No, no, no, not tent,
I said tint!
People that have window film on their coach will tell you this option is
nothing like those stick on key protectors or the miracle oil additive that is reported to
give you twice the mileage, make your teeth brighter and attract a girlfriend that likes
to go fishing, no window tint will truly make your life better.
There are several types of film, reasons to have it as well as a great gap
in quality both in the film itself and in the installation technique. Before we get
started with the hands on tint installation, lets talk about some tint basics. My
Mother is a college librarian, been one for and one thing I walked away with from
her was that when explaining something I should fully describe all aspects of the subject
so be careful when you ask me a question, I may answer you!
Film Types: There are 2 basic types of film.
1. filter film This film absorbs the heat and will
not allow it to reach the interior. It does this using a dye applied to the clear
film. The darker the film, the more heat it will filter but it also filters light.
"Limo tint" or 5% film allows only 5% of the perceived light to reach the
interior of the vehicle, it also will stop @ 30-40% of the heat at the same time.
This is all well and good but in doing this, it also heats up the glass and greatly
reduces you visibility. Another problem with this sort of film is that the suns
Ultra violet (UV) fades out the colors in the dye of the film and you end up with purple
or pink windows in time. If you want dark, you need to use a filter film, but if you
are looking for heat rejection you can see why this film will create as many problems
while dropping the heat.
2. Reflective film Now don't think of that mirror
looking stuff on the high rise building downtown, that is reflective film but that is nor
automotive style reflective film. First let me explain that this film does its job
be rejecting or reflecting the infrared light spectrum and that means it does not absorb
the heat but sends it back out away from you, the glass or anything else. This is
the most efficient means of getting rid of heat. The chrome film that is used in
buildings keeps out the heat (between 90-95%) but does not effect the vision through it.
If a building had dark smoke on the glass, the window would shatter every time a
hot day came up, for this reflective film is a great thing.
On a car the mirrored film could be dangerous possibly blinding motorists
near you. This would not do and that stuff is actually illegal for vehicles but the
film industry has created films that do not run the guy behind you in a ditch but do offer
you the high heat rejection. These films go by many names (metalized, sputtered,
performance, etc.) but what those badges mean is that they are designed to greatly reduce
heat inside the vehicle without reducing visibility. You may say, "cool",
why doesn't everyone get this stuff? Well, some folks want to wiggle their nose at
the car next to them without the driver getting bent. Some people may be vampires
and can't take the light or maybe they simply don't want to be seen. Thats OK and if
so filter film is for you but if you just hate the heat, get reflective.
Now that we've all graduated from "tint type 101", oh yea, if
the film does not have a "scratch layer" throw it back. The tougher
scratch resistant layer on the outside of the film resists scratching by your fingers,
rags and just being on the inside of your window, you need this. Cheap films do not
have a scratch layer, you do not need them! All of this should tell you to buys a
film for your need, buy quality film and you will be happy with it for years -- provided
it is installed properly which brings us to our next subject:
Tint Installation.
I will be tinting the windows in Saras coach over the next few days and
you are welcome to go along with me on the journey. I tell you now, not to persuade
you to not take on the job yourself, but tinting is not one of those sports that you can
be good at only playing the game once in a while. It take finesse and practice.
Over the years I have had several tinting businesses, even had the "Tinting by
Sears" concession for a while and I can tell you I'm getting too old to work that
hard for a living! In that I don't have to do it every day, I don't mind the work
but to make a living at tinting windows you've got to be a bit masochistic, young and full
of energy, willing to do most anything for a buck or a combination of all three!
When you look at a painted picture, some people see a beautiful view while
others see a pile of colored brush strokes. The first person is pleased with the
fin9shed picture the second is annoyed with the texture of the surface of the canvas and
the waste of paint. Window tinting is very much the same way. There are no
"perfects" in the inherently imperfect world and if you get close enough or
stare at a tinted window long enough you will see a bit of lint, a spec of dust or a grain
of sand. The air carries these things along with the good oxygen we breath. It
is all but impossible to cut a piece of film the exact size of a peice of glass and place
it on the glass without having some sort of foreign matter get in the way. Of course
if the speck is the size of Aunt Helens bunion there must be something done but if the
overall look of the tinted window is clean and the borders are cut smooth and do not
detract from the look of the window and frame, you have to say the job is acceptable.
Granted there are differences in paintings and I sure would not want my tint job to
look like am impressionistic pastel likeness but I think you know what I mean. If
you follow the system, and there is a system to tinting, the finished window will look
clean and quality, but like I said, don't look too long or too close. Hey, you know
what you'll do now, you're gonna go out and scrutinize the windows on your Honda!
Thats OK, get all of that out of your system now. When you're ready, we'll start the
tint job on Saras coach.
Here we go:
Tools of the trade are very simple things.
First is get good film.
There are many good brands (3M, Llumar, Solarguard, etc.). The best way to get good film
is to ask a tinting shop what they use and see if they will sell you some. It may
cost a bit more but all of the hard work you will be doing will be for nothing if you use
cheap film.
Next is a breakaway blade razor knife (I use an "Olfa" brand)
with stainless steel blades. The patterns must be cut exact and "any ol' knife
will not do, it MUST be very sharp at all times.
After that, a spray bottle with "slip solution" (this is water
with a couple drops of dish washing liquid, I use Dawn). The slip solution will
allow you to position the film on the glass correctly before it sticks. Down the
list we have an assortment of plastic squeegees, spreaders and stick tools. These are
to help you to push out the slip solution after the film is in place. A hair drier
allows you to dry and heat areas that will not lay down. No, not for your hair, for
the film! Of course where there is water, there must be rags to sop it up and you
need several clean, soft cloth rags or quality paper towels. You will need to assure
the edges are dry to keep capillary action from pulling water and dirt under the film.
