The main purpose of tinting is to create a certain image of the car and hide its internal content from prying eyes. Many inexperienced car enthusiasts think so. In contrast to them, experienced drivers know that tinted windows provide good thermal regulation of the interior, and that the tinted glass itself protects against mechanical damage. The cost of applying a tint coating in a car service is quite high, but if you understand the essence of the process, you can tint the car yourself. Let's figure out how to glue tinting at home.
Self-adhesive glass tinting is possible (click to enlarge)
The choice of material for tinting
There are several ways to darken car windows, but for self-tinting, it is better to use the film wrapping method. It is important to know how to properly stick the film, and what material is better to choose. The film can be:
- simple, with an adhesive base in black;
- multi-colored;
- transparent, with various patterns;
- metallized, with different levels of shading;
- with rolling colors;
- "Chameleon" with a mirror surface;
- silicone;
- perforated.
Decide on the type of coating for pasting (click to enlarge)
The quality of the tinting and its service life will depend on the toning material.
The simplest and most affordable are ready-made kits. Manufacturers cut them out according to the shape and size of the glass of a particular car model. These kits are very convenient, but of poor quality. Their darkening is achieved not by coloring, but by gluing a second film layer. It peels off quickly enough, so you will have to deal with plywood often.
By watching the video, you will learn more about the types:
A little more effort will be required to tint the glass with roll material, since it needs to be cut out by yourself. The cost of such material depends on the density and level of shading. The range of colors is presented in a wide range, so there is an opportunity to choose for every taste.
Rolled tinting material has such advantages as:
- dense structure;
- strength;
- resistance to mechanical damage;
- ease of gluing;
- ease of removal.
Tinting material comes in the form of a roll (click to enlarge)
This material is called removable tinting, since the glass under it remains unchanged and you can re-glue this tinting as much as you like.
Important! Before removing the glued tint film, it must be warmed up with a construction hair dryer.
Removable tinting is made in standard length, and one roll is enough to cover all the windows of the car.
When choosing a film, it is necessary to take into account its light transmission. The tinted windshield must transmit at least 50% of the light. The film covering the front side windows must have a bandwidth of at least 35%, the rear side windows and the trunk - 15%.
Headlights are a separate issue. Can I tint them? It is possible to glue the tint on the front and rear lights only on condition that the color of their glow and light transmission are preserved. With headlights that are tinted in a different way, there is a possibility of not passing the inspection and getting a fine.
Preparing to apply the film
For high-quality performance of glass tinting work, you will need:
- knife (it is better to use a clerical one);
- hair dryer (preferably construction);
- marker;
- needle;
- rubber or plastic spatula;
- spray;
- sponge or clean cloth;
- transparent shampoo.
Learn more from the video:
Attention! Without the use of shampoo, it is impossible to stick the tint film on the glass evenly, without folds and bubbles. In addition, toning without shampoo will peel off much faster.
Before gluing the removable tinting, the glass should be sprayed with soapy water from a spray bottle, rinsed thoroughly on both sides and wiped dry with a clean cloth. Washing soap solution is prepared with three drops of dishwashing liquid and a liter of water.
Important! Make sure that no foreign objects, even small lint, remain on the glass.
Any contamination that gets under the film when gluing can greatly spoil the appearance of tinted glass.
In order for the size of the tinting material to perfectly match the size of the glass, it is better to first make patterns from cardboard. This will help avoid damage to the material, as well as save time, nerves and effort.
In the manufacture of patterns, an additional one centimeter should be added on each side, since the edges of the film should go under the seal.
Film sticking
Tinting should be glued to the outside of the glass. On the inside of the glass, it scratches very quickly, peels off and takes on a frayed appearance.
After watching the video, you will learn more how to do it yourself:
If you do tinting in winter, the room must be warmed up to a temperature of at least +10 degrees. Otherwise, the film will not fix properly and peel off very quickly.
