Window tint

Dose anyone know the best way to tint your own windows? I was thinking I would pull the rear windows out and redo the seals while I'm at it. But I don't know were I can get the moldings and seals that I need, can any of you help me out?

The best way to tint your windows is to call someone that does tint. Tinting properly means a few specialized tools, and the knowledge and experience to use them. Scrapers, LOTS of razor blades, and a heat gun are a must. No trim removal is needed on a wagon.

You don't need to pull the windows out. Take the door panels off. Clean the glass really REALLY well, apply, put door panels back, done.

A shop wouldn't pull your glass and seals. Why would you?

In my opinion, this is one job that's worth paying a shop to do. They cut your tint so it's done right, they take the time to do it, and you're done. I paid $175 to get my whole wagon tinted and it was money well spent compared to buying tint, messing with getting it perfect, cutting it, and the amount of time just in the back of that hot car.

Noooooo thank you.

$175.00 is a good price for new work that had not been previously tinted.

Last time I checked locally for the top of the line 3M tint, including scraping off all the old crap already there was $300.00 in Rochester NY.

Pull your own tint off. Get a fabric steamer and some ammonia. Comes right off.

If you are intent on resealing your quarter glass, make sure it needs it before doing anything. You also need special tools to remove and install the quarter glass, and it makes tinting look like child's play. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

I paid about $225 locally last summer and agree leave it to a pro who guaranties the work. Jeff

I had my windows done in March, just before Wagonfest FL, and it cost me about $250 including additional tint on the vista window. I have a lifetime guarantee on the job for fading and separation.

We do not know where you are located.

Yeah. $225-250 is about right for this many windows.

Expect to pay between $10-20 per window they have to REMOVE tint from.

A $25 fabric steamer from WalMart pays for itself reeeeal quick at that rate, IMO.

Stingroo, you forgot the cutting it wrong the first time, messing it up, crumpling that piece and throwing it on the garage floor, buying more tint and getting it right the second time part.

Yeah, that too. lmao

I'd like to get mine done too, and for a guarantee, farm it out.

It's one of those projects, where in theory, we could all do in our driveways. But the reality more likely is that few of us can do it well or quickly.

lakeffect wrote:

It's one of those projects, where in theory, we could all do in our driveways. But the reality  more likely is that few of us can do it well or quickly.

That's probably true of all MY projects, but with tint, my moderate competence would be too obviously on display for all to see

Or in my case, it would be moderate incompetance.

Ok this is something so easy I would never pay anyone to do. Unless you have a highly compound curve window tinting is a no brainer. And even box store Gila fill will last much longer than people generally keep vehicles these days.

Having not done one in over 10 years I was looking into the cost of film and I found these precut kits on ebay. To me this is the ultimate in easy, cutting the film right is 98% of the work.

Anyone ever use the precut kits?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pro-Precut-Back-Rear-Glass-Window-Tint-Kit-Buick-Roadmaster-Wagon-1991-1996-/330799986282?fits=Make%3ABuick%7CModel%3ARoadmaster%7CYear%3A1994&vxp=mtr&hash=item4d0537366a

The rear gate window is a compound curve.

All of the windows are compound curves...there is not one straight line on the whole car that I know of. Even the bottom of the dash on the 91-93 cars has a upward bow to it (typical architectural design to look straight to the human eye).

yes almost all auto glass except a jeep CJ windshield is a slight compound curve. but IMO none of the windows on a wagon is a HIGHLY compound curve. even the back glass is relatively flat compared so some of the newer smaller wagons.

You have to heat form the tint to fit the glass curvature on all of the windows, or it will wrinkle at some point. The tint is not flexible/stretchable enough to fit the curves, even the wing windows at the rear.

$200-250 for professional tint is the way to go. It looks great and most of us have a heck of a time getting tint on that looks good!

frederickflintstone wrote:

Ok this is something so easy I would never pay anyone to do. Unless you have a highly compound curve window tinting is a no brainer.

i do things all the time i consider no brainer stuff,.

not tinting my own windows is one of them,...

I bit the bullet and spent $27 on a complete precut kit off ebay. I was hoping to get it done yesterday but I went and saw mad max and then it was rainy all day.

I will post up a pic of a $27 tint job for comparison to the professional jobs. and I an tentatively coming to wagonfest so you can see the flaws in person.

frederickflintstone wrote:

I bit the bullet and spent $27 on a complete precut kit off ebay. I was hoping to get it done yesterday but I went and saw mad max and then it was rainy all day.

I will post up a pic of a $27 tint job for comparison to the professional jobs. and I an tentatively coming to wagonfest so you can see the flaws in person.

Everybody here locally that does quality tinting has been doing it for years because it takes a lot of patience and technique.I would rather pay the 200 bucks to help someone else earn a paycheck than try to save a few bucks not to mention the FRUSTRATION!

Best of Luck,hope it turns out perfect.That reminds me,my OCCs tint is almost 10 years old and due for replacement.Going with the legal tint this time,these 60 year old eyes need all the help they can get.

What,no senior citizen discount? Maybe you could get them redone,while you're eating the early bird special.