Tinting my own windows

[Kickstarts-suck]

Well Im really getting bored. Been out of work for 4 months now and have been wanting to tint my windows in my truck for a while. I dont want to spend the money to have someone else do it so I would like to do it myself.

Where is the best place to buy window tint? I don't want some autozone crap that's going to turn purple. Id like to do 5% all around and I want to lightly tint my full windshield but I don't have to.


Thanks

[slightlybent47]

One thing I do know is that getting the window clean is the key, use alcohol to clean and scrape with a razor blade. Then Windex and then dish soap, clean it 3-4 times before putting on the film. It’s been 15 years since I did my truck and it’s time for me to do it again. Mine never bubbled or peeled off, but it has gotten cloudy. I got the tint from a friend in the glass biz. Check with a glass co. they may have something.
Check with a pro window tint guy and find out what brand of film he uses and then do a search on the internet.
It's not hard to do, you just have to get the glass supper clean.

Binswanger glass co. may have it.

[ZBlaster]

I did a big write up on this on another forum a while back let me see if I can find it... The basics are:

1. CLEAN THE WINDOWS!!!! Soap + water then a razor blade... after that invisible glass + rag, proceed until you think it's perfect, then clean it again.

2. Measure twice, cut once.

3. Keep window and surrounding wet until tint is in place

4. Squeegee from the middle out.


I'll see if I can find that write up.

[mxpimp2000]

ive used walmart cheap tint and havent had any troubles with it turning purple or cloudy.

ebay sales precuts for your make and model vehicle so all you gotta do is clean the windows and start tinting. the hardest part would be taking all the door panels off, make sure its not windy or real humid and get the tint and windows WET with soapy water before you apply dont be scared to soak em down

*i wouldnt tint the windsheild thats asking for a ticket and at night it would be so dark you wouldnt be able to see out lol*

put a 6-8inch strip across the top of 10% or 5% ive seen ppl tint 6inches down and 6inches up leaving a strip un tinted across the center

[SmthHonRider99]

i have about a 8-9 inch 5% strip across the top of my windshield with 35% all the way down. its not hard to see out of at all at night. i also have 3% all the way around (says the police gauge) . I like my privacy.

[dpizz450]

Do yourself a favor and save up your money to get it done professionally. You won't regret it, if you get it done by a reputable shop. If you do end up doing it yourself just don't by autozone, walmart tint,etc. It WILL turn purple despite what other people say. But otherwise tinting is not as easy as it looks. Any of you guys that tinted your own post up some up close pics??

I had mine done professionally. 5% all the way around (except windshield). Put about a 8" strip on the top of your windshield. I think i ended up paying under 200 bucks for it all. And its a quality install and quality film. Had it for over 2 years now and nothing wrong with it. No light gaps, etc. Do not tint the whole winshield. If you do you are screaming for a ticket.

[muddy400EX]

you can get precut tint online, cut for your vehicle and in different types of tint, black smoke, reflective etc.

clean windows well and TAKE YOUR TIME! if you rush, your gonna screw up and hate yourself,lol

[dpizz450]

Originally posted by SmthHonRider99
i have about a 8-9 inch 5% strip across the top of my windshield with 35% all the way down. its not hard to see out of at all at night. i also have 3% all the way around (says the police gauge) . I like my privacy.

Thats exactly how i had mine setup the first time, except the 35% on the rest of the windshield. I had 1% on my two front windows (police gauge). I had 20 ontop of 5. I'm not gonna lie, that was hard to see out of at night. If a car did not have it's headlights on, you would not be able to see them. You could see lit up things, but that was about it. I got a ticket for it and had to strip it off. Now i just have 5% and I can see out of it fairly well at night, I'm use to it. I also like my privacy and will never drive another vehicle without blacked out windows.

[Kickstarts-suck]

Ended up getting the Walmart "black magic" 5% tint for $10 each. I looked it up and saw that it wasnt bad at all for the price and most people were very happy with it.

