Tint Coming Off Glass on The Beast

[Cristobal]

As you guys know, the heat in Southern California can be brutal, and the tint lamination on the Beast is showing signs of wear. The local tint shop removed the rear window tint (it has a defogger) perfectly when the tint came off like a plastic curtain, two years ago. But they would not tell me how they got the glue off as it is sort of a trade secret.

My left front window tint started to peel at the bottom. I got a razor blade and removed the bottom 2 inches as I wanted to save the rest of the tint for awhile.

I then got some concentrated, pure ammonia at the Smart & Final store as an experiment. It took the glue off in a jiffy. I used hardly any elbow grease. That saved me some money too.

For those who visit the shooting range, a jag and this ammonia will clean every smear of copper fouling from the barrel of a gun. You must dry the interior with great care though as this ammonia solution includes water.

 

[The Critic]

Why not just retint the car?

 

[Cristobal]

Way too expensive. If I still have The Beast 10 years from now, I might. Also, I drive a lot in the desert with this car, and have replaced two windshields to date due to sand damage. The car still looks good, but it is no spring chicken. So I do what is needed to maintain it, but nothing fancy. Three of the passenger windows and the two little rear side windows still have all their tint.

Before the year is out, I will go either to Crater Lake in Oregon or to New Mexico. It depends on what will happen to the price of gasoline. How is it in your part of California?

 

[The Critic]

Really? There are tint shops on every corner in Southern California. You can get an excellent quality tint job for $200.

Anyway, on side windows I've seen people use glass cleaner and a razor blade to scrape off the adhesive.

 

[Cristobal]

A whole tint job is something to think about, but sunglasses purchased for a dollar at the 99 Cent Store work fine, and I'd rather spend the money on the next windshield whenever I hit the next windstorm on the Angeles Crest Highway or out in the desert. Also, the A/C blower motor has a naughty gremlin in it. For the past year it might not work about once a month but the compressor will still work. Let me get the car to within one block of my mechanic though, and the blower will come on & work perfectly. I kid you not. If the motor ever totally conks out, the money will go for that.

 

[JimPghPA]

I would try 91% drug-store alcohol.

 

[Cristobal]

In the past I tried regular window cleaner and drug store alcohol, and I might as well have tried to lick the glue off. They were totally ineffective. This was when the rear window lamination fell off.

This ammonia did the trick though. This car was originally from Longo Toyota in El Monte, and maybe their tint shop back in 1995 used this particular glue that was best soluble in ammonia. I don't know.

 

[djb]

Originally Posted By: Cristobal

I then got some concentrated, pure ammonia at the Smart & Final store


Errrmmm, no. No you didn't.

You got 5%-10% ammonia dissolved in water. Perhaps on the high end of that percentage.

Pure liquid ammonia requires a pressure vessel.

 

[mshu7]

Using a steamer is my tint guy's preferred method of removing tint. I tried it since I had access to a nice professional steamer and it worked great.

 

[Cristobal]

You are correct; I should have just called it an ammonia solution.