We glue the tinting on the car in several stages:
- before applying the tint, evenly spray the glass surface with shampoo. This will temporarily neutralize the effect of the glue on the film, and it will be possible to move it freely on the glass to precisely fit the shape of the surface to be pasted;
- we separate the protective coating from the upper corner of the film, and glue this corner to the corresponding edge of the glass. Holding the film on the glass, carefully remove the remaining protective layer. In this case, you can take your time, since the shampoo neutralizes the adhesive base for at least 20 minutes;
- when the protective coating is completely removed, press the film against the glass and slowly move it so that it fits exactly in its shape;
- directing the hair dryer to the tinting, warm it up, gently smooth it out and drive out the air bubbles with a rubber (plastic) spatula from the center to the edges. If some bubbles cannot be removed, pierce them with a thin needle. This will not affect either the appearance of the tinting or its service life;
- after removing the remnants of the shampoo with a dry cloth, leave the tint to dry. In order for it to stick well, you cannot touch the glass for at least a day. It is highly discouraged to turn on heating devices to speed up the process. This can cause deformation of the film. The adhesive must naturally dry and adhere securely to the glass.
The process of gluing film on glass (click to enlarge)
The windshield and rear window require a special approach. Even a spatula will not help to ideally stick the tint on such glasses. You will have to warm up the toning material with a hair dryer, while smoothing it with a spatula and removing air bubbles. It is quite difficult to do all this yourself, so it is better to take an assistant.
The process of gluing tinting will not seem very complicated and long, if you first study all its subtleties and important points. Knowing how to properly glue the tinting, you can protect yourself and the passengers of the car from the scorching sun, and the glass from mechanical damage, while saving a considerable amount on the services of professionals.
Do-it-yourself car window tinting is quite real. To do this, you need to prepare by choosing the necessary material, tool and technology, according to which the toning work will be carried out. There is a lot of information on how to tint a car yourself, and today it is not difficult to choose the most suitable method for yourself. However, it should still be noted that a complete do-it-yourself tinting instruction can greatly simplify the life of a car lover. Therefore, in this article, the most important facts about toning are grouped, which determine a complete guide with steps in order to get a professional car tuning at home at the end of the work.
The first step in DIY tinting is to darken the glass. In connection with the expansion of the legislative base with a new law limiting the permissible value of glass shading in a vehicle, removable tinting is gaining more and more popularity. And if you do it yourself, you can get significant benefits from the process.
Films for tinted glass can be of different types. What is the difference, which manufacturer to choose, which film is better? The advice is simple - it is best not to skimp on the price, and choose a trusted and reliable supplier. Buying just about anything and trying to stick it on your car is not the best alternative if you want to get your car in perfect condition and give it an attractive look. There are certain companies that have been producing films for a long time and have been tested by time. The following companies have guaranteed performance indicators and certificates:
- SunTek Commonwealth Laminating & Coating, Inc.,
- llumar Courtaulds Performes Films.
- Sun Control products of Garware Polyester Ltd.,
- Sun-Gard, Glass-Gard and Safe-Gard by Film Technologies International, Inc.
- Johnson Window Films.
- MSC / Solar Gard
- Films of the corporation "3M"
How to stick the tinting yourself
Apply the tint coating only to clean glass. If the work is carried out indoors, it should be free of dust. Contaminated air is one of the causes of bubbles. If you perform the actions without removing the glass, then the interior should also be clean.
So that dust is not guaranteed, it is best to do the procedures on a cloudy day after rain. In the same way, you can protect yourself from the appearance of insects that can interfere with work on the street.
If, due to the complexity, you want to refuse to work, there is always the opportunity to contact the service. In addition to the fact that the window should be smooth, all unnecessary things should be removed from it, for example, an antenna.
What is needed
Before work, you need to prepare the tool and material. Among all that may be needed, consumables should not be neglected.
- Tinting film. The quantity should be sufficient for side windows, as well as front and rear glass.
- Spatula rubber and plastic scraper.
- Shampoo.
- Spray.
- Stationery knife with a retractable blade.
- Lint-free cloth, dry.
- Clean and warm water.
- Home or technical hairdryer.
