Author Topic: Making clear glass obscure in a caravan  (Read 2768 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline KeithB

  • Hard Floor Camper User
  • *****
  • Posts: 1447
  • Thanked: 306 times
  • Gender: Male
Making clear glass obscure in a caravan
« on: July 03, 2020, 04:31:23 PM »
I have one of these Odyssey doors in my caravan and the glass in it is clear and there is no space behind it to fit a curtain or a blind.



But for privacy I'd like to make the glass obscure, so that it still lets light in but you can't actually see through it. So I bought a roll film from Bunnings, but hit a problem. As you can see from the picture, the glass (or polycarbonate) is a complex shape and the film I bought won't cope with it.

Does anyone have any ideas on what else I could use? It's a brand new and quite expensive door and I don't want to bugger it up.

Thanks in advance.
Keith
200 Series 2008, bull bar, Airmax snorkel,rack with 200 watt solar, third battery, winch, 33's with 2 spares, long range tank, drawers & barrier, bash plates, lifted & locked, Richards transmission lockup plus plenty of dings. Now towing the new Off Road Glamper.

Offline Bird

  • Once Was Lost, now am found
  • Hard Top Camper User
  • ******
  • Posts: I am a geek!!
  • Thanked: 1827 times
  • Gender: Male
  • Life is far too long....
    • My Place.
Re: Making clear glass obscure in a caravan
« Reply #1 on: July 03, 2020, 04:36:37 PM »
Could you replace the glass with tinted perspex?  either get one made same shape - or use flat and then tint that?
-
Click to enlarge

Gone to a new home

Offline Fizzie

  • Hard Top Camper User
  • ******
  • Posts: 4844
  • Thanked: 704 times
  • Gender: Male
Re: Making clear glass obscure in a caravan
« Reply #2 on: July 03, 2020, 04:42:14 PM »
How about talking to a car tinting place ???

People who do this sort of thing all the time may have ideas.

Another thought, that may or may not work - how about the spray can Santa Snow for windows ??? Would that work on a permanent basis ???
Winner PotM comp Jan 2021!

Terrie: 2014 Ford SZ Territory,
Coromal: 2023 Soul Seeker 18'
Sunnie:  2010 Sunliner Holiday

Offline gronk

  • KKK... Kwik Kool Kamping
  • Hard Top Camper User
  • ******
  • Posts: 7996
  • Thanked: 401 times
  • Gender: Male
Re: Making clear glass obscure in a caravan
« Reply #3 on: July 03, 2020, 04:45:15 PM »
Plasti dip ??    You can buy smoke dip, which some people use to tint their tail light lens. You can achieve as dark as you want depending on how many coats you apply. Between 4 and 7 is pretty normal.
Don't like the finished result.....peel it off.

I would put it on the inside, and take off the masking tape as soon as you are finished the last coat.

I put some on a previous 4wd and it worked pretty good.
2009 200 series Yota
2019 Lifestyle Ultra

Offline Jeepers Creepers

  • Hard Top Camper User
  • ******
  • Posts: 6631
  • Thanked: 431 times
  • Gender: Male
Re: Making clear glass obscure in a caravan
« Reply #4 on: July 03, 2020, 04:54:13 PM »
Just use a bit of vinyl from ya local signwriter.

You can buy a frosted glass look one.
I DON'T CARE HOW NICE THE HAND SOAP SMELLS.....

You should never walk out of the public toilets sniffing your fingers.

Offline Champin

  • Soft Floor Camper User
  • ****
  • Posts: 559
  • Thanked: 80 times
  • Gender: Male
Re: Making clear glass obscure in a caravan
« Reply #5 on: July 03, 2020, 05:12:22 PM »
I see the vinyl wrap people use a heat gun for tricky corners. Maybe you can try that on a big of scrap to see how it forms.

Sent from my SM-T700 using Tapatalk


Offline Hoyks

  • Hard Floor Camper User
  • *****
  • Posts: 851
  • Thanked: 113 times
  • Gender: Male
Re: Making clear glass obscure in a caravan
« Reply #6 on: July 03, 2020, 05:35:47 PM »
Window tint won't work as the polycarbonate gasses out placticisers and will bubble the polyester tint. Tint film won't stretch around the complex shape either, not without liberal application of a heat gun, and that heat won't do the transparency much good either. All the UV protection in tint is in the glue layer, so don't expect it to last very long either.

Vinyl wrap from a sign writer will do the job though. It will stretch around the complex corners and look nice. There will be a chice of colours to match the door or other decals on the van.

