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Tinting your own windows: Who has done???

rocket5979

Gearhead
Nov 15, 2005
6,576
18
Round Lake, IL
I have been thinking of learning how to tint my own windows in my car and am curious who else on the forum has done it?

I have closely watched professionals do the windows in my previous vehicles and they make it look easy, but then again Jim Furyk makes sinking 100' putts at Pebble Beach look easy when I can barely make a ten footer, so impressions aren't everything...

-Is tinting your own windows as easy as it appears to be, as long as common sense and good prep work is involved?
-How does the tint that you can buy at the local auto parts stores hold up over time?
-Is any brand better than the other?
-Are there any good tutorials that you recommend reading or watching?
 

Yaj Yak

Gladys
TCG Premium
May 24, 2007
122,188
87,725
Niche score of 2,363
I've tried it before, on my suburban, it went pretty well- except for one significant part- the tint that I was able to get my hands on- was not quality at all.

For me, I wanted to learn because I had spent around ~$1200 on vehicle tint in the 4-5 years prior... since i had been switching vehicles so often.

definitely possible and relatively easy- again though- getting your hands on quality tint is tough (mine purpled somewhat quickly since it was cheap autozone shit or whatever it was)
 

Yaj Yak

Gladys
TCG Premium
May 24, 2007
122,188
87,725
Niche score of 2,363
I watched a shit ton of youtube videos and just took my time.

I'd probably try to buy some name-brand tint like llumar or 3m or something next time though if i were to do it- biggest reason I'd try to do it again though- the material would be ~50-75 bucks... and a place would charge $175-300 to get it done (depending on what vehicle it was)
 

jvert

Go Bulls and Cubs
Jul 27, 2006
1,005
275
I did my 1990 jeep cherokee. It was fairly easy because the windows had no
Curves to them and they were squares. My bro helped me with that. Turned out good.

I also did my foxbody notch. My lady help, Again easy windows and small. I did get the back done professionally. It's big and has a huge curve in it. I say try it but you will appreciate the professionals. If it looks bad no worries just simply remove it. Good luck.
 

Yaj Yak

Gladys
TCG Premium
May 24, 2007
122,188
87,725
Niche score of 2,363
depends on the car. I've put tint on a truck with flat simple windows. Just watched youtube videos on it. I wanted to do my f-body's rear glass but its huge requiring a seam and 2 pieces, its curved, and all has to be done in an award position so I said fuck a whole lot of that.
There are places that do one piece
 

SMRTSS1

TCG Elite Member
TCG Premium
Jan 12, 2010
5,139
7,566
Elgin
One piece on a big curved glass like on the F body is a royal pain in the ass, almost worth it to take the entire hatch off and lay it down rather than working upside-down.

To the OP you might want to look into pre-cut tint film to make your life easier. I've tinted my own glass on my every car I've owned and while it's not 100% perfect (you can always find flaws when you DIY) it's more than close enough. Just be patient, take your time, follow the directions and get good quality film.
 
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