Also, before work, the material must be prepared. Cutting out the film is not a difficult task, and it involves cutting out pieces that will be 2-4 centimeters larger than the size of the tinted surface itself.
Car preparation
The next stage is the preparation of the machine itself. For the quality of work, it is imperative to wash the car and workplace. Even grains of sand can cause defects during work, so attention should be paid to the details. The film should only be applied on a clean surface and in clean conditions. Therefore, the car windows must first be washed on both sides using a special detergent solution.
Even after washing, wiping the car with a soft cloth, you must make sure that no fluff remains on it - you cannot glue the toning material without bringing the coating to perfect cleanliness. Work should start from the side windows.
Only after pasting them, you can gain experience and proceed to the rear and front glass. Further, the process can go in two directions - removing the glass or not removing them. It is most convenient to remove the glass, the effect of this is much higher, although it makes you tinker, doing extra work.
We make the film ourselves
The advantages of tint film have already been described in detail, the question arises - how and from what is it made? The production of car tinting is based on polyester. The base for production must be of high quality, and very few companies produce such polyester. A classic film consists of several balls. Each is 20 microns thick. The manufacturing technique is rather complicated, the layers are rolled under a certain temperature. It is very important that during use the film does not distort the appearance of things and the interior. For this, much attention is paid to the similarity of the physical indicators of the base in its different parts. This property allows the film to be glued to any type of glass.
You can also tint your car at home. However, it is not possible to create a high-quality product that will meet modern norms, standards and operational requirements. Film for tinting is made using temperature and chemical composition at the factory; it can be an overwhelming task to recreate the process in everyday life.
Pasting technique
The methods of gluing the cover on the side, front and rear windows are not much different. Experts advise starting with the sides. Only then, after gaining experience, can the rear and windshield be coated.
The side windows are washed with water and a scraper before starting the procedures, after which they are wiped off with rubber forcing. The edges are wiped with a napkin, and before the second part of the work, hands are washed with soap. The glass is moistened with soapy water, and the protective coating is removed from the pattern. The solution moistens the adhesive part, as well as the fingers. The film is carefully applied to the glass, the absence of gaps is checked and how smoothly the applied material is adhered. Excess water is removed. Forcing too hard can scratch the coating. The water is removed with progressive movements from the center to the edges.
The upper part of the film is fixed a little later. The rest is also moistened with soapy water. The film is loaded under the bottom seal, no kinks should be allowed. The remaining liquid is removed from under the film with a hairdryer and distillation. There should be no water bubbles after finishing work. You can remove them almost immediately after tinting by walking over the glass with a rag or soft cloth.
The advantages of do-it-yourself tinting are obvious: saving money, since the work is carried out at your home. The heating of the passenger compartment is reduced by almost half - this is especially noticeable in the summer. 99% of harmful radiation is retained by the tint film. If an accident strikes and the glass in the car breaks, the pieces of glass will not be scattered throughout the cabin. Headlights of an oncoming car or sun glare are not scary - the darkened coating will completely protect against excess light and radiation.
Hiding the contents of the cabin from outsiders is the most affordable way to expand your personal space. And tinted glass can help a lot with this. The panel inside the cabin and the plastic will be protected from overheating, which is possible when exposed to direct sunlight. And if we talk in general about appearance, then a car with tinted glass looks more attractive than without it.
A very useful tip: if you want to tint a car, and the information provided may not be enough, it's worth watching the do-it-yourself tinting methods in the video - a vivid example that will help you do everything right.
Video "Vehicle tinting technology"
In this video you can find out everything you need to tint your car.
Car glass tinting allows car owners not only to feel more comfortable when driving on the road, but also performs other useful functions. First of all, it is protection from direct sunlight, which interfere with driving, heat up the interior of the car and provoke rapid burnout of the upholstery.
Due to their advantages, film filters are almost indispensable if you often use vehicles, but not all car manufacturers tint car windows, which is why car owners have to make such updates on their own. Such a service in the salon will be very expensive, so do-it-yourself car window tinting, the video of which you will find at the end of the article, is the most relevant and budgetary solution. You don't have to buy specialized tools or have special skills to do this. You just need to follow the recommendations and do everything very carefully.
