1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Diy Window Tint?

Discussion in 'Detailing' started by Spinney, Sep 14, 2017.

  1. Sep 14, 2017 at 10:50 AM
    #1
    Spinney

    Spinney [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2017
    Member:
    #227346
    Messages:
    14
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    Stock 2009 Toyota Tacoma Sport
    Has anyone Tinted their own windows? If so How do you do it?
     
  2. Sep 14, 2017 at 10:54 AM
    #2
    DriverSound

    DriverSound Señor Member

    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2009
    Member:
    #15329
    Messages:
    5,797
    Gender:
    Male
    SoCaca
    Vehicle:
    2015 DCSB OR 4x4
    Too few to list.
    I've done it in other cars. It takes some practice and I don't recommend it as a first time DIY. If you don't know what you're doing, you can easily crease the film or scratch it. Do it right the first time. Just pay the $200 and don't cheap out on the film.
     
    Lord Helmet and txtaco87 like this.
  3. Sep 14, 2017 at 10:57 AM
    #3
    Dudeman86

    Dudeman86 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2016
    Member:
    #188820
    Messages:
    799
    Gender:
    Male
    Scottsdale, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2016 Black DCLB OR
    Awesome you are thinking of trying something new. But for the cost, I would just take it to a pro. I watched the guys tint my truck and there is no way I could replicate what they did without a lot of practice.
     
    Jonas and Spinney[OP] like this.
  4. Sep 14, 2017 at 11:07 AM
    #4
    TacomaMike37

    TacomaMike37 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2013
    Member:
    #110316
    Messages:
    5,077
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Mike
    Vehicle:
    13' DCLB MGM
    Not even worth the effort, trust me. Just pay someone.
     
  5. Sep 14, 2017 at 11:38 AM
    #5
    TegoTaco

    TegoTaco Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2016
    Member:
    #198555
    Messages:
    6,428
    Gender:
    Male
    Ontario, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2013 Super White Tacoma DCLB TRD SPORT
    Tint is something I would not cheap out on.

    IMG_4569.jpg
     
    outlawtacoma and txtaco87 like this.
  6. Sep 14, 2017 at 11:42 AM
    #6
    Phoosa

    Phoosa I never saw nothing.

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2015
    Member:
    #150436
    Messages:
    5,994
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Matt
    Vehicle:
    Truck
    I try for the DIY route 9/10 times.

    Tint, however, is not on my DIY list.
    Find a reputable shop, that does good work, and give them your money.
     
  7. Sep 14, 2017 at 11:44 AM
    #7
    TegoTaco

    TegoTaco Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2016
    Member:
    #198555
    Messages:
    6,428
    Gender:
    Male
    Ontario, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2013 Super White Tacoma DCLB TRD SPORT
    If you try and you fuck it up, now you have to pay someone to remove the film and redo the windows. So really, how much are you saving? Is it worth the risk??
     
    Phoosa likes this.
  8. Sep 14, 2017 at 11:58 AM
    #8
    skullver

    skullver Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2017
    Member:
    #223400
    Messages:
    216
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Chris
    Ventura, CA-Carpinteria, CA, La Conchita, CA.
    Vehicle:
    2006 Tacoma 4wd double cab, short bed, black. 2007 Sequoia SR5 Silver.
    Not to mention any little tiny pieces of dirt or debri show up very well under the tint. If you are really clean and meticulous by nature, it might turn out good. Myself, I can't even put a screen protector on my phone without bubbles and lint/debri haha. I paid a professional to tint mine and turned out great.

    Good luck.
     
    JoefromPTC likes this.
  9. Sep 14, 2017 at 12:09 PM
    #9
    Clearwater Bill

    Clearwater Bill Never answer an anonymous letter

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2014
    Member:
    #140097
    Messages:
    22,424
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Billy
    Largo Florida
    Vehicle:
    '13 5 lug AC w/convenience package
    A few OE parts from fancy trucks
    Use good stuff like Llumar, use a well establised shop that only does tint, and a shop that offers a labor warranty that matches the product warranty.

    But to answer your question,.yes I have. Circa 1970, with a spray on tint on the back window of my '59 Apache. Came out nice, kept items in the gun rack obscured.
     
    inwood customs likes this.
  10. Sep 14, 2017 at 12:16 PM
    #10
    golfindia

    golfindia Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2017
    Member:
    #228000
    Messages:
    2,407
    Yes.
    Vehicle:
    pickup truck
    There are several places that sell precut tint these days, making it a very easy DIY project. Specially on a truck with flat windows. Get good tint, 3M, SolarGuard.....
     
  11. Sep 14, 2017 at 12:52 PM
    #11
    TacomaMike37

    TacomaMike37 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2013
    Member:
    #110316
    Messages:
    5,077
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Mike
    Vehicle:
    13' DCLB MGM
    This is the way I would do it too if I were to do it on my own. Good tip.
     
  12. Sep 14, 2017 at 12:56 PM
    #12
    T4RFTMFW

    T4RFTMFW Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 23, 2014
    Member:
    #134525
    Messages:
    69,793
    Removing tint film isn't difficult at all.

    Scratching your window with a razor blade can be, though.
     
  13. Sep 14, 2017 at 1:11 PM
    #13
    eccracer104

    eccracer104 O.G. Member

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2008
    Member:
    #5854
    Messages:
    14,141
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Mike
    San Diego, CA
    Vehicle:
    2016 Tundra 4x4
    People who know how to tint will do it with the windows in. I tried tinting myself, actually took the front windows all the way out and did it. Went very very slowly, got it all on there but there was a wrinkle. It's way more difficult than it looks. If you want to try it, go for it, but be prepared to pull it all off and start over if you want it perfect. It isn't easy. Also in the process of removing the tint I scratched my window. Be very careful!
    You'll also want to get a liquid specific for applying tint. Stuff like windex will eat the film and ruin it. I'm not sure, but I'd think the same type of liquid used to apply large decals, wraps, and graphics would be the same or similar.
     
