mac-n-me

The '72 Cutlass we just got has window tinting film on all but the windshield. Its peeling in places, and leaving an adhesive residue behind.
I looked at a lot of different suggestions for removing both the film & residue. The one found at the link below, involving a clothes iron & pocket knife, is the quickest & most effective of the suggestions I viewed. I just thought I'd share the link because most of the methods seemed much more complicated than they need to be.

MDchanic

A-body glass is ubiquitous.

Easiest just to replace it, and sell the tinted glass to another victim.

- Eric

mac-n-me

"victim" is about right, lol

oldcutlass

I hate that stuff

RROLDSX

Not sure it would work on window tint glue but I recently discovered the best thing to remove glue (other than laquer thinner) is....... None other than WD40 with a micro towel. It works better than Goo Gone (basically laquer thinner) or any other glue remover I've found. The glue needs to be warm like in the hot sun warm.

mac-n-me

Thanks, because I didn't get the result the people in the video got. My film comes off no problem, but the adhesive stays. My iron wasn't steaming well in the upright position you need it in to steam the windows

MDchanic

Once the film is off, the adhesive should be easy - something will dissolve it.

Try whatever is at hand first. After that branch out.
Most likely solvents are lacquer thinner, mineral spirits, WD-40, denatured alcohol, acetone, and xylol (all available at your local hardware store or Home Despot).
If none of those dissolve it, then it;s from outer space.

The good news is that none of those dissolve glass, so you're completely safe using them all (the only thing that will dissolve glass is hydrofluoric acid, which I don't recommend getting within ten yards of).

- Eric

mac-n-me

Thanks, and I'll be sure to avoid the hydrofluoric acid, lol.

oldcutlass

Actually ammonia and fine steel wool works.

MDchanic

Ammonia. Forgot about that one. Brilliant stuff.

Use full strength, outdoors. Wear gloves. Don't inhale or get it in your eyes.

- Eric

cherokeepeople

go get some 3M adhesive remover.if it's an adhesive it will break it loose and won't hurt painted surfaces.

1968_Post

I had to remove the tint from my 442. It was not an easy process. I tried 3M release agent, ammonia, and every other thing I could think of. What ended up working the best for me was WD40, a razor blade and super fine steel wool. Work small areas (like 6"x6") and then move on. I tried to do larger areas but the adhesive turned to gum and was a pain to remove.

I'm glad I only had to do this once. It was a royal PITA!

Fun71

I had a similar experience with a car back in the 90s. The film peeled off fairly easily but left the glue behind. I used isopropyl alcohol and a safety razor blade to remove the glue in small sections.

mac-n-me

I tried to buy a scraping razor at our mechanics shop to remove the adhesive. He said I didn't need one, to use soapy water in a spray bottle, then scrape window with the edge of a credit card. What do you know, it worked. So simple. I'd imagined this little project to be a major pain. Shows what I know

MDchanic

Great trick! Thanks!

- Eric

BackInTheGame

Maybe it was a different adhesive that held mine on, but I found that on a warm day in the sun, keeping the tint wet by application of Windex/ammonia-wetted newspaper, re-wetted frequently, and left to itself for about 90 minutes allowed the film to peel right off, taking nearly all of the adhesive with it. For the very few spots of adhesive left behind, more wetting/waiting did the trick.




YMMV - Good Luck!