Tinting Windows (Must Read, Free Moleskin)

[Acura_Kid]

Originally Posted by The General

Well, I personally spoke with the tinting place. The guy said they were using Moleskin at the request of their tint distributor and that it didn't work for them. Tint was still scratching because of dirt that had collected on the felt. Also, they said the felt even added more pressure to the window. Whatever. What's more, they also said the rear quarters can not be fully tinted like yours. Hum...

If you want to call them, here's their info, however, I don't think it will do any good.

Moonshadow
972-255-6303 (Dallas area)

no worries, i'll call them. they just dont have the experience, i can tell from what they just told you.

[Acura_Kid]

Originally Posted by The General

If you want to call them, here's their info, however, I don't think it will do any good.

Moonshadow
972-255-6303 (Dallas area)

i just called them. here's my asessment:

1. they are installing the felt wrong using a single 1" wide strip over both wipes. they say this causes more pressure on the glass and hence causes just the same scratching. this is exactly why i suggest using two .25" strips as i show in my pics.
2. they just dont have the experience doing the TL's quarter glass. i'm sure they do excellent work, but without experience doing this quarter they will opt not to attempt it and say it cant be done.

The General, see if you can find another shop that will give you a slight discount to have your quarters redone correctly, it looks so much better done right.

AK

[The General]

Originally Posted by Acura_Kid

The General, see if you can find another shop that will give you a slight discount to have your quarters redone correctly, it looks so much better done right.

AK

I just might do that. Thanks!

[FastBackJack]

I am new to the forum and new to owning an Acura. This thread caught my attention because I have tinted professionally for the last 10 years. AK your advice is very good and I wanted to say good job. I would just like to throw in my 2 cents since I have done quite a few TL's

The moleskin felt is definately the way to go if you are going to tint it. The only thing I do different than what you have listed is I always rolled the felt over the edge of each seperate wiper. The reason I did this was because if the window had the chance to touch the edge of the felt it can, and normally does start to grab the adhesive backing...causing nasty streaks and smears of adhesive up and down the tint. If you wrap the felt over the wiper, the glass will never have the chance to touch adhesive.

As you have pointed out many shops DO take short cuts with the TL,TSX, and Accord rear quater glasses. Also as you have said, there is no excuse for the film not going all the way in. There is actually 2 different things you can do with this specific installation. 1. is to do as you said, clean and soak real well so you can slide the film in and have a clean install. 2. is to actually take the glass out. Once you have the door panels off it is only a matter of 2 more bolts and one more screw. Then the whole thing will slide out and you can definately end up with a sweet job.

And lastly. As you have said film choice is important. Especially if it has a chance of effecting Nav or radio reception. Film can also effect radar detectors. Film comes in a few forms. Dyed, Dyed/Metallized, Full Metallized, Ceramic, Carbon Colored, Extruded, etc. Most common is Dyed, Dyed/Metallized (Hybrid), and Full Metallized (reflective).

Dyed is what turns purple real fast. DONT WANT THIS!!!!
Dyed/Metallized (Hybrid or High Performance) is most common. Very durable and good to use however can and will still turn blue or purple.
Full Metallized is colored only with metal and gives you that reflective look. This will not fade or turn purple.

Now anything with metal involved can and typically will cause probs with any frequencies. To combat this you can go with the Ceramic, Carbon, or Extruded films. Also considered Color Stable. These films do not use metal in their make-up. The Ceramics are the most expensive. But the Carbons or Extruded Films are much cheaper and more widely used. Cheaper in this sense does not mean inferior in quality. The Ceramics DO block more heat, but normally have a bluish look to them. Carbons are normally black or charcoal in color. At our shop we used Suntek's Carbon line. It was not nearly as expensive as the Ceramics but did a great job and looks great too. This film does not interfere with signals, nor does it change color or fade.


I apologize for this exhaustive post, but I wanted to give my professional opinion. If anyone else has any TINTING questions please ask. I worked at a shop for the past 10 years and ran it the last 5 I was there. We were very good and always took the extra time or materials to do a better job. Im sure I can answer any tint realted questions any of you may have.

FBJ

[Acura_Kid]

Originally Posted by FastBackJack

... snip

The moleskin felt is definately the way to go if you are going to tint it. The only thing I do different than what you have listed is I always rolled the felt over the edge of each seperate wiper. The reason I did this was because if the window had the chance to touch the edge of the felt it can, and normally does start to grab the adhesive backing...causing nasty streaks and smears of adhesive up and down the tint. If you wrap the felt over the wiper, the glass will never have the chance to touch adhesive.
...

