To make a small bullseye--Anyone can give some advice

[BrightFastWSR]

Hi, just collected windshield crack repair kits to start practising the techniques.

I met some problems and hope the professional give some advice:

Please look at the picture,

I try to make a small bullseye to end the crack, every time I drill a hole(hole diameter approx. 0.04" as well) about 0.04" deep and 1/8~1/4" away from the end of the crack, and then place the sharp end of an awl in the hole at about 45 degree, then I knock lightly on the other side of the awl, every time failed. the crack just pass across the hole when I knock lightly every time, the third time I use a little more strength,the glass on the surface around the hole just been knock off but no bullseye appear, although the fifth time it appears a bullseye, the crack cross the hole more further. I will ruin as much as ws if I go out to repair at this level.

I also try to repair a small star break I make, I fill the break with repair resin,put pit filler on it and then the curing tab on it, using the battery power UV light to cure. After the pit filler turn hard, I just peel off the curing tab, using the pit buffer and pit polish on the impact point. Please look at the picture, the glass around the impact point looks vague, and the surface not smoothly, I can still fill the impacting point place a bit lower than around glass.

please take a look at the pic:

It seems the windshield repair looks easy to learn, but there's so much uncertainty since it is made of glass. Thank you.

[kennycrane]

One of the tools that is a must have in my opinion is the "Spring Hammer" that Delta offers you can check it out on the Delta website it makes the perfect bullseye also the "Slide Hammer" works well for that, or just opening up a tight break so that resin will readily flow. From your picture it looked to me like you did not scrape off all of your excess pit resin. Again there is a video of how to at Delta. I hope this helps you, I know it has sure helped me.

[Kgobin]

May I ask what type of windshield repair system you are using and what tools you are using to create a mini bulls-eye. As Kennycrane stated the Spring Hammer makes perfect mini bulls-eyes. Also, the tool has a drill depth gauge on it which accurately measures your drilling depth in a windshield.

22001 Spring Hammer



(Delta Kits recommends that you drill 2/3rds into the outer lite)



This is a short video detailing how to create the mini bulls-eye with the spring hammer

[Nomad]

This will happen quite often, the crack will run through the bulls eye. That is if you do a lot of cracks. What I do is fill the chip and/or crack as well as I can and cure it without drilling a popping again. When it is cured it will be very stable, and you can drill off the end of the crack and pop without a problem. If you don't drill deep enough this will happen more often. The secret is not to panic and not to make it worse by continuing the crack across the windshield. It is quite surprising how stable the crack will become when filled and cured even without a stop hole on the end.

[screenman]

Might happen quite often to you Nomad but it does not happen here.

Please, please, please Mr Brightstar get some proper training.

[BrightFastWSR]

"If you don't drill deep enough this will happen more often. " ---by Nomad

Thank you, I make more practice today and try to find the reason. I think Nomad is correct. When I drill deeper it is more easy to make a small bullseye at the end. I use stainless steel screw type injector(with a small o ring on the plunger) and an ordinary awl with the similar sharp end as the spring hammer.

One more question, I meatured the thickness of the outer layer of the glass of the windshield I bought, the thickness is about 0.079 inch---the question is: Is it a standard thickness? I mean if the thickness(outer layer) of all car model's windshield just the same, 0.079 inch? How deep is the best thickness to drill for 0.079" outer layer glass to make a small bullseye easily? What is the best angle to place the awl to pop out a small bullseye? Thank you, everyone.

[Mr Bill]

the third time I use a little more strength,the glass on the surface around the hole just been knock off but no bullseye appear,It seems the windshield repair looks easy to learn, but there's so much uncertainty since it is made of glass. Thank you.

If you are breaking the glass around the hole, then the awl is wider than the drilled hole.
The awl should be perpendicular to the glass.
I drill 1/2 way into the glass.
The spring hammer works well, but I also like the slide hammer, as I feel that it does not hit the glass so hard.

[Brent Deines]

Using the correct bur and scribe size makes a huge difference. The have to be matched if you want the bullseyes to come out correctly and when you do your problems with this will go away. Different manufacturers recommend different techniques, different tools, etc., so naturally technicians will have a lot of contradictory advice as well.

The best advice I can give you is that if you are going to try the technique Delta Kits recommends you follow the instructions precisely and if you use an alternate technique you follow those instructions precisely, then choose the method that produces the best results. If you start mixing techniques, at least until you have mastered one that works for you, you may never get satisfactory results.