Date:         Sun, 22 Aug 1999 02:39:03 -0600
Reply-To:     John Rodgers <inua@ROADRUNNER.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Rodgers <inua@ROADRUNNER.COM>
Subject:      Re: Window Tint Removal
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

My son has owned and operated an automotive tint shop for 10 years. Here
is how he does it.

First get a couple of spray bottles, fill with water, then add three
tablespoons of Johnsons baby shampoo. Get a coupe of scrapers that use
straight edge razor blades. There are some scrapers with wide blades.
You might try a glass place to get them.

One word of caution here. Contrary to what one might think, considering
how easily a rock can chip or crack a windshield, automotive glass is
actually soft, and can be easily scratched with the tools used to
install or remove the tint. Be sure your blade edge is always flat on
the glass and pressure is applied evenly across the blade edge. You
don't want the corner of the blad to grab into the glass because is will
make a scratch.

OK, on to the work.

You can make a slice through the tint in the middle of the window and
start peeling, or you can catch an edge and start. Pull the tint back
just a little, and start spraying the tint right at the point it is
pulling away from the glass. The tint is glued in place and the
shampoo/water mix will help soften the glue bond. After  it is peeled
off, go back and spray the whole window surface again. Then with your
tools and LINT FREE paper towel, scrape the softened glue from the
glass, and wipe the window dry.

Now you are ready for the new tint to be installed.

If you undertake to install your own tint, the lint free towell is a
necessity to be sure the window is clean, clean, clean!! You don't want
lint trapped under the tint. You will also need the shampoo, and a
couple of small squeegees. When the backing is peeled from the tint,
both the window and the glue side of the tint needs light spraying with
shampoo, then the tint applyed. The tint floats on the shampoo layer.
Then the surface(non glue side)  of the tint is sprayed with shampoo to
aid the squeegee in sliding on the surface of the tint as water,
shampoo, and glue is squeezed out in the process. Once all bubbles have
been removed, you can lightly wipe down the tint. to clean the surfavce.

Hope this helps someone.

John Rodgers
"88 GL Driver in New Mexico