Archive for the ‘DIY’ category

Car Polishing

November 18th, 2009

Proper grooming and maintenance are the keys in prolonging the life of your car. Since it is one of your big investments, you would certainly want to make the most out of it. Some people think that keeping their car in good condition requires a big sum of money. Although there is truth to this assumption, you can still save some by polishing your own car instead of hiring a professional. Yes, it is true that taking your car to an automotive cleaning shop would absolutely cost you a lot but by just purchasing an efficient car polisher you can do the job even in the comforts of your own home.

The thing is some just don’t have the time to do the cleaning on their own. More often than not, people just don’t want to waste their fruitful weekend over tasks as mundane as car cleaning. However, it will not hurt to give even a little time to polish your car once in a while. The truth is car polishing is very much different from car waxing. The common misconception is that you need to polish your car every time it starts to look dull or dirty. If you want to add shine on your car’s protective coating, you do not need a car polish but instead you need a wax.

Keep in mind that a polish must only be used if you really have to. The main function of car polishing is to remove scratches and other paint problems. However, you cannot use it anytime you want since it removes a thin layer of the paint every time you apply it on the car’s coating, unlike the wax that introduces a protective layer and give a shiny appearance to your car. That is why it is advisable to use a polish once in a while, or only if you badly need to remove visible scratches.

In order to find the best car polish, it is very important to read its label carefully to know what ingredients are used in the polish. Remember that polishes contain abrasives and other mild chemicals. You need to know whether it is designed to clean or protect the car’s paint. There are polishes that are capable of cleaning and polishing the car at the same time, but of course you need to read its label to ensure how they really work. Additionally, some polishes may include fillers that are used to hide any imperfection on your car’s coating. The polish is intended to improve the luster of your car’s paint but it will wear away with time due to exposure on different weather elements.

It will also be helpful to read car polishing reviews so you would know what to expect on a particular polish product. You also need to scour different automotive shops to compare various types of polishers. Reading the car’s manual will also be useful since most car manufacturers include recommendation on the type of polishers applicable for the type and model of the car you have. Be sure to apply it properly to ensure that it will serve its intended purpose!

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Posted in Car Care, DIY

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Car Tinting Kits

October 22nd, 2009

The introduction of DIY car window tint films allowed the possibility of installing car tints without the need of a professional automotive mechanic. Car window tinting kits offer a more cost-efficient way of adding solar protection to your vehicle’s window without having to spend loads of money. The installation of regular car tints on automotive shops can cost you a hefty sum of money not to mention the hassle of going to the shop to get the films installed. With car tint kits, all you need to do is buy them in any accessible auto shops then you can apply the tints on your car windows even at the comforts of your own home.

Car tinting kits already come with pre-cut tint components as well as all the items you need for successfully tinting your ride’s windows. However, some kits may not come with all the required tools needed to properly install the tints. Therefore, you need to ask the shop dealer on the items included inside the kit to ascertain that you already have everything you need in one easy-to-install tint kit. It will be ideal to canvass from different automotive stores specializing on car window tints or accessories and then compare prices to know which one offer the most affordable deal.

It is strongly recommended to opt for kits that are manufactured by trusted brand names to ensure quality. Also, do not forget to ask about product warranty and know what it covers. Those who do not have any knowledge about window tint installations should not worry since a detailed instruction is included inside the kit. Aside from that, you can also browse through different online resources offering guided videos on the proper way of installing the kits to tint a car. Tinting car windows is much easier with the aid of high-quality car tinting kits.

To apply the car tinting kit on your vehicle’s window, the first thing to do is to clean the area where you plan to stick the tints. Carefully follow the instructions indicated on the kit’s manual. You may ask a friend or relative who have already used tint kits to help you out with the installation. Before you start applying the tints on your car’s window, make sure that all tint films are present on the kit. It is best to apply the films one at a time to ensure that they will be properly installed on your car’s window pane. Follow the same procedure as indicated on the manual with the other windows until you have completely installed on the films on the kit.

Car tint kits offer a more economical option of installing additional protection to your car in very affordable prices!

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Posted in Accessories, DIY

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Removing Car Tint

October 22nd, 2009

Just like when looking for directions on how to tint car windows, you also need to follow a step-by-step instruction when removing car tint films. Removing car window tinting films can be time-consuming since most films are constructed of two tinted polyester layers, making it harder to remove the entire layer without leaving the second layer behind.

There are two common symptoms of a dying car window tint film. This includes the purple and bubbling films. A purple film is caused by the breaking down of non-metallic dyes in the car tinting film which results it to change color. The bubbling film, on the other hand, is a sign that the film’s adhesive is starting to fail. Once a single bubble appears, expect that many more will follow. Try not to attempt removing the film by simply peeling of the sticker since you will most likely end up with a sticky mess. There are a number of effective methods in removing the tint film in your car.

These techniques are designed to ensure that you will properly scrape off all the tint films on your car window with ease and precision. However, results will of course vary depending on how you carefully followed the instructions. Many opt to remove the car tint films by themselves since letting a professional do the job will definitely cost you more. Professionally removing car window tints almost cost the same with tint a car service.  Therefore, to get greater savings choose the appropriate removing technique that is applicable for you.

Remember that patience is required during the removal of car tint films. Completely removing all the automotive tint films need time thus you have to pick a day where you can allot all of your time only for removing the tints. The first technique you should consider is the ammonia and sun method. When using this technique, you need to ensure that you will be working under a bright sunny day. You will need two black garbage bags, ammonia, film scraper and paper towel.

Another effective technique is the heat method. This is a good alternative if you are expecting a cloudy day or you do not want to use razor blades and ammonia. With the heat method, you would need a clothing steamer, which cost around $25, to prep the tint films for peeling. If you do not have clothing steamer, you can use either a hair dryer or heat gun but use them appropriately since they produce more heat than the cloth steamer. Other effective peeling techniques to consider include the duct tape method as well as the soaking and soaping method. Carefully choose the peeling method according on what will work best on your automotive tints as well as on your working conditions!

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Posted in DIY, Interior

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