First moisture evaporator crack out.

[clearquest]

I've done over 9000 repairs and have never cracked out a chip during the repair process.........until a few days ago. Rainy day, 62 degrees outside, 2011 Silverado with 2300 miles on it with a rock chip about 6 inches from the top of the windshield. Nothing out of the ordinary. Had the drystar on it for only a about ten seconds (I count off the seconds) and snap there it goes to the top and down about another 6 inches. Fortunately I had a very understanding customer. We moved it into the shop, dried out the crack and did a crack repair (about 12 inches) and he was happy and amazed that it came out so nice! Guess I turned a bad deal into a good deal but it had me sweating it! Probably was just an unstable chip that was just waiting to let go but it makes me more reluctant to use the drystar.

[Clarity Glass]

how many times have you used the drystar? One crackout. It happens. Makes us look like we don't know what we're doing or how to use our tools properly. But sounds like the outcome was acceptable to customer. I had a crackout once with a brand new drystar, making me nervous for a day or two.

[paulrsf]

I too, have had several bad experiences using the drystar and each time I use it my stomach is in a knot until I see the outcome. I've followed instructions from the many posts on the forum regarding how best to use the drystar, but regardless of what I try, there are still a significant number of chips that either spread or crack out.

[DryStar]

To be honest I've never had a crack out while using the drystar and I always use 20 sec cycles. Is it possible because it was raining that cold water droplets hit the glass during your heat/dryout? On practice shields, I've been able to make damage run after heating by simply spraying cold water. Could have simply been a stressed area of the glass that caused this.

[robert n]

Fortunately, I have not had a problem using the Drystar. I use it on every break. I did have a problem using the Heat Exchanger though:

Once I was cleaning out the break to remove any loose pieces of glass. I said to myself "gee, the glass on this windshield looks really thin". I proceeded to use the Drystar to dry out the break, warming up the surrounding glass and then directly over the impact point for approximately 10 seconds. I waited around 30 seconds before applying the Heat Exchanger and then I heard it "Crrrraaaccccckkkkk"....the 2 legs cracked out to 6" in both direction. I now make sure the Heat Exchanger is not too "cold" before applying to the glass by rubbing the surface against the palm of my hand or my shirt.

So, be careful using the heat exchanger when cooling the glass.

[ghost rider]

Fortunately, I have not had a problem using the Drystar. I use it on every break. I did have a problem using the Heat Exchanger though:

Once I was cleaning out the break to remove any loose pieces of glass. I said to myself "gee, the glass on this windshield looks really thin". I proceeded to use the Drystar to dry out the break, warming up the surrounding glass and then directly over the impact point for approximately 10 seconds. I waited around 30 seconds before applying the Heat Exchanger and then I heard it "Crrrraaaccccckkkkk"....the 2 legs cracked out to 6" in both direction. I now make sure the Heat Exchanger is not too "cold" before applying to the glass by rubbing the surface against the palm of my hand or my shirt.

So, be careful using the heat exchanger when cooling the glass.

Are you using the heat exchanger on the outside of the w/s ? I have always used the old method "heat from the outside and cool from the inside" and have never cracked one while cooling in twenty years. In the winter when that white crap is all over the ground, I make a small snowball or pick up a small piece of ice and cool with that. It cools the glass very quickly and have never had a problem with crackouts using it on the inside of the w/s.

[Mr Bill]

Are you using the heat exchanger on the outside of the w/s ? I have always used the old method "heat from the outside and cool from the inside" and have never cracked one while cooling in twenty years. In the winter when that white crap is all over the ground, I make a small snowball or pick up a small piece of ice and cool with that. It cools the glass very quickly and have never had a problem with crackouts using it on the inside of the w/s.

I dont think the heat exchanger lies flat against the inside of the windshield.
On the inside, I use a wet rag to cool the glass.

[Glasseye]

I've done over 9000 repairs and have never cracked out a chip during the repair process.........until a few days ago. Rainy day, 62 degrees outside, 2011 Silverado with 2300 miles on it with a rock chip about 6 inches from the top of the windshield. Nothing out of the ordinary. Had the drystar on it for only a about ten seconds (I count off the seconds) and snap there it goes to the top and down about another 6 inches. Fortunately I had a very understanding customer. We moved it into the shop, dried out the crack and did a crack repair (about 12 inches) and he was happy and amazed that it came out so nice! Guess I turned a bad deal into a good deal but it had me sweating it! Probably was just an unstable chip that was just waiting to let go but it makes me more reluctant to use the drystar.

Reading your post, seems to indicate that the chip was a crack, just waiting for an unsuspecting glass repairer to come along and start to work on it ( evil little b*****d!!). I did some research on the internet and think this might be the cause of your problem:-

http://www.glassphotonics.com/applicati ... tress.html

The question that needs answering is, how can you spot this before starting work on it? I think the answer may be using polariod glasses to look for stress patterns, but I don't have any polaroids so I can't put this to the test. Anyone else have any suggestions?

[DryStar]

I've done over 9000 repairs and have never cracked out a chip during the repair process.........until a few days ago. Rainy day, 62 degrees outside, 2011 Silverado with 2300 miles on it with a rock chip about 6 inches from the top of the windshield. Nothing out of the ordinary. Had the drystar on it for only a about ten seconds (I count off the seconds) and snap there it goes to the top and down about another 6 inches. Fortunately I had a very understanding customer. We moved it into the shop, dried out the crack and did a crack repair (about 12 inches) and he was happy and amazed that it came out so nice! Guess I turned a bad deal into a good deal but it had me sweating it! Probably was just an unstable chip that was just waiting to let go but it makes me more reluctant to use the drystar.

Just wanted to add, if you've only had 1 crack out in 9,000 repaired I'd say that's somewhat impressive. I personally average 1 crack out for every 1,000 for reasons unknown.

[fix a chip]

I have had a chip crack out on me a few months back when using the drystar, that too was after just 10 seconds. I put it down to the glass being too cold and I think I should have warmed the screen up a little before using the drystar. It did knock my confidence a bit though. Managed to do a nice repair in the end and customer was happy.

Not had any problems since but I don't often leave the dry star on for 20 seconds. I don't like to let the drystar touch the glass and hold it a couple of mm of the glass and get good results.