Many car owners consider their car a “workhorse” that needs to be watered and fed, and it, in turn, performs the functions assigned to it. But there are many people whose relationship with the car cannot be called anything other than friendship. And they try to ensure that their four-wheeled friend looks appropriate and is always clean and well-groomed.
Frame curtains in a car
And if we don’t talk about the small army of lovers of serious auto tuning, then one of the ways to make your car more attractive and cozy is to install curtains on the windows. But since creating such beauty is not part of the plans of car manufacturers, you have to do this decoration yourself.
We intend to tell our visitors about what car curtains are intended for, what they are like, and what the technology is for making them yourself. We hope that this information will be enough to interest those for whom the interior of a car is not an empty place, and its interior is not a boxcar.
We make car curtains: curtains and frames - no worse than store-bought ones
Every responsible car owner should take care to protect the interior from the burning rays of the sun.
Tint film is the most popular, but problems may arise with it due to stricter legislation. Recently, administrative liability has increased for improper tinting of windows, so it is advisable to look for other options for protection from the penetrating sun and prying glances.
The easiest way is to purchase ready-made curtains for windows. Although making such products with your own hands is quite simple.
Recommendations
The purpose of car curtains is simple and clear to everyone. However, in an effort to protect the interior from the sun, one should not forget about the aesthetic qualities that curtains can add or, on the contrary, take away from a particular interior. Thus, the design and materials used affect the visual component, which in turn affects the overall appearance of the interior.
When choosing the color of fabric for curtains, it is recommended to give preference to lighter tones, which will repel unwanted sunlight. However, they should not contrast with the overall color scheme of the interior.
For removable curtain options, you should provide a special place in the car for storing them. Here they should not be contaminated, subject to damage or other negative influences.
Many motorists believe that curtains give the car solidity, and therefore, you should not lose the chance to give the interior of your car character by decorating it with homemade curtains.
Traditional curtains
Classics are always relevant. This applies to both fashion and some technical products. Curtains have always been widely used in cars to protect against bright ultraviolet radiation.
Moreover, most often they were made independently. To bring such a project to life, you will need car clips for fastening the upholstery, rope or elastic band, transparent sealant or any universal glue, a needle and thread, lining fabric or dark mesh.
You need to make curtains according to the following scheme:
Any type of fabric can be used. For example, a lining is good because it does not let the sun's rays through, but is well translucent.
Option #1
Fabric curtains on a string. With the right selection of material they will look quite solid. They are very easy to make. To do this, you need a string cornice, double-sided cattle and small plastic hooks.
Car curtains
The fabric is cut to fit the windows, and we attach hooks to the sides of the rubber (and if you use special suction cups, you can also to the edge of the glass). We hem one end of the curtain, leaving room for the string, then stretch it and secure it.
The curtains are very simple, they will protect from the bright sun, choosing them to match the color and style of the interior, they will fit well into the interior. However, they can be made for rear and side windows. Such products are not suitable for the front.
Frame covers
These devices are a curtain made of fine lining mesh. Moreover, such overlays can be easily installed and removed if necessary. They can be used at almost any time of the year, which is why such products are deservedly popular among many drivers. To make this product with your own hands, you will need care and patience.
In addition, you need to make sure that the following materials and tools are available:
All work must be done in the following sequence:
In this case, you need to ensure that you get a flat surface everywhere. Cut off all protruding areas with scissors.
Thus, self-made frame linings will last for many years, providing greater comfort and safety.
Self-made curtains for the car interior are an excellent solution for protection from the aggressive summer sun. They can be easily removed or extended if necessary, providing greater visibility for the driver and passengers.
Source
Tools and materials
Before you start making removable tinting, you need to prepare some available tools and materials.
To work with film and polymer sheet you will need:
For comfortable work, you should prepare a warm and clean room. A table or a piece of thick glass can act as a flat surface on which the film will stick to the plastic.
Since the process of making removable tinting is quite complex, it is better to invite an assistant to visit you.
Preparatory stage
Each job requires careful preparation. To produce car curtains you need to prepare the material and tools:
The production process consists of successive stages.
Measuring window openings
A sketch of the geometric shape of the window is made on a sheet of paper. The dimensions are measured with a tape measure and transferred to the drawing. Each value must be increased by 2 cm for an accurate fit of the elements.
Metal carcass
After measuring operations, you need to prepare:
It is better to take galvanized or stainless steel wire: 2 to 5 mm thick and 10 cm longer than the perimeter.
What the law says
Car curtains instead of tinting can often be found on both domestic cars and foreign cars, and all because car curtains are removable, unlike tinting, and perform similar functions. Let us remind you that tinting that transmits less than 70% of sunlight (that is, a fairly light film) is prohibited in Russia, so drivers are trying to circumvent the law by making car curtains with their own hands. However, when installing car blinds with your own hands instead of tinting, you need to be careful - according to the law, it is prohibited while driving to cover the windows (including the side windows) with any objects that reduce the driver’s viewing angle.
