How to remove old window tint?

[MWP]

Hi all,

I need to remove the shitty bubbled & cracking window tint on my Camry.
Its gone rock hard and kinda flakes in small pieces, it wont peel off.

I havent tried to remove it from the side windows yet, but im guessing a razor blade will do it?
The rear window is the difficult one... how can i get it off without destroying the demister elements?

Thanks

[Jin~Jah]

I've used a heatgun and razor blades, and that worked well on everything except the rear window, but that tint was royally rooted.

I've been told a Steam Gun (can rent them) is the easiest way to do it, and use it on the actual tint on the inside of the glass.

not too sure how to do the back window without destroying the demister, but a razor blade certainly is NOT the way to go about preserving them
steam gun may get the glue off easier?

have to get one and try it

[caam]

I used a heat gun and razor blade like everyone else, But at the time had a carpet rear parcel shelf, It kind-of melted into a mess. Carefull when doing this haha.

[Grega]

take it to a tint shop and pay 50 bucks for them to remove it. i did this once. i swear i will never EVER do it again. FWIW they use steam to steam it off....

[MWP]

Well ive got a steam cleaner that im going to clean the seats with, so ill give that and a heatgun a go.
Wish me luck

Thanks guys.

[Roscos]

Heatgun is a bit harsh, hair dryer is not as hot and a paint scrapper just to help it along

Steam, never thought of that, it would take the glue off as well.


Roscos

[petergoudie]

Many of the films had water based adhesives built in so try soaking with water or a scraper with a hand pump spray bottle filled with water.

[Z2TT]

Hi Guys,

What I did for mine is :

Soaked newspaper and applied onto tint. Left car in the hot sun for about 4 hours.
Came back and removed newspaper.
Got a helper with hair dryer to heat the windscreen up,
Used thinners on the tint then a razor blade and various utensils to remove it.

The most annoying bit was corners that were stuck under trim bits that I couldn't get at,
So i might suggest removing trim bits too as it helps.

[DArenberg]

take it to a tint shop and pay 50 bucks for them to remove it. i did this once. i swear i will never EVER do it again. FWIW they use steam to steam it off....

This man has sense! Painful job, $50 for a day of frustration and 2 days of body ache from the back window.

["Z" UTE]

Window tint business's can also get it wrong. My first Celsior had tint on the rear screen that was deemed to be too dark by the RTA. Had a shop remove the tint and replace it with a more translucent film, but the numbnuts doing the job obviously could not read. All glass has a tag on it telling you whether the glass is laminated or toughened. Heat guns work well on toughened glass, on laminated glass not so much. The heat gun caused a massive failure in the laminated rear screen. The shop had to replace the screen, at their cost. The manager was not a happy chappy.

cheers Chuck.

[RHINO145]

i used a razor blade to get the tint off and eucalyptus oil/methylated spirits to clean the glue off

[CLG]

I bought a $29 "Steamatey" at Godfreys last week - best investment ever for removing tint. Avoid heat guns, and only use razor blades for clean up of any residual glue. Using the steam to lift the tint has enabled me to successfully do my rear screen without any detrimental effects to the demister.

[lexsmaz]

As the others have done i used a heat gun & scraper etc on the side windows & paid to get the rear one done, they used steam only & it worked out very well but i had to air the car for the next few days as everything felt damp in the car ..

[Z2TT]

How would tint shops go about removing tint on laminated screens? Guess it would be very lengthy since they cant use a heat gun to weaken the tint.

[MWP]

Thanks guys, i got it all off.

Heat gun was fail
Steam cleaner was awesome

Back window was a PITA due to the tint sticking to the demister wires.
Side windows came off in a single sheet.