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window tinting removal???

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terriphill

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We recently purchased a 1977 280Z for our son that has not moved from the guys yard since 1999. It had that cheap, "do it yourself" window tinting on the back and side windows. After sitting in the sun for 10 years, it was easy to pull off the curled up layers, but it seem that it has separated from the glued portion. I tried acetone but it won't penetrate the plastic that is over the glue. Any ideas on how to get this off? I'm thinking very sharp exacto knife and just scraping it 1/4 inch at a time...but I'd love to know if there is something easier and quicker.
 
Stop in to your parts store and get a razor blade handle like what shops use to scrape stickers off of windows (here in NY it's mostly used on the inspection stickers)
It'll look like a screwdriver that holds a standard razor blade at the tip.
That and sparingly using some aresol brake parts cleaner should make quick work of it.
Note: do NOT use the scraper, or any kind of scraper on the defroster grid!
 
OK...what do I use across the defroster grid?
 
Only thing I've ever used is a heat gun, razor knife, and some WD-40. Seems to work reasonably well on other sticker removal, and is usually even safe on paint.
 
Care, patients, and elbow grease. You can use spray chemicals to help loosen the glue (again, the brake parts cleaner works wonders) or some aresol glass cleaner.. a terrycloth towel can help (seems to help get off the glue when used with some chemicals). when you get the scraper handle, they sometimes come with a "plastic razor blade" Just a piece of rigid plastic in the shape of a razor blade, made for situations like the grid, or like the 80s Caddys that had a plastic film on the inside of the windshield, or for getting stickers off of paint.
things like that may help, but doing the grid is gonna take some time no matter what.
If you have access to auto body supplies, PPGs DX330 (wax and grease remover) works well. Laquer thinner works really good, but is also really harsh to work with
3M makes an adhesive remover as well that is good stuff.
Hope this helps.
 
Thanks guys. I'll bet I try a little or al of these. I'll definitely post to let y'all know what worked best.
 
this is a post my son put up on vw vortex in answer to the same question

Just to let everyone know...I did the first drivers window without any pre soak, and using a shark garment steamer...it came off within 20 minutes, but a lot of the glue stayed...
The next 3 windows and hatch window...was a breeze! I presoaked for an hr with garbage bags and windex, then used the steamer as I pulled it across the window...I had to steam the heck out of it, but it worked easily and left no residue...I was completely finished in an HR!!!!

He presoaked the tint with windex and taped a black garbage bag over it and left it in the sun for a little while
 
I asked the same question to the guy who has tinted all my cars, and he tells me that he takes some soapy water in a spray bottle, squirts the window, and uses a black garbage bag pressed against the glass. An hour or so in the sun and the stuff peels right off.

When he took the cheap stuff off my Cougar, the defroster was not damaged at all.

Now this works in Florida, so your mileage may vary.
 
I also would add that instead of harsh solvents, soapy (warm to hot) water is best to cut the glue residue, and I would second the use of the "plastic razor blade" they work great for window tint and old vinyl graphics/bumper-stickers, etc.!!
 
Terri... these guys are probably right about trying to stay away from the solvents... If they have a "sure fired method" with the soapy water or windex, try that first. I tend to go overboard using chemicals.
 
Murderous this stuff is! I've been dealing with this on the Beemer and I have one window off. Peel, scrape with a razor, wipe with Bestine (an adhesive remover) and keep wiping. I was just out on my lunch break doing this one window and when the sun come out in a few days, I am going to try the soapy water trick. This is just awful sticky stuff and I've got 4 doors, two smaller rear windows and the Rear window with defroster strips.
 
Vincent that does not sound like fun.

Ben, I tend to get a little overboard with the chemicals as well :wink:

If you can't get a plastic scraper, can I suggest a body putty applicator.

P
 
Or an ice remover for a car.
 
A very good adhesive remover, that I am surprised no one mentioned yet, is ammonia.

Take a bottle of ammonia, mix it about 10 to 1(water being the stronger) in a spritzer bottle. With the doors open and hopefully a fan to improve ventilation. Spray the ammonia on, let it soak in, so make sure you've got old terrycloth rags or something to catch the overspray on doorpanels, parcel shelves, etc.

If after a 15 minute wait it doesn't peel easily, get the old hairdryer heat gun out and after respritzing, use the heat gun, should peel right off.

A lot of the wallyworld, kmart stores in their auto sections do sell window tint remover spray. Guess what it is? ammonia and soapy water.... with a little coloring and deodorant...
 
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