Preparing everything you need
Before applying the tinting, you need to prepare a clean and dry place for work, as well as a standard set of tools:
- Tinting film that meets the requirements of GOST 5727-88. The light transmittance for the windshield should be at least 75%, for the side front - 70%, for the side rear and rear - any. Usually, 4 side windows take 1 roll of film filter.
- Liquid soap (no dyes) for fixing the film. It is better to use special setting compounds that do not leave streaks, or a 10-20 percent solution of any transparent shampoo.
- Plastic sticker for smoothing the toning. It usually comes with a film filter, but if not, you can use any resilient plastic, rubber spatula or construction rubber eraser. Also in the store you can find special distillations for eliminating bubbles (chiseller - for hard-to-reach places, slummer - for tightening the edges, bloomax - for expelling liquid).
- Scrapers for cleaning glass surfaces. Products of 12 cm in different shapes are best suited.
- Spray gun (manual) for applying soap solution.
- Blade or utility knife. The latter is made of mild steel, so it is convenient for them to cut the film without fear of scratching the glass.
- Soft rags, clean rags or lint-free cloths.
- Industrial dryer.
If toning the car with your own hands is done for the first time, it will not be superfluous to purchase special masking markers and tapes. With their help, you can correct minor errors.
You also need to make sure you have easy access to clean, cold tap water. The room should be free of insects and dust.
If everything is ready, you can start cutting the film filter.
We cut out the tinting
Before gluing the tinting to the car, it is better to study the video instructions for cutting the tinting material (at the end of the article), since all further work depends on this stage.
Cutting can be done directly on the glass of the machine, but for beginners it is better to prepare a special glass stand for this. Next, we cut and apply the film in one of two ways.
1 way
- Cut out a rectangle.
- Moisten the glass. This is necessary so that the toning material does not "travel".
- Apply a film filter to the glass outside of the sewing machine. In the future, the film will be glued from the inside, but for cutting it is more convenient to work from the outside.
- Cut the workpiece along the bends of the glass with an allowance of 5-10 mm, for convenience, lower the window by at least 5 cm.
- Perform molding.
- Transfer the pattern to a stand and cut off the sharp corners a little.
- Prepare strips of film (10 cm each) and stick them on the front side to make "ponytails" for which you will remove the protective layer.
2 way
- Use ready-made templates that can be selected for a specific car model in any store.
- Cut out the workpiece, leaving a small allowance of 5-10 mm.
- Apply the installation compound to the inside of the glass and attach the pattern.
- Fit and shape.
- Glue the ponytails.
We should also say a few words about film forming. It is not worth doing this during pasting, as in this case you will get “arrows” and irregularities. Therefore, it is better to make molding in advance. To do this, at the cutting stage, when you have attached the workpiece to the glass, hot air must be supplied to it. After that, you need to walk on the film by distillation, so that the material fits snugly on the glass, taking its shape. This will make it easier to remove the protective layer.
After that, the most important job of applying the film begins.
We glue the film on the side windows
It is best to start the process with the side windows, as their area is smaller and you can “fill your hand”.
Take the blade and lightly scrubbing from top to bottom to clean the inside of the glass. Try to get rid of all inclusions, dust particles, glue residues and other particles. After that, you can treat the glass with clean water from a spray bottle.
If the glass has become perfectly clean, in your opinion, then it is time to apply the installation solution to it. Spray it all over the surface.
Important! It is impossible to use ordinary water at this stage, otherwise the film will immediately stick tightly and you will not have the opportunity for "bends".
Now it's time to remove the protective coating from the film and apply soapy water to the sticky side of the film. After that, it is very important to ensure that no dust gets on the adhesive surface.
- Gently grasp the film by the tails and place it on the glass.
- Using gentle strokes, smooth it out gently by forcing to remove any bubbles.
