Topic: Tint film removal
in Forum: C3 Car Care
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Thought i would share my experience removing tint film from the rear window, that has a working defroster that i didn't want to ruin.
It all started when i bought this 82 coupe. I decided to vette-rod it with a ZZ383 stroker, Tremec 5 speed, 355 gearing and pro comp suspension from VBP. It's OK to dream
.
.Everyone in my city, ( including all the auto glass shops) said it couldn't be done. So, one night surfing the net using "Tint Removal" as the subject i found an article that mentioned submerging the window in hot water and Ammonia
. The rear glass showed signs of leaking, so i thought what the heck, I'll give it a try. I removed the rear trim, and window, thought about buying a kidde pool to submerge it in, but couldn't find one in the stores in February,go figure
. Anyway, I waited till my wife was out of the house and plunked it in the tub in the master bath, threw in 3 gallons of Ammonia and filled it with scalding Hot water. Now, i gotta tell you the fumes would have choked a horse, but low and behold in about 15 minutes i took a soft bristled brush to it and the tint film just floated right off. It worked so good i threw the side windows in, same thing with them, no scraping. Clean up was easy as the film just floated their in chunks. I used a screen spatter shield to get the small pieces, and, no ring around the tub
. The rear glass showed signs of leaking, so i thought what the heck, I'll give it a try. I removed the rear trim, and window, thought about buying a kidde pool to submerge it in, but couldn't find one in the stores in February,go figure. Anyway, I waited till my wife was out of the house and plunked it in the tub in the master bath, threw in 3 gallons of Ammonia and filled it with scalding Hot water. Now, i gotta tell you the fumes would have choked a horse, but low and behold in about 15 minutes i took a soft bristled brush to it and the tint film just floated right off. It worked so good i threw the side windows in, same thing with them, no scraping. Clean up was easy as the film just floated their in chunks. I used a screen spatter shield to get the small pieces, and, no ring around the tub SPONSOR AD:: (Our Sponsors help support C3VR)
Lifetime MemberGreensburg, IN - USA
Joined: 9/24/2003
Posts: 5188
Vette(s): Previous: 1984 Silver / Charcoal Coupe, 1988 Maroon Coupe / 1989 Artic White Coupe / 2001 Speedway White Roadster / Present:1976 Stingray Black / Black, Auto, 350 slightly modified (355 hp) Luxor Wires Redline Tires. / 1989 Roadster Bright Red...
Glad you were able to remove it to your satisfaction. Most of it comes off pretty easy. I removed the tint from my daughters Saturn by grabbing 1 edge and gently pulling it loose enough that I could keep spraying the film down with a vinegar and water solution in a spray bottle. Tug some more, spray some more, so on and so on. It came off pretty easy.
Lifetime MemberModerator
Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/
Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight"
#2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto
Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
Ammonia works really well to remove tint...
I need to have the winders ion the '85 re-done, and I sure dread having to remove the tint on that back glass...
Ammonia also works real well to remove the silvering on rear view mirrors...so never use a glass cleaner with ammonia to clean your mirrors.
I need to have the winders ion the '85 re-done, and I sure dread having to remove the tint on that back glass...
Ammonia also works real well to remove the silvering on rear view mirrors...so never use a glass cleaner with ammonia to clean your mirrors.
Joel Adams
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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"
I removed the tint from my side windows, did the drivers side the hard way, then a friend told me about a spray called Tint-Off, worked great, peel a little and keep spraying between glass and tint and it all came off without a hassle.
Lifetime Member #116
Dave's '82 
[QUOTE=dwright]I thought a hair dryer on hot would work. No?[/QUOTE]
It doesn't get the glue off. It's the glue that's hard to remove, not the tint itself.
Lifetime Member #116
Dave's '82
Well, the whole point is you can't scrape the back window if you have defogger/defroster. The Ammonia, removes or melts the glue.
, removes or melts the glue. If you don't have a defroster/defogger, scrape away, then use Acetone to lift the glue and and polish with window cleaner of your choice.
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Cramerton, NC - USA
Joined: 8/22/2006
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Vette(s): black 1982 coupe slate gray interior, 350 crossfire, 1985 fuel pump, Steeroids R&P conversion
When I got my 82, the previous owner had put mirrored tint film on the rear window. I'm sure it looked "OK" in the beginning with the mirrored "T" tops but it was showing its age. I had it "steamed" off, no scraping, no glue, no elbow grease. The guy did it for me for $50.00 which I was glad to pay not to have to crawl into the luggage area on my back. I did cover my rear compartment doors with plywood when I took it to the tint shop though, didnt want bubba to put his knee through my compartment doors.
in Forum: C3 Car Care
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