Has anyone had any luck tinting there own windows? Do you have any tint or techniques to recommend? I'm on a tight budget but I don't want to have my back seats fall apart from the sun by next year.

 

I have never done a back window. Have done the side ones. They turned out ok. Took me a while to get a the air out. But i could not even being to think how hard the back window would be. And to get it were there is no air bubbles init. Good luck

 

do a search, I remember reading a really good post on it a little while ago. had tons of info...

I am going to do this down the line, and one tip I thought about, was removing the back hatch. It's not too hard to remove from the car, with a helper, but trying to tint while upside down would probably be more a hassle. then you'd have a lot more room to work too... oh yea, get good quality tint, 3m is good. don't ever use windex, or anything ammonia based (purple tint!).

one issue, is that the tint piece that you get, may not even be large enough to cover the rear hatch in one piece, since it's so big... think about where overlap might occur....

 

I saw a tint place doing a camaro once. They did it in 3 pieces.

 

yea, I know a place in my hometown that was bragging about doing a 4th gen rear window in one piece. that was their greatest achievement, and they're the best tint shop i've ever seen....
It might be doable, if you can obtain tint in a piece that wide... but i've never seen it...

 

www.tintdude.com

 

If you have the rear window defroster, it'll be a million times harder than if you don't have it. A separate piece of tint needs to go between each of the wires that run across the window, so it's not just one big piece.

 

IF? you mean some cars don't have rear window defrosters???

 

the ques should be some of these cars rear defrosters still work lol. I have seen 1 or 2 with out them. must have came from somewere it never gets cold. Cuz around here sure would suck with out them

 

That sounds about right. We bought the Formula new in 1990. On the California coast. I have yet to see a 3G with the defroster. (Still living in CA)

OTOH my 5.0 LX is one of many with the damn thing. If I ever want to tint that car I'll have to Speedglass it first. It's always something...

K

 

Doing the rear hatch glass in 1 piece is quite an achievement, definately not easy by any means. Its a pretty complex surface. Like others here, I've done doors before (did em on my old '89 RS) but never the hatch. I tried the hatch but it turned out really lame. Took it to a guy I know and he was able to do the hatch in 2 pieces with the hatch still on the car. Since then I've always taken my Camaros to the same guy (he kicks butt). Definately go with 3M.

 

Its definately doable. If you live in a big city then you should be able to find someone to do it 1 piece no problem. If a shop can't do it, keep looking.
When I lived in wyoming I had a friend of mine tint my back window. He was an awesome tinter. He would actually hang the tint up for a day and let it sort of stretch out, he would also stretch the tint more by hand if needed to make it fit the window. It was a slow process, but its doable.

 

don't know about that. I had a shop do windows in my grand am and the guy explained to me how they were going to do the whole thing. He said the back window is too big for one piece, so what they do is align the edge between the pieces on one of the defroster lines. That way you don't see where one piece ends and the other one starts. They did a great job.

 

Where was the seam?

and also, my friend is in hawaii right now. I told her to watch for a green Camaro hauling it around. So do me a favor and make some noise, eh?

 

A friend and I tinted my hatch last summer. We bought the stuff that is 6 inches wide, so there are seams, but they are pretty small. Places around here wanted to charge a ton of money to have it done, so I did it for 60 bucks. I removed the hatch and placed it upside down on sawhorses. We worked with it and were patient, and it turned out pretty good. I can take pictures if anyone wants.

The window is easy to do until it starts to curve; that's when the fun begins.

 

Mine has a single piece rear and it looks very well done.

 

The best shop in town said they could do it in one piece. They told me they could do the car for $115.00. I'll probably end up going this route. I need to get it before summer rolls around and "cooks" my interior. Thanks to everyone for their insight.

 

They did mine in one peace. it turned out really good the whole car tho was 250.00 and it Jaystint shop here in Washington.

 

I have donw numerous third gen windows - both sides and back. Back is done in 3 or 4 strips with the cutouts for the defroster. You would need a very large piece of very thin and pliable tint to get the rear window done in 1 piece (only tint shops get that tint). The sides are easy - just don't wrinkle the tint by squeeging too hard. Also the longer you squeege - the more scratches in the tint will happen. Its all about technique.