- Warm up the glass with a hair dryer (you must start from the upper edge). This will keep the film firmly in place and will not peel off when you lift the glass to process the bottom.
- Straighten the edge again and disperse all the bubbles.
For 10-15 minutes, the film will still move easily, so you can correct it. After this time, it will take its place and you will need to expel the soap solution. For this, it is most convenient to use a rubber spatula, moving from the center to the edge of the glass.
When the blanks of the patterns were made, we left small allowances, which now need to get rid of. To do this, take a clerical knife and make cuts at an angle of 30 degrees in relation to the glass, so that the light filter does not reach the edge by 1-2 mm.
After that, you can dry the film again with a hairdryer. You can start operating the car after the light filter has completely dried - after about 2 days.
For the windshield, tinting is done in the same way, but with the rear window, things are a little more complicated.
Tinting the rear window
If you have already processed the frontal and side elements of the car, then you have already approximately mastered such a concept as do-it-yourself tinting. The rear window is more difficult, so be sure to practice.
The main difficulty is that this window is very curved, which is why it is rarely possible to tint this area with one piece of film. In order not to suffer with the inserts, after applying the tinting (with a protective layer) to the soap solution, it is necessary to pull it very tightly on the glass. Do not be afraid to tear the tint, it has good ductility and strength.
Also, before sticking the tint on the rear window, it is recommended to call an assistant. He should warm up the film with a hairdryer while you stretch it. Do not be afraid to exert a lot of effort when "driving" bubbles from the rear window. This will also contribute to a better fit of the material. In all other respects, the same operations are performed as described above.
If you cannot tint the rear window in one piece, use several sections of light filters. It is better to cut them horizontally, not vertically, so you can hide the traces of the resulting "constructor". If you can make a cut along the line of the heating element, this will be the best option.
In custody
It will not be difficult to apply a film filter on your car glass yourself. In the process, you will have enough time to move the shading material and correct its position. And if you are still not sure that you know how to stick the tinting yourself, the video will help you understand this process in more detail.
Do not forget that even such work as tinting a car on your own should be carried out with the utmost diligence so as not to miss any trifles.
If the car glass is damaged, then it cannot be tinted. Minor scratches are an exception. If we are talking about significant damage (cobwebs, round holes, etc.), then first you need to repair or completely replace the glass. It should also be noted that it is better to carry out work on car tinting with an assistant. This will save you a lot of time and effort.
Any window tinting always starts with side windows, because they are the easiest to dismantle.
Materials and tools for car tinting:
- Detergent.
- Sharp blade or utility knife.
- Rubber spatula.
- Tinting film for glass.
- Spray bottle.
- Warm water.
- Lint-free napkin.
All of the above materials with tools must be prepared before starting the tinting work on your car.
Phased work:
Stage 1
Glass tinting must be started after washing. Thoroughly rinse the glass from dust and dirt, and on both sides. Make a soapy solution, apply it to the glass surface, and then wipe dry with a lint-free cloth. Use a utility knife or a sharp blade to check if there is any lint left on the glass.
Washing glasses with soapy water
Stage 2
We are preparing a special solution, necessary for applying and further fixing the tint film on the glass. Dilute shampoo or some kind of detergent in warm water. Beat until foam appears. The foam will allow the film to slide over the glass, which will make it possible to make the final fit. For convenience, the prepared solution can be poured into a spray bottle. That's all the preparation for glass tinting. Next, you will need to work closely with the tint film.
Preparing a soap solution
Stage 3
Car glass measurement
Exactly measure the length and width of the windows that are going to be tinted, and only after that, strictly according to the obtained parameters, cut out the tint film.
The pattern can also be obtained in another way without measuring the parameters of the glass. A film is applied to the glass from the outside of the door and smoothed well, and then simply cut along the contour.
Film pattern on car glass
An important point! The sides and bottoms should be cut first. There is no need to rush in this work. Tinting should be done without any tiny gaps. The top side of the film should be cut after it has been moved down by 5-7 cm. The main thing here is high precision and accuracy.
