Jankyvictor Posted September 9, 2006 Share Posted September 9, 2006 Has anyone ever removed the entire defogging system from the rear hatch glass with success? Whats the trick? Is it just thin copper strips stuck to the glass that will strip off with a razor, or are they etched in somehow? I have the glass out and I'm about to have them tinted, but the copper looks nasty, and will only be more noticable with dark tint behind it. Just wanted to ask first before finding out the hard way that I shouldn't have attempted it. Any thinners or solvents loosen them up? Any advice would be great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mario_82_ZXT Posted September 9, 2006 Share Posted September 9, 2006 I heard that it is etched in and practically impossible to remove. I want to take them off on mine too though.... if you find something that works let us know Mario Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
280Zone Posted September 9, 2006 Share Posted September 9, 2006 I have removed most of mine with a razor but it does not remove it all. It does appear to be etched in somehow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Careless Posted September 9, 2006 Share Posted September 9, 2006 I have removed most of mine with a razor but it does not remove it all. It does appear to be etched in somehow. it's etched in using glass etching chemicals, and then they use a copper adhesive that bonds to the etched areas, thereby easily creating copper leads, like photo-exposure for making circuit boards, almost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK-Z Posted September 11, 2006 Share Posted September 11, 2006 I thought it was a film. I'll have to check. I might be wrong, the previous owner put a sheet of tint on it before I got the car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cygnusx1 Posted September 11, 2006 Share Posted September 11, 2006 I know that heat is involved. I think it is "printed" onto the glass and then heat baked. It is a conductive "paint". I have no idea what would dissolve it. Scraping it would probably scratch the glass. Experiment carefully with paint remover....no gaurantee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Careless Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 I thought it was a film. I'll have to check. I might be wrong, the previous owner put a sheet of tint on it before I got the car. it is a film. it's much like the copper traces you find in printed circuit boards. it's really so thin that it's basically a copper trace on an etched portion of a window. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 73TPIZ Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 I have removed most of mine with a razor but it does not remove it all. It does appear to be etched in somehow. Ditto for me. I got all of what you can feel with a razor but it leaves a "ghost image" behind. But not near as noticeable as the oxidized and half gone copper wire that was on it before. Didn't get mine tinted but i know it would probably look better than covering it with tint and having air pockets down both sides of the wire where the tint wasn't flush on the glass. I doubt the "ghost images" would be too noticeable after tinting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mike Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 Ditto for me. I got all of what you can feel with a razor but it leaves a "ghost image" behind. But not near as noticeable as the oxidized and half gone copper wire that was on it before. Didn't get mine tinted but i know it would probably look better than covering it with tint and having air pockets down both sides of the wire where the tint wasn't flush on the glass. I doubt the "ghost images" would be too noticeable after tinting. Isn't there a spray-on permanent tint available. I think it must be professionally done but it may be worth it if the spray fills and masks the etching. You know... glosses it over and fills the porous etches. Does anyone know if that would work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Careless Posted September 13, 2006 Share Posted September 13, 2006 Isn't there a spray-on permanent tint available. I think it must be professionally done but it may be worth it if the spray fills and masks the etching. You know... glosses it over and fills the porous etches. Does anyone know if that would work? as far as i know, there is no way to reverse etching, unless you take a layer off the glass. but i have no idea as to how someone would go about doing that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK-Z Posted September 13, 2006 Share Posted September 13, 2006 You can try to spray a layer of clearcoat. Don't know if it will work or not though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mike Posted September 13, 2006 Share Posted September 13, 2006 Here ya' go... http://store.summitracing.com/egnsearch.asp?N=700+400335+115+316232&autoview=sku I'll bet this really fills in and hides the etching. If you try this, let us know how it works. I'd try a small area first, then remove and do the whole thing. Like AK-Z said, you could try a UV clear coat, then tint over that. It would probably easier to get the color even. CAVEAT... don't blame me if this goes wrong. It's just an idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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