Tinting to the edge

On any car window, should the film be to the very top of the window, or should there be a tiny gap?

On roll ups I leave a very small (micro) gap. On fixed windows there should be no gap.

^What's the reason for that? So the film doesn't wear down?

to prevent the top edge from peeling up due to the window meeting the gasket when rolled up

if it is too close there are higher chances of it peeling. 1/8" to 1/16" is good

to get the closest edge you need to shave the tint ...but you must be very experienced to do that it takes practice but the closest look to factory edge

I prefer to micro edge. Never tried shaving. Chewing up the edge doesn't seem right to me. I may try it next time I redo my windows just to see how it goes.

No gap or small gap are both acceptable ways to do it

I rarely shave most people do not want to pay for it

small gap is fine large gap is not and on some windows they have a rounded edge to them so theres no way to go to the top.

Shaving takes the film and angles it with the bevel at the top of the window and does not leave a gap and you can’t feel the edge of the tint. Takes about 30 seconds to do but about 2 days to learn. Micro edging is still acceptable but will leave a small gap at the top. If you feel the micro-ed window you can feel the edge of the film. Its all good!

Hey flat rock stan, is shaving generally done only upon request?

you said it

depends who's doing it, no doubt, is going to effect the answer.

I file or shave every single exposed edge, no exceptions, even on the POS's. Some do, some don't. neither way is wrong.

Does the actual window get filed/shaved? Sorry about the questions...just trying to educate myself.

I think shaving with a tiny file is the easiest and cleanest looking. If the file is clean it shaves the film real nice, like a knife through butter. I think there is less chance for a mishap as compared to using a blade to microedge. If you have never shaved with a file, it is easier than u think. I picked up a 5 pack of engineer files at Lowes for 16 bucks.

put some pics of those bad boyz up and maybe a vid of you using them show n tell man

Yeah if you can put us up a pic of the product along with model and brand it would be helpful. I micro edge, but on some I'll shave it down with my olfa or a razor so it looks factory. But never knew or asked what kind of file to use.

I do not file, OR shave edges, and this is GENERALLY the result.....





Any number of factors can affect the final outcome. For instance, if the film isn't set really good at the top, it can move when you roll the window up and finish squeegeeing. You wouldn't know it until the window was rolled down. How one learned to tint, whats acceptable in my area may not be acceptable in yours. As long as the gap isn't wider than 1/8th in, and even along the edge, it's OK. Try and look at the area you actually can see instead of focusing on the "gap". It's AFTER-MARKET! Not factory. It will never be factory. Roll up your window and enjoy the tint, and quit obsessing over something as insignificant as a 1/16th of an inch of clear glass. Remember, not even your car is perfect. Are you holding a tinter to a higher standard of perfection than you hold the car manufacturer to?

looks good Key West . Same way here.

couldnt have said it better my friend!

1/8 or smaller is completly acceptable. I prefer to file though 70% of people would not notice the diffrence unless a tinter pointed it out! I like to use the fact that I file and a lot don't as a selling point!

I actually had to change my pants because I pi$$ed them from laughing so hard at the window tinters down the street from me and all of the others who state that it is absolutely impossible to tint all the way to the top of the roll down windows. I've been tinting for 5 years and 99 out of 100 cars I tint have been filed and to this day have had maybe 3 cars come back with a problem because of the way I filed the top. Yes it takes a little extra time to do it and you must heat up the tops before filing them, but 9 out of 10 customers will pay more for it if you make it an option. Now, if you like leaving borders and that's your method then I don't mean any offense and by all means do it how you wanna do it, but I've always upsold filing and can make another 20-30 a car doin so.

Then why do you charge less than them?

OH Chiatt you just got owned by the man

Nice warm welcome Ric

OUCH!!! Guess you'll be tracking what you post more carefully, Huh?

TD, Thats why he UPSELLS the filing. It puts him back in the realm of reasonable pricing!!!

Hey KW! If you're sitting in the car for that pic, where is that reflection coming from?

And what the hell are you wearing, yellow undies?!

NOT TO SHABBY ON THE EDGE, BUT IF YOU WERE SITTING IN THE CAR WHEN YOU TOOK THIS PIC, WHERE DID THE SPEEDO'S COME FROM.... MAYBE NEXTIME YOU WILL PUT SOME CLOTHES ON BEFORE U RUN OUTSIDE TO TAKE SOME PICTURES OF YOUR CAR

Good catch

The door was open. The grass reflection gives my orange SunGard shirt that yellow look. The speedos are for the rich old ladies!! (HEY!! A mans gotta make a living!!!!)

good eye

KW it might be time to pass the speedo to JW'jr.

it down. p**n

Stan, THATS an even SCARIER scenario. Poor little dude has to stand up twice to throw a shadow!!! (His ma was tall and thin)

I USE SHAVING CREAM AND A NEW RAZOR WHEN I SHAVE THERES NO GAP

HEY TINTMAN 237 THEY IS CLOWNING ON YOU SPEEDO BOY JA JA J/K TELL THEM ALL TO COME TO PHOENIX IN THE MIDDLE OF JULY N SEE WHOS GONNA BE WEARING SPEEDOS THEY CANT HANDLE THE HEAT 120 DEGREES IN SOMONES GARAGE JUST LIKE WE LIKE IT