Drivers are trying to get out of this situation by installing frame curtains. They are removed in a few seconds and are equipped with a retractable mechanism. With these car curtains you can even adjust the degree of darkness with your own hands.
Removable tinting or do-it-yourself frame curtains
Hello, I decided to share how I made unique curtains that look no worse than any tinting. Everything is done quickly without any hassles.
Let's get started:
So first, let's make a frame. In the garage I found 5mm steel wire NOT annealed. I wrapped it with electrical tape (so as not to damage the paint and panels in the car) and started bending the frame. I didn’t make a pattern, I bent it along the window opening on the spot. The frame is made tightly, so any hooks for attaching the curtains to the window opening are not needed. You don’t have to weld the ends (insulating tape, heat shrink helps), but since... There is welding, so I grabbed it. The wire used was approximately 3.6 m for two curtains.
Mesh (the name of the material may be different, so there will be no specific name, choose it yourself, I used it by eye, by touch). Purchased from a fabric store. 4 different materials were purchased. The main requirements are that it stretches and you can look through it normally. One of the purchased fabrics did not stretch well, as a result, folds formed and had to be excluded. Mark, cut out. 1 linear meter of material is enough for two curtains with a large margin.
Tip: To evenly stretch the mesh over the frame, cover the frame wire with double-sided tape. This will save you a lot of time and the result will be better. Pull it tighter so that the fabric does not sag in winter.
I stitched it with thread until it was covered with piping, so that it could be tested in real conditions on a car. You don’t have to do this, the tape holds it well.
Initially I tried to travel with such a mesh (many stores make custom-made curtains from such material). I’ll say right away - I don’t recommend it, because... It dazzles the eyes VERY MUCH. And it’s impossible to get used to this ripple
I don’t recommend using it - large mesh
large mesh
this is what a large mesh looks like on a car
Types of homemade car curtains
In addition to the material of manufacture, there is a classification of car curtains according to their design:
- sliding;
- removable;
- quick-release.
Let's look at how they differ and what their advantages and disadvantages are.
Mesh curtains
Sliding curtains
From the point of view of ease of manufacture, the sliding version of the curtains has no competitors. This accessory copes very well with the function of supplementing or replacing car tinting, while its design in no way interferes with raising/lowering the vehicle windows.
In addition to the material for the curtains themselves (any material you like will do, but preferably thin and not dense), you will need several meters of satin ribbon, sewing supplies, a pair of hooks (two for each window) and a long thin wire.
The hooks must be strong, as well as their fastening - they will bear the main weight load. The strings are attached to the hooks, and it is desirable that they are located as close as possible to the top edge of the glass. It is not necessary to achieve an exact repetition of the contour of the glass, and this is difficult in modern cars. When cutting fabric, be sure to take into account the curvature of the guide string, as well as the need to reserve a few centimeters for the edge of the fabric through which the string will pass.
The task becomes more complicated for the rear window - it is not flat like the side windows, and has a decent curvature. In this case, you will need more hooks - two are not enough.
The curtains themselves can be opened/closed by hand, but if desired, a trivial mechanism can be mounted to facilitate this function. Some particularly advanced car enthusiasts even automate this task by adapting miniature engines for this purpose.
Removable curtains
Here, in principle, the same materials and tools will be required, and special attention should be paid to the wire. It should not be thin, as in the previous case, because it plays the role of a removable frame. It is recommended to use thick steel wire, characterized by high ductility, that is, the ability to bend under the influence of external forces. Stainless or hardened steel is unsuitable for these purposes due to their inability to deform without breaking.
The wire is bent along the contour of the glass, after which the fabric is stretched over it so that it is possible to move the curtain and open the window. The frame is attached to the window using plastic clips (optionally using magnets). This design allows you to dismantle the curtain along with the frame at any time. As a rule, there is no need for this in the summer, but in the cold season, when the sun becomes a rare guest in the sky, many car owners remove the curtains until next spring.
The main disadvantage of removable curtains is that due to the rigid frame they take up too much space, and while it is still possible to find free space for the side windows in the trunk, then everything is not so good with the rear window.
Automatic blinds on rear windows
Quick release curtains
In terms of ease of manufacture, this is certainly the most preferable option. There are no frames or strings - the curtain is attached directly to the glass using suction cups. You can buy them at any hardware store. All you need to do is cut the fabric to the size of the window glass and attach suction cups to them. For side windows, 4 suction cups are sufficient; for the rear windows, more may be required. The obvious advantage of quick-release curtains is that they can be installed/removed in a matter of seconds. At the same time, they will not look so good, they will not cover the window completely (it is unlikely that you will be able to avoid the presence of cracks), and if you want to partially open such a curtain, then you will not succeed - either it covers the entire window, or it is dismantled. But it will take up much less space when folded.
