Tints

[Griffyn]

On the CTR forum all the cars that have been tinted haven't been tinted under the rear spoiler because its plastic.

Has anyone on here found somewhere that can tint the plastic?

Any pics of cars that have been tinted?

[Type S Bournemouth]

you cant tint the plastic due to the heat thats needed to apply the tint.

[CivPilot]

Originally Posted by Type S Bournemouth

you cant tint the plastic due to the heat thats needed to apply the tint.

Not true.

The reason it's so hard is to do with the plastic not liking the bonding glue (the glue just wont stick). As far as heat goes... that is mearly to dry the Saopy liquid* used to help the sticky film to dry. You can use a hairdryer to do this, it just takes longer than a heat gun that some tinters use.

When I had a smart city coupe a company called "Gatwick Auto Shades" tinted the windows and they did the plastic rear quarters without issue. they took longer, but they were tinted to the same quality to the other glass windows (and as with most proffesional tinting companies the other windows were removed from the car to do the tint).

So it is very difficult yes, but there are some tinters that are very capable of tinting plastic windows.

[matt7710]

had my windows tinted at glasstint in hull,very good job done including the rear plastic window it just didnt look right without the lower rear window tinted.

[Obo]

That looks well smart Matt

[matt7710]

thanks for that,year old now try to keep it something like

[christophe]

looks very nice !!

[Griffyn]

Cool, I know its possible to tint the plastic as shown, but not everyone can do it.

[woolz]

mate are you sure that company tinited your bottom window, as i have just phoned them and they dont do it they said!

[Type S Bournemouth]

the bottom window doesnt look tinted to me

[koolaid]

i already started a thread on the issue...About Tinting The Back Window

and i've been investigating the case very closely, you could say im expert what comes to the lower window tint but still not quite sure can it be tinted. here is the answer i got from GE PLASTICS who supplied the GLX resin material to FREEGLASS GMBH who molds the window for honda...very hard to find info on that LITTLE PIECE OF ...glass.

Regarding your enquiry of the suitability of Lexan* GLX* and tint
films.
The part is coated with a "glass like" coating so should behave in a
similar way to Glass for adhesion purposes of the tint film, but to my
knowledge we have not evaluated lamination with a film as you describe.
Theoretically speaking all polymers including Lexan* and the polymer in
the film contain moisture and the equilibrium amount is proportional to
the humidity and temperature of the surrounding air.If humidity drops or
temperature increases, moisture will be slowly liberated until
equilibrium is again achieved. If the rate at which moisture passes
through the film is slower than through the lexan* polycarbonate there
may be a pressure build up that could cause a bubble to form.
As I said this is purely theoretical but if you wish to reduce the
likelyhood of this happening I would chose to use a tinted film also
made from Lexan* Polycarbonate.

so the possible problem could "rise up" in the future months/years showing as blistering of film and/or wrinkling. many have informed that the damage takes time to process and does not happen over night...but anyone tinted his/hers lower window, post some info how is it holding, any problems etc...

[Griffyn]

Thats interesting.

So is it likely that you can tint with Lexan then? If so would it be expensive?

[koolaid]

Originally Posted by CivPilot

Not true.

The reason it's so hard is to do with the plastic not liking the bonding glue (the glue just wont stick). As far as heat goes... that is mearly to dry the Saopy liquid* used to help the sticky film to dry. You can use a hairdryer to do this, it just takes longer than a heat gun that some tinters use.

When I had a smart city coupe a company called "Gatwick Auto Shades" tinted the windows and they did the plastic rear quarters without issue. they took longer, but they were tinted to the same quality to the other glass windows (and as with most proffesional tinting companies the other windows were removed from the car to do the tint).

So it is very difficult yes, but there are some tinters that are very capable of tinting plastic windows.

I have to disagree about the heatgun procedure. it is used to shrink the film to meet the glass perfectly. many rear windows are curved in both axis, vertical and horizontal and otherwise would be impossible to tint without wrinkles. but in our case i think the window is curved only horizontally (is it? don't have my own car yet) so minimal or no heating would be needed. the soap water will exit the film with squeegee and remaining moisture evaporates through film is passing weeks.

[koolaid]

Originally Posted by Griffyn

Thats interesting.

So is it likely that you can tint with Lexan then? If so would it be expensive?

more info from GE copied from my e-mails to them:

GE does not produced tinting films, only the base lexan polymer or plain
extruded PC films that our customers may use to manufacture film
products.
When a polymer is first extruded or injection molded it is completely
free of moisture, as it has been through a drying process and then
processed at high temperature. It will subsequently absorb moisture from
the air until it is saturated, the level depends on the humidity and
temperature of the air. If the humidity or temperature changes, then the
equilibrium % of water in the GLX will change, so moisture will migtare
from or into the material. It will migrate from both sides the film side
and the untinted side.
I cannot predict what will happen, this is just a theoretical
discussion.
If you are concerned, I suggest you try a piece of film in a small area
and if after a few weeks niothing has happened then you should be ok to
apply the tinted film.

if no-one will tint my lower back window and take responsibility for the work, i personally will try the cling-film on my car, its cheap and nothing to loose that way.

[koolaid]

And to confuse everybody some more, here is a picture from GE:s website conserning the materials used in civic back window...looks tinted to me...

ps:love the tail lights! anyone know where to get those or are they custom?

[Griffyn]

Pic doesn't seem to work

[koolaid]

how about now? i can see it...

[Griffyn]

Nope its not loading up for me, and can see the others above

[CivPilot]

Originally Posted by koolaid

I have to disagree about the heatgun procedure. it is used to shrink the film to meet the glass perfectly. many rear windows are curved in both axis, vertical and horizontal and otherwise would be impossible to tint without wrinkles. but in our case i think the window is curved only horizontally (is it? don't have my own car yet) so minimal or no heating would be needed. the soap water will exit the film with squeegee and remaining moisture evaporates through film is passing weeks.

Well the proffesional people who tinted my smart would not use heat guns back then as they felt it was rushing and that level of heat was not required. They also stated that using a hand held (hair) dryer gave them more time to position the film and get rid of possible creases and bubbles. With a heat gun this has to be done very quickly.

The film itself used to tint my smart was a bi-metalic titanium film and reacts to very little heat when wet and they used (all be it pretty powerfull) hand held hair dryers to dry/fit the film to the plastic rear windows and rear glass screen. The side windows were removed for tinting and again, these were NOT treated with a heat gun. They told me absolutely out right that normal lower cost films were fitted in the same way and they didnt even have a heat gun on the premises.

Of course, these guys were only the proffesionals so what would they know