Stage 4
When the film is completely cut to size, the glass is only half tinted. Now is the time to apply it to the glass. By the way, you can use scotch tape to effectively separate the film into two parts. This is done very simply: tape is glued to the film on both sides at different levels, and then you need to pull it in different directions. Next, we put a film on the soapy glass and move it as needed so that it ultimately fits perfectly.
The process of separating the film from the substrate
Stage 5
Now it is very important to gently smooth out the film with a rubber spatula and expel air bubbles and soapy water from under it. Further, in parts, the protective layer of the film should be removed. It is necessary in order to be able to glue and smooth the film well.
Smoothing the film with a squeegee
Stage 6
After tinting the side windows, proceed to tint the rear window. That is why they first undergo training on the side windows. The fact is that all rear windows have a curved shape, and this significantly complicates the whole process of work. Nevertheless, in general, the entire rear window tinting will differ little from the side window tinting.
Car Rear Window Film Application Process
Important! The film must be glued strictly from top to bottom.
Carefully separate from the glass, first only the third part. Then this surface must be well lubricated with soapy water. Then fix the film on the glass and you will need to separate another third of the tinting from the protective layer.
Smoothing the rear window should be done with extreme care so that no air or soap solution is left anywhere. The glass will dry for 3 days (during this period it is not recommended to touch it with your hands).
Tinting with an industrial hair dryer:
It is worth noting that tinting glass on your own, even with a partner, can cause some difficulties on the windshield and rear window, since they have a blown shape. An industrial hairdryer will help you out here.
It is necessary to carefully stretch the film over the entire area on the moistened concave glass without removing the protective layer of the tint film. When gluing the film, use an industrial hairdryer to remove any excess soap solution and air bubbles. This happens due to the heating of problem areas of the film.
Tinting is an affordable tuning tool that visibly transforms your car. And in our "latitudes" the appearance of your favorite car is of great importance. There are many offers on the market for such a popular service - the gluing of the tint film. But the more options there are, the more difficult it is to find a contractor who can guarantee quality. Therefore, it is quite logical to do everything thoroughly and with your own hands. And the nuances of how to tint a car yourself and glue the film correctly, we will tell below.
Law and punishment for installing inappropriate toning
In order not to have to remove only the pasted tinting at the very first traffic police post, you should take into account the permissible norms. According to the law, or rather GOST 5727–88, the windshield must transmit at least 75% of the light, and the front side ones - 70%. On the front, a dark stripe is allowed, but no more than 14 cm from the upper edge. There are no restrictions on the rear windows. The only thing is that dull tinting (less than 5%) obliges the installation of rear-view mirrors on both sides (that is, it is possible on all modern cars).
The choice of the percentage of transmission of tinted light depends on your goals and current regulations
The punishment for non-compliance with these norms is not very large - 500 rubles. Since the spring of 2015, "frightening" information about the new law has been circulating on the Internet, which provides for a threefold increase in the amount of the fine (if repeated, 5000 rubles). At the beginning of autumn 2016, the law had not yet been adopted.
Thanks to the installers, the service of installing reusable tinting has become quite popular. Like, if you are caught with a removable film, then nothing will happen. But the reality shows the opposite. In 95% of cases, the court takes the side of the traffic police, arguing that at the time the vehicle stopped, the offense had already taken place, therefore, you may well be fined.
Choosing the best film for self-pasting car glass
For an optimal choice, there are many parameters to consider. The first is the type of film. They are painted and metallized (there are others, but inexperienced gluers should not mess with them). The second option is preferable, as it is more durable and protects well from sunlight, but the price is twice as high. It makes sense for "training" to take a high-quality dyed film. Its resource will last for 2-3 years, after which (from the top of the experience gained) you will decide which one to glue the second time.
You should not take the cheapest options (most often Chinese) to learn how to tint. During installation, you will encounter additional difficulties: creases, poor adhesive and rapid wear. With such materials and without experience, it is unlikely that it will be possible to bring the pasting process to the end.
- SunTek - strong adhesive, high strength and level of thermal insulation. For beginners, the Standart series is suitable.
