How To Shrink ANY Back Window Tint, by Tint Studio on YouTube. 9 min 43 s.
- Video length
- 9 min 43 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Clean the outside of the rear glass with glass cleaner and a squeegee until no dirt or grit is left.
Spray the outside glass with a soapy mix of a few drops of baby shampoo in a bottle of water.
Cut the film 1 to 2 inches larger than the glass on every side, then peel off the liner.
Float the film on the wet glass with the adhesive side facing out and squeegee the middle flat.
Hold a hard card in the centre and warm the film with a heat gun held 4 to 6 inches away.
Move the gun in small circles until the film turns slightly wavy, then smooth it down with the card.
Work from the centre outward and top to bottom, chasing fingers and bubbles to the nearest edge.
Let the film cool, check for lifted spots, reheat them, then trim the film to the glass edge.
Tips and common mistakes
Keep the heat gun moving at all times; holding it in one spot can crack the glass or melt the film.
Shrink a little at a time, since adding heat is easy but undoing a stretched or burnt patch is not.
Wear a heat-resistant glove on your smoothing hand and never press bare skin onto hot film.
A hairdryer works on small panes but a heat gun gives a faster, more even shrink on thick rear film.
Questions
Can you shrink window tint with a hairdryer?
Yes, on low heat and small panes. It is slower and may not get hot enough for thick rear-window film, so a heat gun is the better tool for a full back glass.
How do you know when the film is shrunk enough?
The film lies flat with no fingers or bridges and shows a light orange-peel texture. If it still lifts when you smooth it, add a little more heat and card it down again.
Do you shrink tint on the inside or outside of the glass?
Always on the outside. The film is shrunk on the outer surface, trimmed to shape, then moved inside for the final installation.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
