Do You Have to Shrink Pre-Cut Tint?

Window film is flat. Glass usually isn’t. Side door windows curve gently in one direction, so flat film lies down on them without trouble. Rear windows and windshields curve in two directions at once, like part of a ball. Lay flat film on that and you get “fingers,” ripples of extra film along the edges. Heat-shrinking takes that extra material out so the film matches the glass.

Which windows need it

A pre-cut kit doesn’t change the curve of your glass. What it saves you is trimming. You shrink the piece, but you never cut film on the window.

How to shrink a rear window

1. Clean the outside of the glass. You’ll shape the film on the outside.
2. Lay the film liner-side out. Mist the glass lightly, then set the film on it with the clear liner facing you. Line it up roughly where it will sit.
3. Anchor it. Squeegee an “H” or a horizontal line across the middle so the film is pinned in the center and the extra film gathers at the top and bottom edges as fingers.
4. Heat a finger, then press it down. Hold the gun a few inches away and keep it moving. When a finger starts to ripple and shrink, press it flat with a card. Work one finger at a time from the center out.
5. Don’t overheat. A brown or shiny spot means too much heat. Keep the gun moving and back off.
6. Move it inside. Once the film lies flat with no fingers, clean the inside of the glass and install it there like any other piece.

Tips

• Use a dry glass method with a little powder on the outside if your film keeps sticking while you shrink. Many installers prefer it.
• Defroster lines on the inside are delicate. Use a soft squeegee there.
• Do side windows first, and save the rear for when you’re comfortable.

Need a heat gun? Add one for $19 in the kit builder.

Questions