Vehicle window tinting advice please?

[Chris Wool]

steve what make van

[Steve Underhill]

Incidentally Chris its the renault kangoo you helped with identifying the other day
Steve

[Chris Wool]

trago specials 😉

i hate the stuff with a passion but will do flat rear windows with a lettering job.

side windows paper pattern or some times 3 screws and they are off to do on the bench.
the back window spray the window with water and without removing the backing put the film on to see if the curve to to much.
if to many wrinkles is when i run out of talent.

to much excess gets in the way that’s why i say make patterns.
enjoy

there are a few experts with the stuff on here but they may comment to late for you.

chris

[Steve Underhill]

Thanks Chris, i might go for the crumpled bacofoil look and tell him its to ensure maximum opacity.
LOL

[Michael Dunn]

i’ve only done a handful – all astra vans for some reason

only tips i can give is get plenty of film – and don’t expect the first attempt to be useable(unless you’re lucky) – although you will see what you need to do and not to do from it.

cut the film roughly oversize, cover the outside with soap, place the film on wrong way round, and then flatten a horizontal line across the width till it starts to make fingers, and then heat the fingers gently to shrink the film.

other tip is to get quality film – as with a lot of things, better quality makes it a little easier

theres a good choice here http://www.johnsonwindowfilms.co.uk/

[Steve Underhill]

Thanks for the tips guys will have a go tomorrow and let you know how it goes, im not expecting miracles and know its very tricky so will just give it a good go, the guy has bought 10 metres of film so he knows the score too lol

[David Rogers]

What I will say as I hate doing car tints even as a favour, is that most cheap ‘auction site / motor factor’ film is next to useless. It’s like working with sticky cling film not like real tint film (much thicker).

Clean it – clean it again and even clean it some more. A couple of spots of dirt can ruin the appearance. And if doing it wet watch out for muck from under the rubbers getting pulled in at the edges…

Dave

[Peter Normington]

If you have nothing to loose steve, give it a go,
I did my own truck, and as a result do not offer it to paying customers,
Yes the job turned out ok, but after a lot of waste, and time!
if I did add it to my skills, I would definately be looking at a course 😀

Peter

[Peter Normington]

quote David Rogers:

What I will say as I hate doing car tints even as a favour, is that most cheap ‘auction site / motor factor’ film is next to useless. It’s like working with sticky cling film not like real tint film (much thicker).

Clean it – clean it again and even clean it some more. A couple of spots of dirt can ruin the appearance. And if doing it wet watch out for muck from under the rubbers getting pulled in at the edges…

Dave

Dave, wet is the only option with window film, as far as I know. and the only way the "pros" do it

Peter

[David Rogers]

I know, I do it wet too – but didn’t want to presume it was the ‘only’ way….although I couldn’t imagine doing it otherwise.

[Steve Underhill]

Once again thanks for the tips, as you said Peter I have nothing to lose except a few hours, and the guy had his van written anyway and has friends who want theirs done on the strength of it so its just an experiment really
cheers
Steve

[John Childs]

quote Peter Normington:

I did my own truck, and as a result do not offer it to paying customers,

Ditto.

We can make a reasonable job of it, but not what I’d consider professional.

We don’t get asked for enough of it to warrant sending someone on a course.