An example of one of the varieties of SunTek film - Llumar has been on the market for a long time, so the production process is perfect and the quality is high. The ATR 10 LUX series has a bronze tint. The price is above average.
Is one of the top manufacturers - Sun – gard - colored films from this manufacturer have a five-year warranty thanks to a protective silicone coating.
Most Sun-gard films are six-layer - SunControl has a trick in UV protection. The company is Indian, but the quality does not suffer from this.
SunControl pleases with an abundance of tint colors - SolarGard uses expensive metals (copper, aluminum, titanium) in the production of its films. This gives an excellent variety of shades not available from other manufacturers (whites, blues, bright greens, and many others).
SolarGard factories are located in the USA
Choose which brand you like and your wallet, and we will get to work.
Preparation and tools to tint the car
We figured out the laws, chose the film - now you can start working. Immediately you need to choose a suitable place for the upcoming manipulations. The street is not very suitable for this. Dust, insects, wind and direct sunlight are the main list of unacceptable conditions. A spacious garage or box is ideal.
So that the execution process does not stop "at the most interesting place", prepare all the tools and materials in advance. You will need:
- The very tint film in the required amount. Decide how many glasses you will tint and calculate the area. Consider a 10-20% margin for fit.
- Water spray in any form. Needed for spraying soap solution.
- Liquid soap or Fairy, clear water.
- Something sharp and cutting: a regular blade, a stationery knife, a scalpel.
- Lint-free napkins.
- Forcing is a special spatula with which you will remove the solution from under the film. Must be firm but free from sharp edges. Usually they are plastic and some manufacturers put them together with a film. If you are unlucky, then look for them in construction or automotive stores, and they are sure to be found in shops for outdoor advertising masters.
- Special scraper for cleaning windows (optional, greatly facilitates the cleaning process).
- Electric hair dryer with temperature controller (we need 550 degrees Celsius).
Everything for DIY work (photo)
How to tint the side windows of a car: lessons from the pros
- It is better to start with them. The small size and absence of bends will allow you to get comfortable with the technology at home with a minimum of waste and nerves. We start work by preparing a soap solution. For tinting all car windows (if not a bus, of course) you will need 2.5–5 liters of liquid, depending on the efficiency of your spray bottle. The recipe is simple: for 1 liter of water add 5-10 drops of liquid soap or detergent like "Fairy". The latter option is preferable because it cleans the glass surface well from grease.
- Let's move on to the sewing process. We need to prepare film templates according to the shape of each side glass. Rather, the front and back, on the one hand. The other side can be simply copied from the finished layout. We use a freshly prepared solution. Apply it on the outside of the glass.
Do not take too large a spray bottle, it is hard to work with - Depending on the size of the roll and the configuration of the window, decide how to cut optimally - along or across. Now unfold and attach the roll to the glass with a margin. Don't try to make the perfect pattern right away.
Measure the pattern with a margin Leave a few extra centimeters around the edges. The film will stick to the wet surface and this will greatly simplify the procedure.
The film fits snugly on the base - Carefully cut straight pieces straight away. Then lower the film a few centimeters down and open the window slightly. This will make it much more convenient to cut off the curved portion of the glass. If there is uncut film on the corners, remove it.
- Be careful and careful during the cutting process. A sharp tool can easily damage paint or plastic parts of a car. When the footage of the toning film is end-to-end, then you can make a template from a regular film, and make the final version in conditions convenient for you (for example, on a table, where everything is in greater order).
- If your car has straight glass, then you are in luck and you can skip the next step (until you reach the rear window). On foreign cars, side windows are often curved. In this case, you need to give the film the desired shape. Work algorithm:
- Now cleaning. Apply the solution to the inside of the window and clean it with a special scraper (from the list of materials).
During cleaning, inspect the entire surface, you need it to be as clean as possible If there are any small particles that will not wash off, remove them with a regular blade. Just don't scratch dry.
