DIY car window tinting
Content
Some motorists believe that tinted glass will provide safety and a comfortable driving experience. Today, a lot of car owners want to tint the windows of their car, but do not want to overpay to a car dealership for the provision of this service. Is it possible to tint the glass yourself? This material will tell about this.
Tinted film: which one is better to choose?
Experts note that when choosing a tinted film, it is better to give preference to American-made products. Chinese tinted film is of inferior quality.
When choosing a film for tinting, it is necessary to take into account the requirements of the current regulatory legal acts and GOSTs. There are no light transmission standards for tinted upper windshield stripes. For front windows, the level of light transmission should not be less than 85%. No transmission criteria have been established for the rear side windows. The rear windshield must transmit at least 75% of the light.
What you need when tinting a car
If a person decides to stick the tinted film on his own, then he needs to prepare the following tools:
- Sponge;
- Scraper;
- Hair dryer;
- Hard and soft forcing;
- Spray;
- Ruler;
- Knife;
- Soap solution;
- Rubber spatula.
- Paper handkerchiefs.
If a person is not sure that he can stick the tinted film on his own, then he should ask a friend or relative to help him with this procedure.
Before tinting, you need to make a pattern, which should be 2 centimeters larger than the glass area.
Window tinting step by step
First, you need to dilute the soapy solution and thoroughly rinse all the glass with it. Before carrying out this stage of preparation, it is necessary to dismantle the rubber seals from the glass. Glass treated with soapy water must be thoroughly wiped with paper towels or a lint-free cloth.
After that, it is necessary to sprinkle the outside of the glass with soapy water and apply a film to it, directing its transparent side towards you. With a knife, it is necessary to outline the boundaries of the future pattern, stepping back from the edge of the glass about 1-2 cm.
Then you need to spray the inside of the tinted glass with soapy water. It is necessary to attach the film with the adhesive side to the glass, carefully cutting off the bent liner. If the film lies flat and without gaps, then you can begin to gently squeeze the soapy solution out from under it using a rubber spatula or forcing. You need to act carefully. Pressing too hard can scratch the tint.
After the tint has already been glued to the center of the glass, it is necessary to tuck its lower edge into a rubber seal. You must act carefully and slowly. At this stage of tinting, creases and distortions should not form. After that, it is necessary to squeeze out the remains of the soap solution from under the film.
After the tinting is glued to the glass, it is necessary to cut off its excess with a knife. Remove excess film around the edges with sharp movements. The knife must be sharp. The final stage is drying the treated glass with a hairdryer. If it is not there, then it is necessary to close all the doors of the car. There should be no drafts in the room where the car is toned.
Experts do not recommend returning the rubber seals to their place earlier than two days have passed since the tinting.
How to remove tinting yourself
A situation in which it is necessary to get rid of tinting may arise at the most inopportune moment. If a person does not want to go to a car service, where his car will be rid of the darkened film, then he can do it on his own.
The need to remove tinting may arise in the following cases:
- The requirement of the traffic police inspector;
- The need to replace the film;
- Restoration of glass after cracks or other defects appear on it.
There are two ways to clear tinted glass:
- Hot;
- Cold.
With a hot method of getting rid of tinting, it is better for the car owner to invite an assistant. One of them should heat the film with a hairdryer, and the second should carefully remove it. Do not rush, as there is a high probability of tearing the film. It is better to heat it up to 40 degrees. This temperature regime will allow it to easily peel off the glass, but will not melt.
This method is suitable if the weather is warm outside. Remains of glue and film can be removed with a concentrated soap solution and a scraper. If stains still remain, the driver can use acetone or solvent to remove them. After that, the glass must be washed and wiped with a lint-free cloth.
With the cold method of removing the tinted film, it is necessary to pry off its protruding edge with a knife. After that, you need to gently pull it towards you. After the film is removed, it is necessary to pour plenty of concentrated soapy water over the glass. After that, soft adhesive residues are gently removed with a rubber spatula. If the glue is not completely softened, then the motorist can use a solvent or acetone to remove it.
To prevent water from flowing under the interior trim, you must put a soft cloth on the bottom seal. This method will prevent damage to the plastic parts of the interior trim and short circuit of the wiring due to the ingress of liquid on it.
As can be seen from this material, self-sticking and removing a tinted film is not such a difficult task. Of course, when sticking a tint for the first time, it is better to ask someone for help. This will help complete the window tinting process faster and more accurately.
Questions and answers:
What solution is needed for window tinting? Installation solution - helps to level the film. Mounting solution facilitates the gluing of the glass (slows down the action of the acrylic adhesive). There is a special solution of rosin and a 20% aqueous composition of caustic soda, to which iron sulfate is added, and then the precipitate is dissolved in gasoline.
How to do tinting on a car yourself? With the help of a soap solution, the film is straightened. An installation solution is applied to the dismantled glass with a spray gun, the protective film is removed and the glass is pasted over.
How to moisten the glass when tinting? To slow down the action of the acrylic glue on the film, the glass can be moistened with any detergent or alkali-free shampoo (baby shampoos) so that the glue does not break down.
