How To: Tint your windows
 

It's not on here and I figure some people would want to give it a shot and save money instead of bringing it to a shop to get done.

Difficulty: 6/10 (If you're a beginner)
Time: Depends which windows you're working on

Materials Needed:
-Tint of your choice (I usually use Gila brand from Advance Auto/Autozone)
-SHARP razor blade
-Scissors
-Tape
-Squeegee
-Hard card
-Paper towels
-Dish soap/water solution in a spray bottle
-Heat gun (not needed but highly recommended if you're doing the front windows)

Picture of the stuff I used. Scissors aren't pictured
https://www.ranger-forums.com/attach...ine=1342397371

First, spray the outside of the window you're working on with the dish soap/water solution, then wipe it clean.
https://www.ranger-forums.com/attach...ine=1342397371

https://www.ranger-forums.com/attach...ine=1342397371

Same goes for the inside of the window you're working on
https://www.ranger-forums.com/attach...ine=1342397371

Next, take your tint out of the box and unroll it a bit. Take your tape and put a piece on both sides on the corner and peel the both away from each other to see which side is the adhesive side. Usually, the roll already comes with the adhesive side being the lower layer and the protective film on the top like so but DO NOT remove the protective film just yet.
https://www.ranger-forums.com/attach...ine=1342397371

Now wet the outside of the window with the soap solution, lay your tint on top. Cut a good sized piece with your scissors and leave it on the window.
https://www.ranger-forums.com/attach...ine=1342397371


I usually use my squeegee to have the film stay onto the window just to get an accurate trace for the next step.
https://www.ranger-forums.com/attach...ine=1342397371

Take your razor blade and trace the window. On these rear doors, its pretty simple just don't let the blade touch your paint unless you want a scratch all the way around. When doing the front doors, trace the top and sides of the window and leave a good inch or two of extra film on the bottom because you'll need it once putting it on
https://www.ranger-forums.com/attach...ine=1342397371

You're left with this after, squeegee it again once you've traced.
https://www.ranger-forums.com/attach...ine=1342397371

Now take your tape and remove the protective film from the tint itself. As you're doing this, make sure to spray the film at the same time as you go because if it folds over on itself and adheres, that piece of tint is now useless because when you take it apart, you'll have creases on the film and it will look like shit.
https://www.ranger-forums.com/attach...ine=1342397371

All the protective film is now off. Spray the adhesive side which is facing you really well with the solution.
https://www.ranger-forums.com/attach...ine=1342397371

Spray the inside of the window and then transfer the tint onto it.
https://www.ranger-forums.com/attach...ine=1342397371

Trim with your razor blade and then squeegee beginning from the middle down. Then middle up, middle left/right
https://www.ranger-forums.com/attach...ine=1342397371

Take your hard card and go along the edges to make sure its tight.
https://www.ranger-forums.com/attach...ine=1342397371

Once you finish that, the tint is now on and good to go. I took a heat gun alongside the edges just because but you don't need to on these since they don't open. Also, take the paper towels and clean up the area from drips and stuff.
https://www.ranger-forums.com/attach...ine=1342397371

Put your doorcard back on
https://www.ranger-forums.com/attach...ine=1342397371


Done!
https://www.ranger-forums.com/attach...ine=1342397371

Excellent write up.
I don't squeegee mine on the outside, since its pretty staticicky. but i did basically the same thing. I'd add that you can never use too much soapy water. not enough soapy water and you'll get a bunch of creases.

I only do it because when i peel the protective crap off, it wants to fold over its its not squeegeed on. I ruined a piece years ago because of that lol

Nice write up... I think I may have to do it to my Colorado so people can't see me driving a Chevy!

good how-to brah. Now get me some explorer roof rack and make a how-to on that

Lmao i forgot. I'll go tomorrow and get you a price.

:sgrin:

Tinted windows are very tinted.

Good job

Nice How to.

I never knew you had to put it on the outside as well. I just thought the inside was covered. How does it stand up to the elements?

yeah ive never seen it done on the outside like that

it's because you dont...
you only put it on there with the protective film to trace the shape of the window. Pull the protective film off exposing the adhesive side, wet it, transfer it over to the inside. reading and not just looking at pictures helps lol

I can't read Kewn! Now everyone knows.

Good work but I would rather pay the $80 to have the fronts done.

120-150 for two fronts near me. Fûck that lol rear windshield for my car will cost 200. It sucks

I'd pay someone to do a rear window of a car. That would suck.

That's alot. I just had my whole Mazda done for $240 and it's a hatchback... that's 9 windows!

That does seem expensive. On the other hand $240 for the entire hatchback is legit.

yeah. I'm going to pay it because I don't want to try that piece by piece bullcrap

Just pull the window out and put it back in kewn.
I mean, what else did you plan on doing that day?

So how about windows that roll down? Tuck the extra on the bottom down? What if you don't have a heat gun?

Nice job!

when you trace it from the outside, leave an inch below the actually glass. when you put it on the inside, you'll see there is more glass below the "end point" on the outside. if you don't have a heat gun, sit there with a hair dryer idk. Its good to do it to the top edge because after multiple ups and downs, it will let go at some point.

Maybe I need to just buy one.

godd annoying how the search feature hid this thread after i viewed it once.

this looked kinda interesting

2004 Ford Ranger Window Tint