A question about long cracks limitations on ROLAGS

[candyman]

That repair was not time productive. It also was beyond recommended repair by industry standards. I dont know what the charge was, but it would not have been enough depending on how much resin you used. I have my doubts as to the strength of the the WS with a crack that long. If the cost was more than $60 I personally would have replaced the WS depending on the vehicle. The customers in my area complain when a WS replacement cost more than $150 or a repair is above $35. I guess thats why so many drive with cracked WS's.

[clearquest]

Are you serious? You spent 6 hours doing a crack repair? I hope others on this forum don't follow that example for a good way to run a productive business. In 6 hours you could have done 12 rock chip repairs and made approx 10 times more money than wasting time on a long crack! And personally I don't waste my time and effort on cracks over 6" anymore. Just not worth it in the long run unless you don't have anything else to fo.

[ghost rider]

I would have to agree that six hours to do that crack is kind of crazy. way too much time for one repair price. hope you got paid well. I would only do that crack if I was positive that it was a very fresh crack and it should have only taken 30 to 45 minutes max to do it. If you plan on doing more cracks like that, you need to get a lot faster.

[SeeClearly]

Anything beyond 6" is NOT worth the time, unless you are new and trying to get the practice. We tell our customers from the get go that anything beyond 6" they should replace since it is not cost effective. I have had a few beg me to fix longer cracks, but I did out of sympathy and I charged them my going rate for what I normally make in a hour.

...BrightFastWSR....you work cheap, you want a job? JK.

I am kidding. I am sure you work hard, charge your worth.

[DryStar]

Some may find the need to provide long cracks over 6" but I simply will not waste my time. Can't tell you how many customers consistently tell you it's less than 6 inches, only to show up and find it's 18 inches or more!

[paulrsf]

Some may find the need to provide long cracks over 6" but I simply will not waste my time. Can't tell you how many customers consistently tell you it's less than 6 inches, only to show up and find it's 18 inches or more!

I've had that happen to me so many times that now before I agree to do a crack repair I have the customer take a photo with their cell phone and email or text me.

[puka pau]

So, SeeClearly, DryStar, and Paulrsf: I'm curious. Is the issue more time than money? Are you billing the customer directly or are you invoicing insurance companies? Are you charging by length or charging a flat rate? What technique(s) are you using? Are your customers mainly retail (Mrs Jones et al) or wholesale (fleets and car dealers)? How many (total) cracks over six inches have you repaired during your length of tenure in WSR?

Point being, to dismiss out of hand repairing cracks longer than six inches without providing insight and perspective is disingenuous and sends the wrong message. So - I'd like each of you to elaborate by answering all the aforementioned questions so that we can get to the crux of the issue and determine more exactly just what your problem(s) really are.

Cheers;

Puka Pau

[t4k]

So, SeeClearly, DryStar, and Paulrsf: I'm curious. Is the issue more time than money? Are you billing the customer directly or are you invoicing insurance companies? Are you charging by length or charging a flat rate? What technique(s) are you using? Are your customers mainly retail (Mrs Jones et al) or wholesale (fleets and car dealers)? How many (total) cracks over six inches have you repaired during your length of tenure in WSR?

Point being, to dismiss out of hand repairing cracks longer than six inches without providing insight and perspective is disingenuous and sends the wrong message. So - I'd like each of you to elaborate by answering all the aforementioned questions so that we can get to the crux of the issue and determine more exactly just what your problem(s) really are.

Cheers;

Puka Pau

WOW

[puka pau]

Oh, and BrightFastWSR, could you reveal what technique(s) you used to repair that twenty inch crack that took you six hours? I'm really curious.

Cheers;

Puka Pau

[BrightFastWSR]

Till now It seems nobody can give me a distinct answer about the question I concern:

I use the resin data as below:
Density:18CPS Film Tensile Strength: 6800 psi Adhesive Tensile on Glass: >1500 psi

The resin has filled the 20" long crack fully and then be cured. this long crack started from the upper edge of the windshield and then curve to the Car co-pilot direction, shaped like a lying "L", but not reach the other edge of the windshield. I drilled a 0.047inch hole with a tapered bur and then made a small bullseye to end the crack, then filled the bullseye and the whole crack with above resin. It was a new crack, no moisture inside.

Can this repair make the windshield as strong as before? Thanks a lot to everyone who involved in this topic.

Somebody may think it was not worth doing for a productive business, but I can reduce a windshield to pollute the earth, to save the energy to manufacture a new windshield, to save money for that customer, and I get paid welll to help this customer as well. In addition, this customer may introduce me to more people around him when they have such needs,assuming such long crack repair can assure the safety. Money is important but not all in this business so I select to enter it.

This crack is located upper in middle position like a lying " L", since I am not a tall man, it was very difficult for me to reach my hands to repair it. I use the way by "sliding the injector" to fill the cracks. I could not lie on the windshield to support my upper body lest the windshield cracking out again, so I had to keep a tired posture to go on. When I found a air bubble leave in the crack, I went back the injector to that position and drop a drop of resin around the air bubble and then apply vaccum to suck out the air bubble.

Although my UV light is approx. 30W, but it is only 3" long, every 3" I cure for 10 minutes, so 20" require over one hour to cure the whole crack.

I think I still will repair long cracks if the repaired windshield can ensure the safety, but I don't want to repair a long crack in upper middle any more--it is very difficult for me to do a good job in that position.

I'd like to repeat my question again, can such a long crack repair make the windshield nearly as strong as before? Can such a crack repair ensure the safety by using the resin mentioned above?

By the way, what is the meaning of Film Tensile Strength and Adhesive Tensile on Glass? What is their difference?

Thank you.