D***IT! Crack Out S.O.B.

[screenman]

I do not go with the cold resin hot glass bit, the small amount of resin we use will not be enough to cause a shock to hot glass as it will warm up as soon as it hits the glass rather than chill the glass.

Excess heat, is the reason behind most crack outs I have come across. The other one is not setting the bridge/injector properly.

T4K, Drill and pop opens up most tight damages, using the Delta system this is seldom required.

[Glasseye]

so I opened it up with my impact tool to relieve the stress

Please explain .

I have an impact tool, which is basically a spring loaded centre punch with a tungsten carbide tip. I use this at the surface impact point on the glass and apply a small shock angled at 90 degrees to the run of the crack, creating a bullseye. I find this reduces the risk of the crack running.

[screenman]

I will sometimes use a tungsten tipped scribe and give it a light tap on the impact point to open a break up a bit, this negates the mark left by drilling. This method can also be used if a break is not filling, as once resin is introduced to a break then drilling is made harder.

[t4k]

so I opened it up with my impact tool to relieve the stress

Please explain .

I have an impact tool, which is basically a spring loaded centre punch with a tungsten carbide tip. I use this at the surface impact point on the glass and apply a small shock angled at 90 degrees to the run of the crack, creating a bullseye. I find this reduces the risk of the crack running.

Thanks for your reply. I have the spring loaded tool as well.

[screenman]

Is it the same tool? The reason I like to use a tapping device is so that I can alter the hit, I would find a sprung loaded device a bit to random for me as ever break needs differing treatment.

[Ricersux]

I use a spring loaded punch I got from home depot to create large star breaks on my practice ws but I bet he is using something similar if not the one sold by delta kits. I couldn't imagine using my spring loaded punch to open up a tight break in the field.

[screenman]

I think Glasseye may be using the Glass Medic one and t4k the Delta one. They are both in my opinion not very reliable on unstable glass, the Delta one being superb for creating small bulls eye breaks when drilling and popping, the other one was invented for creating practise damage. All good to Glasseye if he has adapted the tool for his use, I have owned a few and none that I would trust.

[Glasseye]

Your right Screenman, I use the Glass medic one.

[screenman]

I must be in touch with my psychic side.

[mdhuckle]

Only twice in the past 5-years, I've ran into what was a 2" or longer crack from a severe break in a windshield, quickly spread and become worse during the repair process.

I have the common sense to inspect the fracture (break) and make sure the windshield isn't too hot or too cold before begining the repair. However, if I believe there could be a chance of it spreading, I always warn the customer before hand. This usually relates to a situation that the customer tells me over the phone that the crack keeps spreading while driving or even sitting still.

I had discovered that inside or around the area of the crack was simply too weak or defective to accept the repair and was abviously not repairable.

*There has to be a certain amount of preasure from the injector against the glass to properly work the repair. There also has to be a small amount of preasure (or stress) against fracture in the glass when drilling is required.

I tell my customer that it is the "moment of truth" whether or not the crack spreads and prooves to be too weak to accept the repair-- they seem to understand the logic behind the explanation. This is not neccessarily the fault of the technician when a crack is extremely weak and vulnerable to cracking out. It is going to crack out anyway if there is no attemp to stop it from spreading further by doing a repair.

This kind of problem could also happen, because of a cheap windshield... or too much stress on the windshield from an improper installation or stress from the frame of the windshield being bent.

I have a waiver right on my invoice that the customer must sign before starting the repair, stating that I am not liable to replace the windshield if it should crack out during the repair process--- And remember, honesty is always the best way to do business.