DIY Window Tinting

[iisshhyy]

Foreword.

Obviously make sure the window is clean inside and out before you start working. This DIY doesnt cover how to remove old tint. I'll do another one up at some time. Pics are all at the bottom, couldnt figure out how to merge them in with the text.

Tools needed

- Tint film
- Teflon hard card (plastic paint scrapers seem to work just as well)
- Heat gun (no mum's hair dryer won't do)
- Olfa knife
- Johnsons Baby wash mixed in a spray bottle with water (This is referred to as just "water" in the DIY)



Part 1 - Cut film to size

A) Spray water on the outside of the window, this makes it easy to position the film once it's on the

window. Place the film on to the window and cut out a sheet big enough to cover the full area of the glass.

The film has 2 sides, 1 being the tint, the other being the release liner. Find out which side the release

liner is, because you need to have that side facing you for this bit.

Make sure the glass just near the mirror is covered BEFORE you start cutting the top edge. Using your hard

card, anchor down the film. Start with the left side running the hard card straight down, then work along

the top of the window.

B) Now that the film is anchored down, we start cutting it to size. Work from the top left / outside part of

the window first, working your way to the front of the car. This bit is easier & cleaner, if you do 1 cut

the whole way along. When you get about 2cm away from the vertical rubber seal next to the mirror, angle the

knife at 2 o'clock and cut to the edge.

MAKE SURE THAT THE FILM IS STILL COVERING ALL OF THE GLASS AROUND THE VERTICAL SEAL NEXT TO THE MIRROR

BEFORE THIS NEXT CUT. Now cut along the the left edge of the film, same principal here, 1 cut is best. When

you get to the bottom, angle the knife at 8 o'clock and work to the edge.


Now we're going to cut the film around the vertical seal near the mirror. If you look closely, it has a

little indent that we need to work with. Push the film against this and just cut out to the shape of the

glass. Get your hard card and push it up against the seal & use it as a guide to cut along. This is one way

of not cutting the seal itself. Fold the mirror back to try and make more working room. If you cant make a

full cut in this bit, it can be fixed after this next paragraph.

C) Reposition the film so that it covers the black lining over the top of the window. You might need to

spray water on the window again. Anchor the film down same as before & use the hard card as a guide to cut

along the bottom seal of the window. If you had trouble cutting the little corner out near the mirror

before, move the film so you can clearly see what you're doing, use your hard card and cut the excess film

off.

**Always use a brand new knife. Blunt knives are a pain to cut with & can scratch the glass in some of the

later steps.


Step 2 - Heat shrink

A)Position the film so it's covering the window lining at the top of the glass, and anchor down. You should

see at the bottom of the film, weird bumps and crease looking things in the film, these are called fingers.

These spring up because were trying to put flat film, on to a curved window.

B) Run the heat gun over the TOP of the fingers until they start to look melty (is that a word?). Don't

leave the gun in 1 spot for too long for obvious reasons. You can always put more heat on after, but can't

exactly take it off. Run your hard card over the fingers to flatten them. Repeat along the whole window &

slowly heat shrink your way right to the bottom of the film.

**Be careful when running the card over the heated film, if you run the hard card over a finger that is

sticking too far out from the glass it might crease it. If this happens, you're going to have to start

again (unless you're just doing a crappy job)


Step 3 - Remove door trim (there's a write up on this already) Makes it much easier to see what you're doing in step 5



Step 4 - Prep film to go on window

A) If you have a big mirror lying around, it will be very handy. If not, you can just use the window you've

been working on. Spray the mirror, place the film & anchor it on, with release liner side facing you. Using

the hard card as a guide / ruler, trim the film so that all the edges are clean & even.

B) Pull the release liner off all the way until about 5cm from the bottom. Cut off any excess release

liner. Spray water on the adhesive side of the tint & on the INSIDE of the car window.



Step 5 - Put film on window

A) Position the film on to the window, and once everything looks good, very lightly at first start pushing

the water out from under the film. Start in the middle, work your way to the edge. Just do the top half at

this stage.

Once things are looking good, repeat the process for the bottom half. Slowly remove the release liner at

the bottom of the film and make sure all the film is anchored down. You might need to make a few small cuts

here so that it fits around the bits and pieces in there.

**If you bugger something up here, slowly & carefully peel the film off (always spraying with water) and try it again.


Well that should be it. I hope that was a decent DIY & if you have any queries on this, feel free to shoot me a PM. I might do up another one of these for a rear window because the process is slightly different.


Cheers,
Tristan

[iisshhyy]

Finished product

[hamish_023]

Tristan you have done well.

Nice write up!

[iisshhyy]

Tristan you have done well.

Nice write up!

Cheers buddy

[hamish_023]

What % is that you put on?

[iisshhyy]

35%. 08 Libs have a green coloured glass on all front windows. Not sure about the pre facelift Lib's though. Because the window already has a colour to it, it appears darker.

[LiamVJ]

I like! might have to get you to work your magic on my car

[iisshhyy]

more than happy to Liam! Just let me know how dark you want to go and when you want to do it.

Cheers mate

[hamish_023]

35%. 08 Libs have a green coloured glass on all front windows. Not sure about the pre facelift Lib's though. Because the window already has a colour to it, it appears darker.

Only 35%, must be the photos that make it look much darker.

Doesn't appear my windows to have green tint at all?

Looking forward to ripping my chrome tiny off ASAP!

[t.renshaw34]

Weird about that greenish glass and how dark 35% looks.
Another months of Sundays at Karl's here we come lol .
Thought 2012 wouldn't have me at Karl's every Sunday. turns out it does lol.

[iisshhyy]

35%. 08 Libs have a green coloured glass on all front windows. Not sure about the pre facelift Lib's though. Because the window already has a colour to it, it appears darker.

Only 35%, must be the photos that make it look much darker.

Doesn't appear my windows to have green tint at all?

Looking forward to ripping my chrome tiny off ASAP!

Green glass does make the film appear darker in any light, but the pic is in pretty poor lighting as is. Doesnt look so dark in normal sun light.

Good! Clear glass looks much better IMO. Say goodbye to that chrome rubbish, it's going down!