DIY Window Tinting
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2008
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Likes: 3,694
From: The Sunshine State
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Tint is a lil on the pricey side for what it is, but you pay for the skill it requires.
I did get tint from walmart when I tinted a glass door I have (even a simple flat glass door was a pain
), C5 have small windows, so trial an error will be fairly cheap, hopefully you have a FRC too 
I did get tint from walmart when I tinted a glass door I have (even a simple flat glass door was a pain
), C5 have small windows, so trial an error will be fairly cheap, hopefully you have a FRC too 
It's the skill and experience that makes the difference, not the materials as I've seen some really bad tint jobs over the years.
Plus, depending on what you do for a living, it frees up your time to make money doing what you do. I had mine tinted professionally and while I was in the customer lounge area, I was on a netconference doing what I do.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 218
Likes: 1
From: Baton Rouge Louisiana
Do it yourself. You could make it even easier with a precut film kit if you don't think you have the talent to cut it yourself. I've seen kits that include all of the tools and good instructions. What's the use of modding a car if you pay someone else to do all of the work for you. I've done it on several cars and its a extremely easy.
Have you ever tinted the hatch on a car before? Ever spliced two pieces of tint? Did you ever heat shrink tint? All of those things are skills learned over time that the OP does not have and a Vette is not a "starter" car. I would hate for the guy to invest the time and money just to have a headache in the end.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
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From: Here
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I have watched the guy who does my windows.....there is a lot more to it than slapping some tint down...he uses a heat gun to get the tint contoured on the outside first then applies it to the inside...it takes him about 60 minutes and its money well spent and my hatch is done in one piece.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 677
Likes: 1
From: Huntsville AL
I tint and install clear bras. Paint protection film took me years to get goo at it. Tint is much more difficult as tiny will wrinkle incredibly easily and when it does, it's ruined. It's also has to be heat formed to the glass with a heat gun. You have to go to a school to learn it and then you still only know the basics. So to whoever thought it is a case of being lazy for most people, go have at it and let us know how it works out. Nothing like having a corvette with a ****** tint job. Please post close up pics as well.
You know with your reasoning anyone of us sh ould be able to do open heart surgery... if we weren't to lazy to go to med school. Doesn't mean we should just go out and do it.
You know with your reasoning anyone of us sh ould be able to do open heart surgery... if we weren't to lazy to go to med school. Doesn't mean we should just go out and do it.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,171
Likes: 3
From: DFW Texas
Wow, it only took me one try. I must just be one of those folks that just catches on quickly. I really don't mean to offend anyone, I just believe that people should have more trust in their ability to try things for themselves, especially in this case where the OP feels comfortable with the task. Oh...and comparing it to open heart surgury...that's a little bit of a stretch. But I'm confident that most of us could achieve that goal if we put our minds to it. Good luck with learning your next skill.
By the way before I got into installing clear bras for a living I launched and flew satellites for a living. I worked on some of the most advanced (highly classified) weapon systems the Air force had to offer. So sure anyone can do anything if they put their minds to it. But it took years of training to get to that level.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,989
Likes: 352
From: Carson City Nevada
You can order precut pieces on fleabay fairly cheap. The side windows are curved so it's a little more difficult than most cars. If you don't like the way it turns out, just have the pros do it. Good luck.
