Window Tint

[figgy]

Hello all,

What window tint strategies have you all employed?

In my tests so far I put on some cheap "Insta-cling" brand which when I used baby oil instead of water to lube it up didn't peel off as soon as it got hot - see below.

I placed it over the small rear side windows (cut out using a template I made) and over the top 1/4 approximately of the rear window so that it did not obstruct my view out the back. I just used water for this application for figgy's Insight (Edwin) and GF's (Jane).

For the hatchback, on iteration #1, I cut the hatchback piece with a template as well to fit exactly, but where it lay over the bumpy edge areas (the funny black bumps) it came off when it got hot in the sun with just water for application.

I then trimmed it down to avoid the bumps, and used baby oil as the adherent. So far it is staying in place in the hot sun.

The edges of the water adhered side windows were coming up a bit, so I also temporarily stuck some of my fabulous floor matting foam cut into long wedge shapes into the permiter around the windows to keep the edges of the tint stuff from popping up. It's grey foam, so it isn't as horrible as one might imagine. This is just the test for functionality.

On the GF's insight, I just used the foam and left the hatchback piece the full size (over the bumpy areas) with water as the adherent. It remains to be seen if the foam around the perimiter is sufficient to keep it up there.

So far so good.

I'll post images at the web site when I know it works and can upgrade the quality of my work to avoid being ashamed.

If it all falls off, then I'll need a new strategy.

[Holicow]

What is my strategy?

Pay someone to do it, and never worry about it again...

Looks great too:

pic 1

pic 2

[figgy]

Did they do the hatchback as well?

How long has is lasted so far?

Looks like it is still in good shape.

[Rick]

Yeah I agree, you can pay a little more, have someone do it right and it'll be warrantied for life in some cases.

[Yves M.]

I have tinted windows of my previous cars myself. I found the harder parts to do where where the windows have strong curves. Not to have "plis" (sorry for a lack of good words: where the material folds against itself and creates a darker line)

Not all window wipers can follow the windshield curves (specially the lower passenger corner) so I beleive that both sides of the windshield are hard not to mess up.

I too would pay for this.

P.S. By "curves" above, I did not mean just a bend in 2D (fold) but one in 3D like a sphere (ball)

[Holicow]

Originally Posted by figgy

Did they do the hatchback as well?

How long has is lasted so far?

Looks like it is still in good shape.

Actually it is only 3 months old, but guaranteed for life. I have had several other cars with the same tint and never had a problem.

It was about $170 for the whole job, including the hatch and the little back window.

[figgy]

Sounds like a professional job is affordable - but not as fun as messing it up again and again at great expense in the quest to save $3.

[Holicow]

Originally Posted by figgy

Sounds like a professional job is affordable - but not as fun as messing it up again and again at great expense in the quest to save $3.

The "joys" of DIY....

[Rick Reece]

I had the llumar platinum 30% put on for 120. I chose it for its heat rejection. Lifetime warranty and no problems since installed in early 02. Have fun, Rick

Hi Rick:

___I thought the Lumar being discussed around here was also available in an ~ 50% tint as well? The reason I ask is I do quite a bit of before the suns up and long after the sun goes down commuting … How is the view outside of the 30% when in the dark? Do you do much night driving I guess I should have asked? Holicow, you are using the Lumar 30% heat ejection as well IIRC, right?

___Thanks in advance.

___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Hunt Club Farms Landscaping Ltd.
___[email:2bs961py]Waynegerdes@earthlink.net[/email:2bs961py]