    Lord Helmet likes this.
  14. Sep 14, 2017 at 1:14 PM
    #14
    Larzzzz

    Larzzzz Grande' Ricardo

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2009
    Member:
    #21609
    Messages:
    2,842
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Larry
    MA
    Vehicle:
    '06 dclb 350+ kmiles
    Aux back up lights, Bed lights, Re-located trailer plug, Good dooby, a.k.a. jumper cable mod, Heated seats, back up camera,
    I've tinted windows before. It's tedious if you want perfection. Curved glass will require multiple pieces of tint to accommodate the curve.That being said...

    Things you'll need:
    Glass cleaner
    Towels
    Plenty of single edge blades, or utility knife blades if you're comfortable using the blade in hand
    A spray bottle with a few drops of soap in it then filled with water
    A soft squeegee


    Clean your windows. A couple times..

    Take and cut your tint about 1/2 inch larger than what you need. At a corner, take two pieces of tape and put one on each side of the tint. Touch the tape together, then pull them apart. If you have an assistant, have that individual spray the tint with the soapy water as you separate the films. Place the wet tint on the glass with about 1/4" overlap and squeegee the air and water out.
    Trim the tint so that it's not up against an edge.
    If your anal about things then cover that edge of the tint with some clear fingernail polish so that it cannot be picked at.

    It's not difficult, however it is tedious and requires a good deal of patience at times.

    Good luck.
     
    Lord Helmet likes this.
  15. Sep 14, 2017 at 1:45 PM
    #15
    Clearwater Bill

    Clearwater Bill Never answer an anonymous letter

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2014
    Member:
    #140097
    Messages:
    22,424
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Billy
    Largo Florida
    Vehicle:
    '13 5 lug AC w/convenience package
    A few OE parts from fancy trucks
    Nothing on a Tacoma is that curved.
    My tint guy did the back glass of my 300zx and a couple of Accords, all in one piece perfection.

    If some told me a glass was too curved for one piece, I'd pass on the tint. I've never seen a multi strip job that looked decent. And we have a lot of tinted vehicles around here, including law enforcement. BTW, Crown Vics with one piece rears too.......
     
  16. Sep 14, 2017 at 2:48 PM
    #16
    TacoTruck808

    TacoTruck808 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 15, 2017
    Member:
    #219102
    Messages:
    2,103
    Gender:
    Male
    Oahu in the Aloha State!
    Vehicle:
    2016 Tacoma TRD Sport DCSB, Prem & Tech Pkg, MGM
    I have tinted glass on the doors of my stereo cabinet and windows on my garage door because they were flat and could be removed and placed on a table. Came out pretty good and has held up to this day. I did try a DIY tint job on my old frontier that I didnt want to spend $200 for tinting, but wanted to experiment with tinting it. I bought some tint on ebay that was already cut for the specific truck windows, it was pretty cheap quality and very thin so hard to work with. I used a garden sprayer with distilled water and a few drops of dawn dish washing soap. took my time and made sure the glass was super clean, and wet when applying the tint. I squeegeed out all of the water with one you can get in the tint section at Home Depot and most of the windows came out nice, but 1 window the tint creased and since it was cut to order with no spare, I just left it at that. For my new cars, I have never attempted to tint myself. I wanted it right and couldnt live with any bubbles or creases in the tint, and it would take me several attempts to get it right. If you are tinting a beater and want to experiment, then you can save some cash, but for a newer ride, I would spend the money and have a pro do it right. If they mess up, they will redo it for you. The pros make it look easy, but if you were to buy a roll and have to cut it yourself to fit, it aint as easy as the pros make it look!
     
    This site contains affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
    #16
  17. Sep 14, 2017 at 4:53 PM
    #17
    orezona

    orezona title unspecified

    Joined:
    Nov 7, 2016
    Member:
    #201811
    Messages:
    5,521
    satan's skillet
    Vehicle:
    2006 TRD OR DCSB OMGWTFBBQ TL;DR
    WARRANTY VOIDED
    If a shop does the tint and there's a bubble in it, you can tell them to fix it.

    If you do it and put a bubble in it... It will be there every time you get in your truck, constantly reminding you that despite your best efforts, you only made it to 99%. You failed in your quest for DIY perfection and will be a physical presence mocking you... an undeniable flaw; a sham drilling the lack of accomplishment in your work into your very soul... whenever you look at it.

    So you know... The choice is yours.
     
    Benzdriver81 and mwc273 like this.
  18. Sep 15, 2017 at 5:29 AM
    #18
    PackCon

    PackCon Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2015
    Member:
    #159449
    Messages:
    11,530
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Connor
    Vehicle:
    2017 Subaru Forester Limited
    It cost me $280 to tint my windshield and all my windows.

    So not enough money to worry about doing that shit myself LOL
     
  19. Sep 23, 2017 at 2:48 PM
    #19
    Falconsfan

    Falconsfan Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2017
    Member:
    #226735
    Messages:
    547
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2017 sr dcsb v6 4x4 black
    I tried this on my old work car. I was able to do the side windows OK on one side but the rear all I did was waste tint, so I pulled off what I did on the side windows and paid someone to do the whole car, took me 4 hrs to learn my lesson, took them hour and a half to do it perfect.
     
    orezona likes this.

Products Discussed in

To Top