Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Aesthetics Utter failure on tint project

I bought some window tint film and tried to install it in my Contour. What a joke. It was totally #*&@^$% impossible!

I didn't do just a half-assed attempt either. I downloaded 3 different how-to articles from tinting/detailing websites and followed them exactly. I bought high-quality metallic hybrid film. I cleaned the windows perfectly. I took my time and used the right tools. But I screwed it up EVERY SINGLE TIME. If it wasn't one thing, it was another:

1. Creases in the film caused by kinking it slightly when unrolling it or moving it.

2. Film wouldn't lay completely flat on the glass, especially around the edges.

3. The film would accidentally fold over on itself when I was trying to apply it to the window, and the adhesive on the film would stick to itself. When I pulled it apart, the place that stuck together would be irreparably marred.

4. The film would stick to the window edges or my hands when I was trying to apply it to the window, causing the film to get fingerprints or junk stuck to it.

5. Cutting the film too small or too big to fit the window properly, even though I used a pattern.

6. I even took one of the windows OUT and applied the film with the window laying on my workbench. I thought that would be foolproof, but the film had lots of bubbles trapped under it. It turns out that the window surface has to be vertical or the film gets water bubbles under it that can't be squeegeed out.

Bag this noise, man. My three-day-long career as an amateur window tinter is OVER.

Youch, sounds difficult; my tint is going the way of UV fade, but my car being Midnight Red, I have no problems

Maybe you should have someone do it for you? Sometimes, that's the better way to go..

Some people can do this, some people can't. I know I fall into the second category, so I feel your pain. When I get mine done, I'm just gonna drop the skrilla and get it done - the money is well worth the agony and anger saved.

I tried tinting an old car as well as two BIG kitchen windows and it went smoothly every time. For me, the trick was to use PLENTY of the soapy water (or whatever liquid is used to stick it on), since you can always sqeegue (sp?) the liquid out.

-ivan

even flat surfaces can be squeegeed.. (makes no sense that they couldn't.)

LOTS of liquid to allow it to slide around on the glass without sticking or creasing. A friend to help guide the tint, and a handheld propane torch to seal it will eliminate any excess bubbles, and gaps.

14' Bay windows are a PITA and they came out without a single bubble, or crease.

I did the windows on my car.

20% all around............







Practice makes perfect, and your first attempts should not guage your future. Try on something a little less "important" to you, like a glass out of a picture frame... then move to a large mirror.

you'll be a pro in no time (that is, if you choose to try again.)

Ray

ahhh...whoring time in the wrong area!!

35% front (soon to change to 20%)
20% rear

I tried once in my Sunbird Turbo GT ( I miss that car )

It was a disaster! But I learned:
1: Keep it wet. I mean dripping wet!
2: Curves cannot be adhered to unless you use a hot gun (looks like a hair dryer) to force the plastic to heat up & expand to the contour. They did that in the shop as I was watching...
3: There will be bubbles underneath it when you're done. The water will evaporate through the plastic over a few days. Brand new tint looks very bad for about 48 hours then it all clears up and looks like it's suppposed to.

It just sounds like you didn't have enough lubricant...if you used any ...it wouldn't have stuck to itself if you had it wet, or left ugly creases

Soapy water...windex...etc. Spray the windows down & spray the film down.

I also dosen't work well to do it when it is cold out either.

i did mine awhile back 2% all around...

the trick was to use the water/lubricant mixture i put in a spray bottle, and just get it soaking wet, then stick it on there, you should be able to slide it around, and just squeege all the liquid out the top and wipe it off. they say you cant get it wet enough...hint hint. then i just took a ruler all around the edges as far as i could into the seals and cut it with a razor blade. worked out really good for me. i messed up like 5 times and wasted tons of film before i got it right though !! the problems i had at the beginning was not cleaning the window good enough, and getting all the adhesive off from my previous failure. so basically, just use a ton of liquid~! i bought this stuff at walmart called "tint-on", you mix it 50/50 with water in a bottle. and i also bought the squeege and knife at walmart in the car section..