well to glass, the ones I've seen done that way the paint eventually peeled off.

[Zephod_beeblebrox2]

Bah! Soapy water didn't help at all. Still getting a crappy finish! Oh well, I'm going to say $%$& it and keep on until job done. It's going to annoy the crap out of me but I don't honestly think I want to spend the time and materials (read $$$) learning to do it better. I'm going to try increasing the amount of soap. I suspect the problem could be temperature related.

I'll keep trying. Maybe by the time I get to the front, my technique will have improved.

[Ryank327]

It doesn't look bad in that pic. What is making you say it is a crappy finish? Do you have bubbles/wrinkles? A bad fit? Or it just looks cheap? Cheap tint will delaminate and peel pretty quickly, especially with summer heat you will get in SC. I would recommend a wipe down with some rubbing alcohol before application to make sure you remove all grease and oils from the window surfaces.

[Zephod_beeblebrox2]

I have bubblkes and wrinkles that I can't seem to eliminate withg the plastic spatula.

And now I'm out of film. Seems one roll doesn't cover much and at 20 inches wide used on windows 24x12, there's a load of wastage.

[milkmania]

not TOO much soap.... it can break down the adhesive, even though you're going to squeegee it out. I've noticed it wasn't as tacky when I used more soap.
it stuck fine, it just didn't feel right when I squeeggeed it out.

[milkmania]

"small" bubbles tend to evaporate out... (While adhesive is still tacky)I've even used a needle to poke the hole and press the air out, but you mileage may vary. I only had a few.

as far as wrinkles, once tint wrinkles and/or creases.... it's there for life of film.

try wetting the window, and wetting the adhesive side of film laying on glass, then spray the non-adhesive side then squeegee outward soapy water also lubricates the blade, because the dryer you squeegee the non-adhesive side, you'll scratch the film.

Not so much downward, because you'll lose a lot of water/soap before you get the film laying right.

It usually looks like I turned a water wiggle loose with all the spray I use
I can usually "slide" the film in any direction I want, until I lay the squeegee to it. Then it starts locking down to glass.

I do all my vinyl decals, DOT numbers, and boat reg #'s the same way. Depending on the media they're printed/cut on.

[milkmania]

Originally Posted by Zephod_beeblebrox2

I have bubblkes and wrinkles that I can't seem to eliminate withg the plastic spatula.

And now I'm out of film. Seems one roll doesn't cover much and at 20 inches wide used on windows 24x12, there's a load of wastage.

not trying to nickel and dime this thing to death.... but you mention plastic spatula and I picture kitchen drawer tools.

these are the only ones I'll use. Most I've paid was around $2 at the hardware store. Body shop supply carries them too.
https://www.lowencertified.com/asset...FQ-IaQodogkC5A

[Zephod_beeblebrox2]

My kit came with a plastic spastula that seemsvtobeorkbeell enough