It will also come off again in a couple of years if you want to sell the van in its unadulterated state.
The following users thanked this post: bede

Offline xcvator

  • 2017 National Meet Volunteer
  • Hard Top Camper User
  • *****
  • Posts: 4245
  • Thanked: 298 times
  • Gender: Male
Re: Making clear glass obscure in a caravan
« Reply #7 on: July 03, 2020, 08:05:51 PM »
You will see through most of those at night. What about a couple of stick on hooks to hold up a curtain at night
https://www.bunnings.com.au/command-medium-white-adhesive-wire-hooks-2-pack_p3950005
spending the kids inheritance as fast as I can

tug 2018 Isuzu Mux LSU
1999 se diesel Jackaroo
July 10/2012  outback campers "Tanami"
New Age "Little Joey"

Offline glenm64

  • Hard Top Camper User
  • ******
  • Posts: 1948
  • Thanked: 495 times
  • Gender: Male
Re: Making clear glass obscure in a caravan
« Reply #8 on: July 03, 2020, 08:13:39 PM »
Sound like a set of curtains are coming Keith

Sent from my SM-T810 using Tapatalk

There's a big difference between kneeling down
......... and bending over.

Offline kizza1

  • Soft Floor Camper User
  • ****
  • Posts: 350
  • Thanked: 48 times
Re: Making clear glass obscure in a caravan
« Reply #9 on: July 03, 2020, 08:23:06 PM »
Try plastidip as gronk said. It's about $30 a can. 1 should do it. It sprays on like paint. And when it drys you can peel it off if you don't like it without any damage. It comes off in one big piece with the consistency of a rubber balloon.
Works well

Offline kizza1

  • Soft Floor Camper User
  • ****
  • Posts: 350
  • Thanked: 48 times
Re: Making clear glass obscure in a caravan
« Reply #10 on: July 03, 2020, 08:25:39 PM »
Just wipe a bit of thinners over it. It won't be clear anymore then. But you would have to polish it to get it back though.

Offline edz

  • Hard Top Camper User
  • ******
  • Posts: 6880
  • Thanked: 926 times
  • Gender: Male
  • " I dont like Sheeple "
Re: Making clear glass obscure in a caravan
« Reply #11 on: July 04, 2020, 12:12:04 AM »
Adheasive velcro strip, and a curtain, sandwiched between the two doors ..
" IMPROVISE  ADAPT   OVERCOME   and  PERSEVERE  "

Offline Spada

  • Hard Top Camper User
  • ******
  • Posts: 2285
  • Thanked: 481 times
  • Gender: Male
Re: Making clear glass obscure in a caravan
« Reply #12 on: July 04, 2020, 06:54:42 AM »
Or a press stud on each of the inside corners with some materiel of your choice to clip on/off as needed.
Spada.
76 Series Cruiser & Zone Peregrine caravan.

Offline ivan

  • Tent User
  • ***
  • Posts: 230
  • Thanked: 12 times
  • Gender: Male
Re: Making clear glass obscure in a caravan
« Reply #13 on: July 04, 2020, 11:47:00 AM »
You can buy frosted contact, the same stuff kids cover school books with.

Online austastar

  • Hard Top Camper User
  • ******
  • Posts: 4140
  • Thanked: 322 times
  • Gender: Male
Re: Making clear glass obscure in a caravan
« Reply #14 on: July 04, 2020, 11:53:42 AM »
This may not work on yours, but I saw one window set up that the frame was clear of the wall a tad, just enough to slide the blade of a small bulldog clip behind.
Four such clips held a temporary curtain in place at night .
 Cheers

Sent from my SM-T380 using Tapatalk


Offline KeithB

  • Hard Floor Camper User
  • *****
  • Posts: 1447
  • Thanked: 306 times
  • Gender: Male
Re: Making clear glass obscure in a caravan
« Reply #15 on: July 04, 2020, 04:00:09 PM »
All good ideas, none of which I had thought of.
Will the Plastidip make the glass obscure?
Keith
200 Series 2008, bull bar, Airmax snorkel,rack with 200 watt solar, third battery, winch, 33's with 2 spares, long range tank, drawers & barrier, bash plates, lifted & locked, Richards transmission lockup plus plenty of dings. Now towing the new Off Road Glamper.

Offline xcvator

  • 2017 National Meet Volunteer
  • Hard Top Camper User
  • *****
  • Posts: 4245
  • Thanked: 298 times
  • Gender: Male
Re: Making clear glass obscure in a caravan
« Reply #16 on: July 04, 2020, 04:55:52 PM »
If your door is the same as ours, with the flyscreen door on the inside just fit a blind onto that, most caravans are done that way
spending the kids inheritance as fast as I can

tug 2018 Isuzu Mux LSU
1999 se diesel Jackaroo
July 10/2012  outback campers "Tanami"
New Age "Little Joey"