budget-blackout for window cover?

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Ella1

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Is this http://www.joann.com/roc-lon-budget-blackout-white-white/2117232.html
I got some at walmart, 70% poly, 305 cotton for blacking out some windows on the van.
I installed one piece by embedding it between the window and the interior plastic wall panel. I don't know if it will stay the way it is, I may have to make a few adjustments. It's loose, not glued on, but there's not a lot of space between fabric and frame. If this won't stay, other options may be velcro or glue it on.

Is there any reason to fear heat buildup (110' 10-12 hours a day for 100+ days) enough to break/damage the window glass, or even be a fire hazard? Burning and off-gassing of the 70% polyester and 30% cotton material? Care: Dry clean only.

I'm planning to glue a piece to the passenger sliding door, and velcroing a second piece to it, too, so it's removable.
 
Ella1 said:
If this won't stay, other options may be velcro or glue it on.

Back it up with reflectix.  Cut the reflectix to fit the glass inside the window frame as a press fit.  If glued to the reflectix, it would be easily removable from the window and reinstalled.

Is there any reason to fear heat buildup (110' 10-12 hours a day for 100+ days) enough to break/damage the window glass,

When glass starts cracking in the heat it is usually from a chip that was already in the windshield.  The only cracks I have ever had started as a rock chip.  YMMV


or even be a fire hazard?

The inside of the vehicle should not get over 150 to 160 degrees.  Cotton combusts at 250 degrees.  Polyester melts at 200 and doesn't combust until 432 degrees.  It won't get that hot in your vehicle.
 
I don't know if it's going to work. maybe do a follow up at let us know once you use it for awhile. what I find that works well is Nagahyde(sp), you know genuine imitation leather. highdesertranger
 
I was actually going to get some because I wanted black, but this is a bit less expensive. And, yes, I will.
I shoved this into the recess between rear passenger window and frame using a fat length of hard yellow rope--don't know what it's made of, some kind of plastic. It fit into the recess well in most of the space, but the frame was too close to the window in a few areas. I may have to replace it with a softer rope or plastic tubing. I guess I'll find out after I drive.
I'll glue or velcro to the sliding door window because it opens, so no way to embed it.
 
We have Reflectix cut (slightly tight) to press fit. On those that open out at the bottom I cut a notch to fit around the latch. When open, we use a very skinny bungy that hooks to the window...keeps a breeze from...well, you know ;)
I made the bungies from lanyards from casinos and bent some jewlery wire for hooks so the window still closes if needed.
 
Duvetyne is a great fabric for blackout purposes. It's black, block's light very well and has a fire retardant added to it. Theatres use it all the time as a blackout material on sets. You might even be able to get some for free if you you check with a local theatre to see if they might have any scraps they'd be willing to part with.
 
I've been thinking about replacing my old faded curtains with blackout material, but isn't black going to fade fastest in the sun and turn orange/gray/sunbleached?
 
The curtain I have between the front and back is blackout material and is colored blue on one side and has a white lining on the other side.  Blackout just means it doesn't transmit light through it, nothing to do with actual color.

Brian
 
Two options I have found work well...

A cheap yoga mat. No light gets thru and it has insulative properties.

For really cheap you can use tinfoil from the dollar store.
 
but I need my tin foil for my hat. on a more serious note black out material comes in a wide range of colors and most are UV colorfast. any type of marine material should be UV colorfast. highdesrtranger
 
After the third washboard road, the rope came loose(r) from the spaces it didn't fit into anyway, and the fabric came down. Right now I have that nylon rope replaced with door jamb insulation I guess it's called. Soft, fat,tubing that I can squish into most of the space. I hope this works. Also, I plan to stay off washboard roads. Actually I must, because of the dust.
 
yeppers them washboard roads will rattle the fillings right out of you teeth. washboard usually only happens on improved roads, if you travel them right after the graders have been through there is no washboard, however the graders turn up the sharp rocks that will eat your tires alive. another thing if you travel at the right speed the washboard is negated. sometimes that speed is to fast for conditions, so be careful. use LT tires on washboard roads, do not use P-rated tires. I think I am off subject here. oops. highdesertranger
 

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