[Brent Deines]

I've got to agree with splitpit here. I am a huge fan of the Drystar moisture evaporator; I wish I had invented it. However, I'm afraid I disagree with just about everything else that Barry has posted so far. No disrespect intended, but I have also been in this business for over 20 years, and my dad who started Delta Kits was a windshield repair technician for several years before I ever did my first repair, so although I started on my own in Montana, I did receive some very good training from him during my first year in business here in Oregon.

I don't do 5 minute windshield repairs and I think that anyone that does is doing them incorrectly.

Polymer has many definitions and many resins are polymer resins. They are not necessarily two different things, but don't believe me, do a quick Google search for polymer or look it up in the dictionary

I also disagree with applying intense heat to a cold windshield, and in fact that is the #1 reason for crack outs. I always warm the windshield prior to drying out the moisture in the break. If I cannot warm the entire windshield, I will at least warm up the area around the break for several inches, preferably from the outside with a hair dryer. Many prefer torches and heat guns, but you have to be much more careful and cannot leave the heat on the break throughout the repair process. With a hairdryer I can have warm (not hot) air blowing over the damaged area until I am ready to cure keeping the glass and resin at a constant temperature. I can also keep the outside of the windshield at the optimum temperature without heating the inside glass 20 degrees hotter in order for the heat to transfer to the outside. In warm climates heating from the inside is no big deal, but in colder climates like Montana where I started, the outside has some definite advantages.

I will also add that sometimes when applying heat it "appears" that the cracks grow a bit, but in some cases what is happening is that the cracks begin to show up after the water has evaporated and/or the cracks open up to their full extent from the sudden temperature change. I know the glass expands and with enough heat the cracks will often close up, but the sudden temperature change will often open a crack exposing the full length that was previously hidden. Often when we make a star break or crack for a training class but don't get around to repairing if for a few hours, the cracks will appear to be much shorter than they were originally, but when a little heat is applied, the crack will jump back to the original length. It's easy to recreate this yourselves, so before you beat me up on this one, try it for yourself.

I also believe the equipment used has a great deal to do with how well a repair turns out, and have a room full of traded in equipment that would suggest that others agree with me on this point.

Again, I certainly mean no disrespect to Barry, but I'm afraid we will have to agree to disagree on repair methods. I'm sure many on this forum will agree with your methodology, but I for one cannot buy into it.