At one time (immediately after the introduction of the ban on tinting), plastic curtains that were attached directly to the glass were popular. But they turned out to be impractical - they quickly faded, scratched, cracked, so this option cannot be called any widespread today.
Recently, you can come across another method of attaching curtains, borrowed from everyday life - homemade roller curtains for car windows. The most important element here is the top crossbar, which should provide space for the curtain in the non-working (raised) position. The fastening of such a crossbar can be either stationary (screws, double-sided tape) or removable (the same suction cups). You can provide for attaching the curtain from below if it is fabric. For example, to the hooks - this will ensure that the curtain does not move. In the case of PVC curtains, this is not required at all - the material is quite rigid
Please note that car curtains can also be purchased ready-made. The disadvantage of this method is that you are unlikely to find a product made specifically for your car model. In addition, making it yourself will cost you much less, and you will not be constrained in choosing the material and its color. That is why a significant part of car owners prefer to make car curtains rather than purchase ready-made universal products.
Do-it-yourself frame curtains for cars - it's real!
Hello. Today on our website, www.autoposobie.ru, you will learn how to make frame curtains on car windows at home. Step-by-step instructions for making frame curtains for a car will save money and get an excellent and, importantly, not prohibited by law alternative to car tinting.
You all know what window tinting is, most of you own cars whose windows are tinted. This solution perfectly solves the problem of UV rays, as well as the problem of prying eyes that freely penetrate into the interior of a car that is not equipped with tinting.
Everything seemed simple and easy, pay the money, do the tint and go for a ride, but that’s not the case - the law doesn’t approve. More precisely, he approves, but only partially tinted cars, that is, those with only the rear windows tinted; all other options are, as they say, punishable by law. There is a fine for tinting and dismantling of this type of tuning right on the spot.
Why is he doing this, you might think!? What I mean is that frame curtains are good because they can perfectly solve the problem of tinting. Such curtains can be quickly installed and also easily and simply dismantled if necessary, for example, in case of complaints from the traffic police. This type of tinting, if you can call it that, very quickly became popular, as a result of which the cost of these simple, uncomplicated products has seriously increased, as a result of which many have denied themselves this pleasure. Others went the other way and tried to make such curtains with their own hands. What came out of this you will find out further.
Choosing the color of curtains for cars
Of course, it is entirely for amateurs, but professionals advise focusing on the color of the body, not the interior - car curtains on the side windows, a border detail visible both outside and inside. Perhaps only a car lady can afford bright colors; in other cases, refined restraint is appropriate.
Family cars should not be decorated with contrasting colors, especially in the back seats, where children usually ride. If you install removable panels on these windows, then there will be no problems replacing one set with another.
Executive cars accept a combination of contrasts - a black car and white curtains. If the class of the car is much lower, then a black classic mesh on the window is what you need.
How to make frame curtains with your own hands?
In order to complete this task, you need to acquire the necessary materials and some equipment.
For work, prepare:
And this is the final result:
That's all. The curtains are ready for installation and test drive. I hope you liked this option, and you can repeat the work I did yourself. I would like to believe that you will do well too. You can write about your experiments and results in the comments. Also, feel free to comment on this alternative to tinting, I would like to hear your opinion on this matter.
Source
Renting premises
Before you start searching for equipment and purchasing it, you need to think about renting a room. Think about where it will be located, the entrances to it and many other nuances. When choosing a room, pay attention to similar objects; they are best suited for a workshop:
When choosing a room, you must pay attention to the main parameters: communications, electricity, ventilation and gas supply. Its area should be about 400 square meters, this is exactly the space that will be enough to conveniently place the devices necessary for production. In Moscow and its suburbs, such premises may not be cheap, about 6 thousand rubles per 1 square meter.
Search for equipment
To produce high-quality frame tinted curtains on a large scale, it is necessary to purchase all the necessary equipment. It will be difficult to find all the necessary equipment on the Russian market, so most likely you will have to order it abroad. All equipment needed for production and its average price are described in the table below.
| No. | Name of equipment | Cost in rubles | |
| Press machine. | From 40 000 | Oven for heating plastic. | From 65,000 |
| Assembly table. | Rack. | From 8 000 | |
| Small electric tool. | Additional tools. | From 4 000 |
This is the most minimal kit, which you cannot do without at the initial stage of production of frame car blinds. But the costs of machines and rental premises are quite high and not every entrepreneur can afford such an amount of initial capital. Therefore, you need to learn how to make practical frame car blinds with your own hands, which you can sell to your friends, and invest the money earned in this way in business development.
Why are frame curtains installed?
