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Date:         Mon, 13 Nov 2006 20:10:47 -0800
Reply-To:     obeechi@RUNBOX.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mark C <obeechi@RUNBOX.COM>
Subject:      Re: Fwd: Re: Window Tint Asthetics
Comments: To: davegh@PACBELL.NET
In-Reply-To:  <20061113204332.41512.qmail@web81313.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

In my homeland many of my countrymen wipe cow dung on their windows for good effective tinting... it also helps to save water, since no washing is needed... some of the more improved dungs comes from pig feed bits of clay... keeps the heat out better...

From: David Hally <davegh@PACBELL.NET> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: Fwd: Re: Window Tint Asthetics

> --- David Hally <davegh@pacbell.net> wrote: > > > Date: Mon, 13 Nov 2006 12:42:17 -0800 (PST) > > From: David Hally <davegh@pacbell.net> > > Subject: Re: Window Tint Asthetics > > To: "Dr.Chris" <gronski@GMAIL.COM> > > > > I had my '90 GL's windows tinted a couple of years ago, as my ac was > > out and I wanted a little help against solar gain in the dessert. It > > did help some, but not a much as I hoped. I did the five back windows > > with what is called a Limo tint(Lluminar), the driver/passenger > > windows > > were done in a 5% tint with a Limo tint "eyebrow" on the wind shield. > > The rear window tint does make it harder to see at night, but I > > haven't > > had any real problems. I wouldn't want to try backing up through > > areas > > of the Alabama Hills at night, but then I probably wouldn't try in > > the > > day either. > > The privacy is great, I tend to carry camera gear in the back, and > > you > > can't see it from the outside (BTW, the back of the van is a great > > place to work out of with a large format camera). > > I have gotten suspicious looks from the denziens of the East Palo > > Alto > > neighborhood where my brother lives, maybe they thought I was a rival > > drug dealer! They did break in and get my cell phone, But like an > > idiot, I had left it on the dash in plain view. When I replaced the > > glass, the replacement was already tinted about the same as the other > > window. > > > > YMMV > > Dave > > --- "Dr.Chris" <gronski@GMAIL.COM> wrote: > > > > > Hi All, > > > > > > I'm just about ready to put my rear closet back in, but before I do > > > so > > > I'm going to get my windows tinted. I've checked my local laws and > > on > > > the back five windows I can pretty much go as dark as I want. So > > now > > > it is just a question of esthetics. > > > > > > What are your thoughts on a tinting the back five windows? Would > > you > > > go limo (very dark) or something somewhat lighter? > > > > > > What are your thoughts about having a different shade of tint on > > > windows on the Adventurewagen top (to assist with stealth camping)? > > > If > > > for instance I did the lower windows in a charcoal colour and the > > > upper windows in a black limo tint. > > > > > > What shade would you do the skylight (a balance between lighting, > > > privacy, and heat protection)? > > > > > > I am considering leaving the rear window untinted, as my experience > > > driving other vehicles with tinted rear windows is the night > > > visibility is virtually non existant. I can always close the rear > > > curtains when parked. Thoughts? > > > > > > My van is alpine white with a white top... > > > > > > Chris > > > > > > P.S. I am probably going with either Formula One or Llumar tint as > > > per > > > John Rogers' post on the subject. > > > > > > On 7/13/05, John Rodgers <inua@charter.net> wrote: > > > > Chris, > > > > > > > > My son runs a tint shop and uses only the very best of films. > > Says > > > it > > > > doesn't pay the customer or him to handle cheap film. He told > > me > > > today > > > > that currently there are only two films he recommends - Llumar > > > > metalized films (his low end film - but it's a high end film on > > the > > > > market) and Pinnacle CP film by Formula One -his high end film > > for > > > his shop. > > > > > > > > Llumar metalized film has, as one would expect, excellent UV > > > rejection > > > > which reduces the heat, but has a bit of a shiny finish - not > > > mirror > > > > finish, but shiny enough. > > > > > > > > Pinnacle is a ceramic film and does it's work by UV absorption. > > It > > > does > > > > not have the shine on the surface the same way the metalized > > films > > > do. > > > > > > > > The metalized films have been around for quite a while and have > > > been > > > > very