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Tinted Windows

Posted: December 8th, 2006, 8:02 pm
by Mr Bill
If a windshield has been tinted by means of application of tinted plastic film to the inside of the windshield; can you still use a drystar to apply heat to the windshield behind the repair?
It occured to me that heat might damage the tint film.

Re: Tinted Windows

Posted: December 8th, 2006, 8:03 pm
by mrchip
your right

Re: Tinted Windows

Posted: December 8th, 2006, 8:28 pm
by Dave M
Years ago there were a few windshields that had a clear plastic bonded to the inside of the glass. You could not use a razor blade to scrape off anything without doing damage to that clear plastic let alone apply heat! The purpose of the plastic layer was to prevent shattered windshields from splintering onto the driver and/or passenger. Have not seen these around for years. Does anyone remember them and are they still being made?

Re: Tinted Windows

Posted: December 9th, 2006, 3:54 am
by mrchip
boy do i remember ..i used a match on inside on stubburn leg of crackAHAHAHbadbad..buick riviera..no havn't seen them in yrs

Re: Tinted Windows

Posted: December 9th, 2006, 1:36 pm
by Mr Bill
So how do you apply heat to the inside of the windshield without damaging the tint film? :icon_roll :icon_roll

Re: Tinted Windows

Posted: December 9th, 2006, 1:57 pm
by Dave M
Mr. Bill,

I can't imagine that you could apply heat! You'd damage the film.

Re: Tinted Windows

Posted: December 9th, 2006, 7:53 pm
by J.T.Window
Verrrry carefully -- hair dryer.

Re: Tinted Windows

Posted: December 9th, 2006, 8:12 pm
by Brent Deines
Actually a moisture evaporator is used from the outside, and only for 20 seconds. Unlike other heating methods, the inside of the glass does not get very hot, certainly not hot enough to damage the inner layer on those very few windshields that were produced with it.

Just don't use it on the inside, and do not use it for longer than the recommended 20 seconds.

Re: Tinted Windows

Posted: December 9th, 2006, 10:32 pm
by Mr Bill
Thank you. :eusa_clap
The film to which I am referring is an aftermarket addition to a standard windshield.
People do it to their cars to make them look cool.
It didn't occur to me to add heat from the outside of the windshield to fill a stubborn leg on a chip.
Do any of you guys out there ever do that to regular chips rather than from the inside?

Re: Tinted Windows

Posted: December 10th, 2006, 10:04 am
by Dave M
Mr. Bill,
I think you are misunderstanding why we heat the outside of a windshield. I use heat for 2 reasons (on the outside), moisture evaporation from the break and warm up the glass around the break.