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How To: Tint your windows

Old Jul 15, 2012
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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


First, spray the outside of the window you're working on with the dish soap/water solution, then wipe it clean.




Same goes for the inside of the window you're working on


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.


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.



I usually use my squeegee to have the film stay onto the window just to get an accurate trace for the next step.


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


You're left with this after, squeegee it again once you've traced.


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 ****.


All the protective film is now off. Spray the adhesive side which is facing you really well with the solution.


Spray the inside of the window and then transfer the tint onto it.


Trim with your razor blade and then squeegee beginning from the middle down. Then middle up, middle left/right


Take your hard card and go along the edges to make sure its tight.


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.


Put your doorcard back on



Done!
 
Attached Thumbnails How To: Tint your windows-28bd1289.jpg   How To: Tint your windows-25e7f6d6.jpg   How To: Tint your windows-8cac5337.jpg   How To: Tint your windows-75cab049.jpg   How To: Tint your windows-e402917c.jpg  

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Old Jul 15, 2012
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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.
 
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Old Jul 15, 2012
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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
 
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Old Jul 15, 2012
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Nice write up... I think I may have to do it to my Colorado so people can't see me driving a Chevy!
 
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Old Jul 15, 2012
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good how-to brah. Now get me some explorer roof rack and make a how-to on that
 
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Old Jul 15, 2012
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Originally Posted by Red_Ak_Ranger
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.
 
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Old Jul 15, 2012
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Originally Posted by FULLSCALE
Nice write up... I think I may have to do it to my Colorado so people can't see me driving a Chevy!
 
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Old Jul 15, 2012
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Tinted windows are very tinted.

Good job
 
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Old Jul 16, 2012
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Nice How to.
 
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Old Jul 16, 2012
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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?
 
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Old Jul 16, 2012
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yeah ive never seen it done on the outside like that
 
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Old Jul 16, 2012
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Originally Posted by morris
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?
Originally Posted by dixie_boysles
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
 
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Old Jul 17, 2012
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I can't read Kewn! Now everyone knows.
 
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Old Jul 17, 2012
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Good work but I would rather pay the $80 to have the fronts done.
 
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Old Jul 17, 2012
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120-150 for two fronts near me. Fûck that lol rear windshield for my car will cost 200. It sucks
 
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Old Jul 17, 2012
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I'd pay someone to do a rear window of a car. That would suck.
 
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Old Jul 17, 2012
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Originally Posted by 99offroadrngr
120-150 for two fronts near me. Fûck that lol rear windshield for my car will cost 200. It sucks
That's alot. I just had my whole Mazda done for $240 and it's a hatchback... that's 9 windows!
 
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Old Jul 17, 2012
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That does seem expensive. On the other hand $240 for the entire hatchback is legit.
 
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Old Jul 17, 2012
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yeah. I'm going to pay it because I don't want to try that piece by piece bullcrap
 
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Old Jul 18, 2012
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Originally Posted by 99offroadrngr
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?
 
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Old Jul 23, 2012
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So how about windows that roll down? Tuck the extra on the bottom down? What if you don't have a heat gun?
 
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Old Jul 23, 2012
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Nice job!
 
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Old Jul 23, 2012
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Originally Posted by robert99ranger
So how about windows that roll down? Tuck the extra on the bottom down? What if you don't have a heat gun?
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.
 
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Old Jul 24, 2012
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Maybe I need to just buy one.
 
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Old Jul 24, 2012
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godd annoying how the search feature hid this thread after i viewed it once.

this looked kinda interesting

2004 Ford Ranger Window Tint
 
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