Tinting the hatch window

[Unicornasaurus]

Anyone have any tips for tinting the hatch window with that DIY tint? Already tried it once and wasted some of the tint, but I've noticed that a couple people here have their rear windows tinted. Is there some sort of trick to doing it?

[25Horseplay]

I had a shop do mine.

[geezerstiva]

how much did you pay for it? did you get all four or just the hatch?

[25Horseplay]

I had the side windows and rear hatch done. It was around $200 if I remember right. Been 5 years.

[Unicornasaurus]

I already have the rear sides done, those were easy since I just took the windows out and did it. I was thinking of removing the hatch and then trying it, but was wondering if anyone else had better methods.

[Sp33dY]

I need my tint redone on the back as it'd bubbled badly. Im scared that it'll rip the rear demister off if i remove the dodgy tint that's on there

[SimonTuffGuy]

I had a shop do all of mine (all 5, plus a stripe across the windshield) forr under $200 at a shop in PA, with a full lifetime warranty.

[austyfrosty]

i tinted mine myself and it just took lots of time and used a heat gun so it made the tint take the shape of the window...that way you take out the "fingers" and you dont get bubbles and ridges in it once you apply it to the inside

[FestYboy]

tint the outside with scratch resistant tint, no bubbles or worries about tearing the defrost off if it needs to be removed.

[Festiva_tunner]

I went through three rolls of tint learning to heat shrink - I coulda gotten buy on the secont roll but I just wasnt happy with it.

[Unicornasaurus]

I have a vinyl sticker on the outside so I can't really put the tint on there.

Festiva_tunner do you need special heat-shrink tint for that? or how does it work? The stuff I bought you just spray both sides with a bit of mildly soapy water and stick it on.

[Festiva_tunner]

I forget the brand I use but it costs 24 dollars a roll and you can do a rear window with one roll, or both side windows. its not the static cling type make sure its the dry glue style. make sure when you buy it that the grain is vertical and not horizontal otherwise your heat shrinking will be a pain. just keep working the fingers out until it lays smooth. I found if you actually take the hatch off the car it makes it alot easier to do. I do the wet shrinking process, where you lay it out on the outside of the window and fit it to the shape. having a vinyl on the window will make it considerably harder. just don't shrink that area as much until you get it inside. when you go to trim the excess for the rubber seal put a bright light on the inside shining out because the inner seal is actually fatter than the outer (at least on mine). another thing you could do if you have another hatch you could shrink it to that has no vinyl then just transfer it to your hatch. just make sure the surface is immaculately clean both in and out so you don't get the little white dots all over, this is actually air under the tint due to dirt. Make sure you use a actual heat gun though because a hair drier doesn't get hot enough

[skeeters_keeper]

when i did my rear window i did it in 4 stripes, start at the bottom, do a stripe, then the next, then the next... i put a tiny but of over-lap on each one (the tint will shrink a little later and having dark stripes looks better than having areas where it separates!). Took some time but it looks plenty good enough for me.

also, i used the static cling on my rear window since what i used is too dark for the law, just in case i ever had to take it off. both of my side windows are regular tint though.

[scitzz]

The way skeeter ^^^ says is a good way to start. But, as you overlap each thin strip, use a SHARP razor to cut a line all the way across in the overlap. This makes both strips line up perfectly, and takes out the thin stripes of darker tint. Using the thin strips of tint make it easier to follow the curve of the window.

[skeeters_keeper]

^ you can do that if you use standard tint on the back window and you are very carefull, however since i used the static cling i was worried about it "shrinking" back a little and so just left the 1/16" of over-lap. You cant even tell unless you look close b/c they blend in with the defroster lines.