Most car owners are united not only by a love of transport and traffic, but also by the presence of some common problems. Here are the main ones: protecting the interior from the watchful gaze of people passing by, as well as the need to protect from the sun, which in clear weather can turn the interior microclimate into a real nightmare. And frame curtains are a great way to overcome both of these troubles at the same time.
If there are any valuables, documents, money, expensive purchases or even a banal mobile phone inside the car, it automatically becomes an object of increased interest for many scammers and thieves scurrying around. It is enough to make a small mistake and show excessive gullibility, and you will become a victim of robbery. Ultraviolet radiation from the scorching sun also does not add anything good to a hard day of work. If the weather outside is already hot, then thanks to the sun's rays the salon turns into a place where it is simply impossible to stay for a long time. And there is simply nothing else left to do but install tint on the car.
What are car curtains for?
Fans of historical films will not be surprised by curtains: the main transport of the Middle Ages, a carriage, can hardly be imagined without curtains on the windows. Even then they were a multifunctional accessory, protecting those sitting inside from prying eyes, sun rays, bad weather and insects. And the higher the rank of the passenger, the more luxurious the interior decoration of the carriage.
After the invention of steam traction, curtains migrated to passenger trains, essentially performing the same functions - protective and purely decorative, creating a feeling of home comfort and coziness.
And when His Majesty the automobile began its victorious march across the planet, its interior decoration also underwent the trends of the times. At the beginning of the last century, car curtains were an indispensable attribute of a four-wheeled vehicle, but over time, all functions, except for hiding from prying eyes, lost their relevance. And therefore, this car accessory became the prerogative of only those who did not advertise their presence in the car. In the USSR, only party workers had such a privilege. At the end of the 20th century, tint films appeared, so everyone had the opportunity to hide from prying eyes. It would seem that car curtains are in for complete oblivion. But the fears turned out to be in vain - this invention, the author of which ingloriously sunk into the abyss of centuries, remains relevant today.
Roller blinds in a car
But why do curtains attract motorists today? Is this really just a tribute to retro fashion? Such a statement would be rather presumptuous, since even today car curtains have a number of advantages that are worth the money spent on their purchase or manufacture. Let's list them:
- our star has not become less bright. Moreover, scientists claim that the intensity of solar radiation is still increasing, and the nuclear fuel inside the sun will last for at least another 4-5 billion years. This means that you need to protect yourself from bright sunlight - they can blind the driver and cause an accident. And passengers are unlikely to enjoy sitting in a car under scorching rays, even if the microclimate is controlled by the car's air conditioner;
- If you leave your car for an indefinite period of time on a hot summer afternoon, when you return, you risk ending up in a real steam room. Curtains will help prevent uncontrolled heating of the interior, minimizing temporary losses in ventilating the vehicle;
- The invisibility of ultraviolet rays does not mean that they do not exist. They, like hidden pests, are capable of depersonalizing the interior of the car, leading to burnout and discoloration of finishing materials. And here the presence of curtains can prevent such a negative scenario;
- One cannot fail to mention the aesthetic function of curtains - you can choose the material in such a way that they harmoniously complement or, on the contrary, favorably highlight the existing interior design, and you have a lot of opportunities to implement the most daring and creative design solutions;
- finally, drawn curtains will not allow casual passers-by to assess what is inside the cabin. But among them there may also be potential lovers of easy money, specializing in the theft of automotive electronics - multimedia centers, DVRs, navigators, smartphones.
As you can see, curtains are a really useful car accessory that can be made independently. But before that, you should familiarize yourself with what they are and what they are made of.
Features and advantages of using frame curtains
The classic method of tinting windows using a special darkening film is very popular, but problems can arise with its use. Recently, law enforcement officers on the road are increasingly imposing fines on drivers with this type of tinting. To solve the above problems, we have to look for other ways.
There are actually few alternatives here. The film can be replaced with the following things:
In addition to the fact that curtains can be used in any season, they also have other very significant strengths. Here are just a few of them:
These advantages are quite enough to draw your attention to such auto curtains and even try to create them yourself.
Relevance of the issue
Often, tinting the windows in a car is a partial solution to the problem of reducing the amount of sunlight entering the cabin. When the sun's rays enter the interior space, they not only blind the driver, but bring discomfort to passengers and greatly heat up the temperature in the warm season. However, the most unpleasant result of sun exposure to a car is its destructive effect on upholstery fabric. It fades and begins to deteriorate, losing not only its aesthetic, but also its practical properties.
Car blinds are a fairly effective means of combating the sun's rays, and in addition, they will allow you to hide the interior of the car from prying eyes. The automotive market offers many variations of curtains, which are not suitable for many motorists in terms of cost or other parameters. Thus, many are wondering how to make curtains to protect the car interior on their own?
Source