good, displacing virtually all the older films for general > > > use. > > > > They have the disadvantage of being incompatible with the new > > > > electronics finding their way into the newer automobiles, and in > > > the > > > > retrofitted electronics going into older automobiles. The metal > > in > > > the > > > > films interferes with transmission and reception. > > > > > > > > Enter the CP (ceramic product) films.........! > > > > > > > > CP films (Pinnacle - a top brand) are the newest films available. > > > They > > > > function by absorbing rather than reflecting UV. They do not > > > interfere > > > > with the new electronics, and perform at a higher level in > > dealing > > > with > > > > the heat issues. Though I have not found in the literature > > anything > > > to > > > > support my view, I believe that the CP films offer some > > insulative > > > > effect in that ceramic transmits heat energy with less efficiency > > > than > > > > metal. I suspect that one would be better off with a CP film vs a > > > metal > > > > film for that reason alone, much less the excellent UV > > absorption. > > > > > > > > The only drawback to the CP films is the price. They are > > typically > > > > slightly under 2-1/2 times as expensive as metal films. > > > > > > > > In any case, I would suggest that you get all windows except the > > > > windshield tinted. By law the windshield cannot be tinted, and > > > passenger > > > > and driver window must meet a certain light transmission > > standard, > > > and > > > > that varies state to state. But virtually every state has a > > > transmission > > > > standard. In virtually all cases, the passenger and driver > > windows > > > will > > > > be lighter in appearance than the other windows, as a result of > > the > > > law. > > > > Usually you can go as dark as you wish on all windows except the > > > > passenger and driver window. The windshield must remain clear, > > > excepting > > > > a sunshade strip that may be installed across the top of the > > > windshield. > > > > That too varies state to state, in terms of how much glass can > > be > > > covered. > > > > > > > > Formula One films and Llumar films both carry national warranties > > > and > > > > the companies are really good at making good on any film > > failures. > > > Good > > > > tint shops will have in-house warranties as well that will take > > > care of > > > > any labor charges that might accrue if they did the tint > > > installation > > > > for you. Be sure to ask about that. > > > > > > > > I would suggest that you get that rear window tinted because it > > is > > > a > > > > huge heat generator. I had all my windows done, including the > > rear > > > hatch > > > > glass, and I've never had a lick of trouble with the defroster > > > strips on > > > > the glass. > > > > > > > > I personally think it a mistake to use a really dark tint on the > > > van > > > > windows as it interferes with clarity of vision. I'm interested > > in > > > > reducing heat and glare, but I still like sufficient light to see > > > well > > > > through any glass while seated in the driver sat. This is > > > especially > > > > true at night. But to each his own. > > > > > > > > There is one final trick that can be done that will help glare - > > > both > > > > day and night - IF you can get the tint shop to do it. Of course > > > you > > > > are on your own on this one. The inside of the front windshield > > can > > > be > > > > tinted with a near clear metal tint. It is so neutral as not to > > be > > > > "noticeably" dark, but it helps dramatically with glare. As I > > said, > > > > patently illegal, but boy what a difference. > > > > > > > > Anyway ..... > > > > > > > > > > > > IMHO, a good tint job is worth it's weight. > > > > > > > > Regards, > > > > > > > > John Rodgers > > > > 88 GL Driver > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Christopher Gronski wrote: > > > > > > > > >I am considering tinting my windows and I wanted people's > > opinion > > > on two things: > > > > > > > > > >1) Type and brand of tint, what have you used that you like? I > > am > > > > >leaning towards the sort of mirrored look, but I'm still open to > > > > >suggestions. > > > > > > > > > >2) Which windows to tint? I am considering only tinting the side > > > > >windows (middle and rear) and leaving the cab area and the rear > > > window > > > > >untinted. I'd like your opinon on this as well > > > > > > > > > >Thanks, > > > > >Chris > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

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