Removing window tint?

[OSJ]

What is the best way to do this at home?Tint places are quoting me $150-$200 to remove the old tint.If I can do this at home and save a few bucks would be great.Any ideas would be appreciated.

[river]

Hi,

I'm sure there's stuff around that can dissolve it away. You can try nail polish remover, though it would be cheaper to buy a tin of thinners or acetone and try that. Also you can try eucalyptus oil - though this is best for removing gummed on labels and stuff like that.

Anything you use, try and make sure it doesn't run down the window and onto your rubber seals.

seeyuzz
river

[wilbo666]

When I had to get some off I used a razor blade, and wiped the residue off with acetone. A fair bit of work involved!

Cheers
Wilbo

[Hen]

I used a heat gun/hairdryer, a scraper blade and a whole lot of time. Heat it up to make it flexible then try and lift an edge and peel off big sheets of tint. However it will tear and so you'll be left with lots of shitty little bit so scrape off.

Then remove residue with your choice of solvent.

Be careful on the rear window. Only two lines of my rear demister worked after I did this.

Hen

[OSJ]

Thanks for the replies,I'll have a tinker!

[o_man_ra23]

Ive actually heard that windex is a good tint remover
If you have a bottle hanging about, give it a try, cant hurt. At least you will have clean windows afterwards

other than that, ive done the razor and acetone trick before, stinks badly, and is a lot of work, but it gets it done. If you can remove the windows, it will make it easier.

Cheers, Owen

[Ribfeast]

What about ammonia? Usually the tinting places stink of the stuff when I walk past, could be what they use there.

[o_man_ra23]

i think ammonia might be a bit too toxic on the nose for the average home user

[PlacentaJuan]

OSJ let us know how it goes, I will need to remove my tint soon too.

I was thinking of either whitesolv (but might damage the rubber) or 3m adhesive solvent. I think you can get them both from blackwoods.

Use with a razorblade or white scotch brite, or even a rag it the solvent works really well.

[stahlz_ae86]

I used a heat gun/hairdryer, a scraper blade and a whole lot of time. Heat it up to make it flexible then try and lift an edge and peel off big sheets of tint. However it will tear and so you'll be left with lots of shitty little bit so scrape off.

Then remove residue with your choice of solvent.

Be careful on the rear window. Only two lines of my rear demister worked after I did this.

Hen

Agreed, and my choice of solvent would be metho, followed by a clean with windex to get rid of those last streaks.

Razor blades are the best way to clean glass imo.

["Z" UTE]

Just a word or two of caution, for anyone removing tint from cars.

Check the tag on the glass. Is the glass laminated or toughened?

Took a Celsior to a tint shop, to have old tint removed, and new tint fitted.

Dumb plicks put a heat gun to a laminated rear screen. CRACK.:

Cost the shop $700.00 to put a new screen in.

Expensive lesson for them, and my car off the road for an extra day.


cheers Chuck.

[sr20 trueno]

dont know if someone else mentioned it but, the easiest way to get old tint of is with steam and a razor blade. cut a line in the tint (being careful not to scratch the window) then get some steam in that direction and it will be easy to peel off. As you peel a section off add point the steam to the edge and continue doing this until its all off. however if the tint is really old(turning purpley) and brittle it will take some time and can be quite frustrating...On the rear window be careful not to cut the demisting lines.

cheers
daniel

[OSJ]

Thanks for the advice everybody,most appreciated

[puzzle man]

Ive actually heard that windex is a good tint remover
If you have a bottle hanging about, give it a try, cant hurt. At least you will have clean windows afterwards

this is right as it has ammonia in it. window tint is just like vinyl on cars the ammonia melts the glue and shrivels the vinyl (tint) up...

[EldarO]

sister used heat gun + plastic scraper when she got her SVX10 Camry tinted (she got 20%, looks awesome!)

for the few days it took her to do it, talking to her was like jumping into a pit of pissed off snakes, she wasnt a happy girl.

so, my guess is, its alot of effort.

Eldar.O.