Date:         Tue, 24 Aug 1999 10:23:47 -0600
Reply-To:     John Rodgers <inua@ROADRUNNER.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Rodgers <inua@ROADRUNNER.COM>
Subject:      Re: TINTED WINDOWS
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Since window tint has floated to the top again as a major thread, I
decided to offer a few comment.

If you have window tint...the after market film type applied by a shop
somewhere, NEVER EVER use any ammonia based cleaner to clean it. These
tint films are petroleum based plastics and as such have oils and
plasticisers int them to give flexibility. The ammonia will kill the
oils, the plastic becomes very brittle and will be severely damaged.

The ammoniated cleaners, when it gets on the plastic in the dash or side
pannels or other plastics kills the oils. And plastic without oilsm,
baking in the hot sun are prone to crack, it not at least discolor.

Be careful with any of the exotics.........alcohol, acetone, xylene,
toluol, MEK(methyl-ethyl-ketone) around the plastics and paint. Some of
this stuff can instantly destroy your paint or plastics.

From the experience of working in my son's tint shop, the best
cleaner......Johnson's baby shampoo. Just a little mixed with water in a
spray bottle does the very best job, and helps preserve the oils.

Sometimes, one runs across a really tough tint removal
situation.....like where tint was installed over window defrost strips.
This will call for the ammonia. Not must else to remove it with. But the
rest of the time, the softening action of the shampoo water is best.

John Rodgers
Driving cool in New Mexico in an "88 GL with UV rejecting metal
sputtered tint film all the way around.