Finally, you will need a dozen or so new single end razor blades and a good
cleaning sponge. The most important word in tinting is CLEAN. Everything must
be as clean as you can get it, we will talk about cleaning the glass soon so pay
attention!
CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN! You must have the window, inside & out as
well as the frame as clean as you can get it.
Each window must be cleaned 4 ways inside and out:
1. Spray the soapy "slip solution on the glass and take a fresh,
sharp razor blade to the glass. This is to dislodge paint, sealant and other really
stuck on matter. Use a new blade on each window. A sharp blade will not
scratch the glass.
2. Scrub the glass with a sponge. This will work with the slip
solution to chemically loosen and clean the glass.
3. Squeegee the surface. This will pull away the material the razor
blade and sponge loosened and light dirt suspended in the slip solution. Now you say
its clean, not yet!
4. Everything has a static charge and will attract air born dust
particles. As soon as you think the glass is clean, here comes that pesky dust in
the air and here we go again. I'm not paranoid on clean but this is the cornerstone
of a good tint job! Flush slip solution from the top to the bottom of the glass,
this will "short out" the static charge for about 1-2 minutes which is all the
time you have to get the film on the glass before the dust attacks. Flush the glass
only on the surface that gets the film and only just before you are going to
"stick" the film.
Remember I said you must have the frame of the glass clean, well when you
flush the glass, dirt will flow out do the frame onto the glass if the frame is not very
clean so wipe down the frames with a damp cloth and dry them well before you start the
glass cleaning process.
WOW! Now wasn't that fun! The first step of tinting is
cleaning and what an involved step it is. DO NOT cut corners on cleaning, you will
not have a good finish if you do, trust me. 
By the way, the best day for tinting is a rainy day with
no wind. The rain helps to short out the static charge in the air as well as flushes
air born dust from the air. You at least need an inside area with dead air (no air
movement) to reduce the dust born particles from sticking to the glass or the film.
This is why I am sweating so much, its hot in here! Hats go off to those small tint
shops on the side of the road that do their work under a tarp out in the open. They
really must be wizards at keeping dirt away from the glass and tine, well maybe they don't
and maybe thats why their work has more dirt in it! A good time job needs to be done
indoors, enough said.
Now that your fingers are shriveled up from cleaning all of the windows
inside and out, lets get down to the real fun, cutting patterns.
Patterns Open the box of film, measure the width of
the window, roll off and cut a section of film at least large enough to total cover the
glass.
Remember, like your tax form "do not bend, fold or
mutilate" the film at any time. The crease or kink you put in the film will
stay. So unless you like crease lines in your glass, take care. You must cut a clean
edge pattern if you want the finish to look good. Basically, you are making a
"decal" the exact size of the window, not an easy thing to do.
Here is the number 1 question folks ask when watching someone tint a
window, "No, the film does not go on the outside". We do, though, pattern
the film on the outside. It's much easier and more accurate to pattern and cut the film
from the outside
. Place the film (liner side out) on the window making sure all for
the glass is covered. Extra never hurts because the film is cheap compared with
having to do the pattern over because your piece of film was too small. Every
window, no matter the size, has 4 sides and must be patterned. There are no short
cuts here. The pattern must be as close to the edge of the window frame as possible
but cannot touch. If the film rides up or even touches the frame or gasket, it will
not lay flat and will show. This is a very precise function where no one can be
perfect. The pattern needs to have smooth edges, evenly cut along the frame and
tight. Nothing is perfect but the cut of the pattern can make the job look pretty
close.
Peal & Stick Now that the pattern is cut you
need to get that film perfectly positioned on the inside of the glass, what fun!
Place the pattern (liner out) on a clean flat surface. I use the side of the coach
of course scrubbed with the sponge (not the razor blade). Peal off the liner while
spraying slip solution on the stick surface, this will short out the static charge so you
can get the film to the glass without being a dust magnet and keeps the film from folding
over and sticking to itself. By the way, this process works great when putting
decals like this
on your window. Anyway, now just before you peal the liner, you will need to flush
the glass where the pattern is going. This is the last clean before the film is
applied and remember you have about 1 minute to get the film on the glass before the dust
starts moving toward the glass so "get cracking"!
You must not let the sticky side of the film touch anything, your
fingers, the window gasket - anything! Keep in your mind that dirt is on everything
and anything you touch will waste your pattern, so beeeee cooool!
Squeegee OK, the film is where you want it, the
pattern has fit well, now what? Using one of you squeegee collection, start at the
middle of the glass and push the slip solution from under the film which will allow the
film to stick to the glass. Be sure the film is where you want it because its too
late after the water is out.
Push out all air
bubbles and as much slip solution as you can. The water will dry out in time (3-5
days depending on humidity) but the air bubbles must be dealt with.
You may need to use the blow drier to heat up or stretch the film to get it to lay
down. Here I'm heating up the film to get it to stick where I got too close to the
gasket.
Squeegee out the film once more to remove as much of the slip solution as possible,
check the edges to be sure they are flat, then sit back and wait fore the fingers.
Fingers are small lift areas at the edges of the film where either water, air or both
prevent the film from sticking to the glass. These fingers will appear as the film
cures to the glass. Don't worry, you can push them out with a flat spreader or heat
it and press it out then.
Hey, piece of cake! Now you've done one window, a standard
floor plan 26' coach has 17 windows. Don't look at it that way, think of one at a time and
you'll be OK! It should take @ 30 min. per window to clean, pattern, peal &
stick. As I said before, do not cut corners, the quality will suffer.
Good luck and if it really drives you nuts, don't feel bad if you decide
to call in a pro. It takes practice to get good at tinting, its ashamed you have only
one coach to tint.
Good luck. 