Small particles are easier to drive out "wet" - It was the turn of the gluing itself. Peel off the backing of the foil to gain access to the adhesive backing. Just don't delete completely, limit yourself to half, starting at the top. Then moisten the glue portion with plenty of soapy water. This procedure is best done with a partner (one holds, the other wets). If you are working alone, then apply the film to the outside of the window.
- Open the window a little and try to align the film along the upper edge, already from the inside, and with glue to the glass. Do not feel sorry for the soapy solution, it neutralizes the effect of the glue and gives you time to adjust. Level from the center to the sides. Use a scraper or forcing to remove air and water between the film and the glass. One hundred percent adherence of the tinting to the surface is required.
- Moving on to the second half. Lift (close) the glass and moisten the bottom with plenty of soapy water.
Wet glass sparingly Remove the protective film completely, remembering that the adhesive part also needs to be wetted.
The adhesive layer also needs moisture - Now comes the tricky part. It is necessary to thread the film into the gap between the glass, the door card and the seal. By the way, before starting work, check that your plastic spatula can penetrate 1–2 cm into this gap in thickness.
Expel bubbles and air while the film is wet Without such a tool, it will not be possible to successfully finish the tinting. The main task is the same - to expel all the air and water. How to roll a car: foreign experience (video in English)
How to properly glue the film on the back
According to the principle of operation, the pasting of the rear window does not differ from the side curved one. But the larger size and inaccessibility significantly complicates the process (if the station wagon is, of course, lighter).
- Let's briefly fix the procedure in memory. Without a "magic" solution, nowhere. Therefore, we start by spraying it onto clean glass.
The technology is similar to pasting the front windows We apply a roll of film to the glass and cut it off with a margin of 2–3 cm. Then we level the tint clearly across the window and cut off the excess. Smooth out from the center and remove the wrinkles with a hair dryer and forcing.
For convex rear windows, heating with a hairdryer is required - We achieve a perfectly clean inner surface of the glass and moisten it abundantly with soapy water.
Cleanliness is essential to success - Let's move on to the last step. It is highly recommended to find a partner at this stage. A large piece of tape is difficult to handle alone. Remember to constantly spray soapy liquid on the glue side and on the glass. It remains to get rid of air or water bubbles. The film must also adhere evenly.
For a better visualization of the process, watch the video.
How to make a sticker of a film on the rear windows of a car yourself: a video guide
Work on mistakes: bubbles, creases, stripes and dots
It is not always possible to do everything perfectly the first time. Even professionals are not immune from mistakes. Some can be fixed, but not all. The main stumbling blocks:
- Air bubbles. It is better to deal with them at the initial stage, until the film is dry. After completing the work, be sure to slowly inspect all the windows. If you find bubbles, then distill them out. When the film "grasps", you will have to first soften it with a hair dryer or a garment steamer (you can use an iron with a steam generator).
- By the way about the hairdryer. Without it, you will only be able to tint a car with straight glass. It will not work to straighten the folds without heating (550 degrees).
- Kinks should be avoided at any stage. Why? After them, a noticeable strip remains. Chinese films especially "sin" with such shortcomings, it is very easy for a beginner to spoil the material.
- If you notice a curve in the first few hours, you can still save the material. The excess can be simply cut off. And the shortage can be compensated by moving the film, perhaps there is a margin on the back side. Warm up and separate the tinting from the window. Spray the solution again and glue as needed.
- Dirt getting under the film is not allowed. Pay close attention to this during the washing phase.
- For the glue to dry completely, it takes at least a day. It is better to leave the car in the garage for this time. But if it is necessary to travel, then do not open the windows and do not heat the interior with a stove or air conditioning.
- For pasting all side windows, 2 sq. m of film. Together with the rear, it is already 3 meters.
Sticking tint film is a rather complicated process, but everyone can do it. The key to success is careful preparation and selection of the right material. Also, eliminate rush while working. Even a small speck can then callou the eyes, and the pleasure of the work done will be incomplete.
- Let's briefly fix the procedure in memory. Without a "magic" solution, nowhere. Therefore, we start by spraying it onto clean glass.