FBJ

let me comment on this (nice info btw). i found 3-4 different ways people were applying the felt. your method was one of them, however, wrapping up and over the edge interferes with the lower wipe's full motion. i also found that this felt i have does not like to stick well when folded over a stress line (up & over the edge), it tends to pull back.

when doing the dual strips (one per wipe) the edge of the felt needs to go to the very edge of the wipe, which is located on the downside of the wipe's curved profile. the curve should allow enough clearance so that the glass wont catch.

a neat trick is to lightly talc those edges to make any stickiness there on the edge go away.

so far my glass has not caught or left and glue behind, it's been on since Oct 2004.

AK

[FastBackJack]

Very good. I used CR Laurence Moleskin felt. Youre right though. On some it can peel back if wrapped. It just needs to be prepped and secured well. With each car being different there are many different methods.

[Hawhyen51]

FBJ, great post and excellent knowledge base. Your comment concerning the quarter window going edge to edge should be noted. I've seen a few that just went inside of the molding and it looked like S**T. Thanks for the info.

[The General]

Originally Posted by Hawhyen51

I've seen a few that just went inside of the molding and it looked like S**T.

Well that's how mine is. Doesn't really bother me though.

[FastBackJack]

Originally Posted by Hawhyen51

FBJ, great post and excellent knowledge base. Your comment concerning the quarter window going edge to edge should be noted. I've seen a few that just went inside of the molding and it looked like S**T. Thanks for the info.

Thank You. Whenever I see an Accord, TSX, or TL in my area I always know that it was done at our shop, because it was done correctly. I can see others empty space hack jobs 100 yrds away. Just doesnt look good. Similar situation with Mercedes. However the open space is larger and easier to see. We do those correctly also.

Main thing here: Tinting can have a big effect on your car. In some situations it can "make or brake" it. Tinting is something that takes years of practice to get good at. Whenever in the market ask around, get opinions, and look at live examples or photos of a shops work. Ive seen a good tint job make a piece of S@*T look good, and a S@*T tint job make a nice car look horrible.

BIG THUMBS UP TO ACURA KID FOR BRING THIS MATTER TO EVERYONES ATTENTION!!!!

[InSrchOfSunrise]

I appologize if this is a dumb question...

I thought window tint was applied to the inside of the window, so what is the purpose of applying moleskin to the wiper if it will never touch the tint?

[Acura_Kid]

Originally Posted by InSrchOfSunrise

I appologize if this is a dumb question...

I thought window tint was applied to the inside of the window, so what is the purpose of applying moleskin to the wiper if it will never touch the tint?

your 100% correct, we dont apply it to the windshield wipers. there are rubber wipes inside the door on the inside the rub against the glass. they're there to keep it quiet and to keep debry from getting down inside the door. this is what we felt so that the tint will be less likely to scratch.

AK

[Acura_Kid]

Originally Posted by Hawhyen51

FBJ, great post and excellent knowledge base. Your comment concerning the quarter window going edge to edge should be noted. I've seen a few that just went inside of the molding and it looked like S**T. Thanks for the info.

indeed, this is how it SHOULD NOT BE DONE (it's not that bad, but it looks so much better done right. most tinters will redo for free just so they can hold pride in knowing they redid it the correct way):

SHOULD NOT BE DONE LIKE THIS


correct way

[Lessur]

Hi All,

I am looking at getting my windows tinted and wanted to know if anyone has or knows of a good tinter in Boston or surrounding areas. I spoke to a place in Tewksbury who had never done a TL before so made me a little nervous. I would really appreciate input on a good place to have the work done. BTW they wanted $200 to get it done which I thought was reasonable .

[Acura_Kid]

Originally Posted by Lessur

Hi All,

I am looking at getting my windows tinted and wanted to know if anyone has or knows of a good tinter in Boston or surrounding areas. I spoke to a place in Tewksbury who had never done a TL before so made me a little nervous. I would really appreciate input on a good place to have the work done. BTW they wanted $200 to get it done which I thought was reasonable .

what film is he using for $200 ??

[Anubus12]

I am considering tinting my TL w/ NAV. The only tinting dealer nearby uses Llumar and Acutek. Is either of these tint films any good and will it interfere with the NAV system?

Anyone know a good installer in the Ann Arbor / Detroit Michigan area?