I had factory 16 year old tint on my truck so I got it all off and cleaned the window really good. Then went to work. Took me 3 times to get it right the first time and then I got the hang of it. It looks great so far. I love the 5%. Kept me busy today so im def happy.

Im not worried about a ticket. I live in a very small town. I will get the whole windshield done by a pro in 35%

[Moto49X]

the walmart stuff isnt bad. I did mine in 15%. Spray it with an air hose to be sure nothin is on it then clean with alcohol.

edit: my bad, just saw you said that you already started on it.

[tbrackman84]

i can't believe you guys tint your windshields!!!:huh
i would hate that, lol.

[Kickstarts-suck]

Well turned out great. I recommend tinting your windows yourself if you have the patience and time.

Cost me $40.. compared to a quoted $160 at the local tint shop.

Biggest PITA was pealing off the 16 year old factory tint.

It did it all myself but it would be nice to have a second set of hands at times.

Cant see chit at night when backing up but I love how dark it is :p Now to get the windshield done is 35% :macho


PICZ!

Pealing the old stuff off
http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/664/011ruy.jpg (http://img62.imageshack.us/i/011ruy.jpg/)

Factory / 5%
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/7309/015qw.jpg (http://img140.imageshack.us/i/015qw.jpg/)

<a target='_blank' title='ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting' href='http://img301.imageshack.us/i/024ni.jpg/'><img src='http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/6799/024ni.jpg' border='0'/></a>


http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/3933/022wb.jpg (http://img534.imageshack.us/i/022wb.jpg/)

[Exrider434]

looks really good man!

[dpizz450]

nice, turned out better then i thought for your first time. But I am warning you, tinting your windshield is SCREAMING for a ticket!

[fastredrider44]

You will def. get a ticket for tint on the windshield. Just so you know though, the better the tint, the easier it is to see out of at night. Also, do not clean your tint with any sort of cleaner with ammonia in it, ie. windex. That's one of the big things that will turn one purple.

[honda400ex2003]

looks good, you would be pulled over around where i live for even having the fronts tinted. the police hate tint and will make sure it is off after a warning. one lovely thing about small towns, they remember the vehicle lol. steve

[trx310R#24]

Originally posted by honda400ex2003
looks good, you would be pulled over around where i live for even having the fronts tinted. the police hate tint and will make sure it is off after a warning. one lovely thing about small towns, they remember the vehicle lol. steve

i think you can have 5% tint up front or maybe its 10% idk

[Moto49X]

Originally posted by trx310R#24
i think you can have 5% tint up front or maybe its 10% idk

http://www.tintcenter.com/laws/

you can click on your state and see the legal limits for where you live.

[Tommy Warren]

i tinted the top and bottom of my windsheild and haven't had trouble with the cops... on my nova I had everything tinted accept where the wipers wiped....never got caught but it looked stupid as hell so I took it off

[dpizz450]

Originally posted by trx310R#24
i think you can have 5% tint up front or maybe its 10% idk

lol no where in the US allows for 5 or even 10. Your state is 50. I think florida is the darkest with 20 something.

[JJs450r]

looks good man i plan on doing mine as soon as i get paid... as for getting a ticket i wouldnt worry to much cus my buddy has had 25% on his windshield for about 3 years and hasnt had any problems and we live in a big town. with 35% and a 5% strip you really can tell from a distance.

btw hows that pit doing

[Kickstarts-suck]

Originally posted by JJs450r
looks good man i plan on doing mine as soon as i get paid... as for getting a ticket i wouldnt worry to much cus my buddy has had 25% on his windshield for about 3 years and hasnt had any problems and we live in a big town. with 35% and a 5% strip you really can tell from a distance.

btw hows that pit doing


Thanks man. Im loving the tint. Cant wait to get my windshield done.

Shes doing great! Shes laying here next to me now playing with a tennis ball
:p

Hows your purty boy doing?

[JJs450r]

hes doing good put on about 10 pounds of muscle hes got a boxer puppy to play with now so hes lovin life