Crack meets edge

[JB95]

Once a leg / crack from a star break has migrated to the edge of the windshield, is it still possible to repair the crack and maintain the overall integrity of the windshield? I've been told that once the crack meets the windshield edge, it must be replaced.

[Mike Allen]

I have been repairing these with no problem. Had one today, one last week and a few more plus a few in the junkyard.

There is not a need to drill at the edge of the glass either. Just run the resin to the edge and cure.

[toab]

Hmmm.. some guys say drill and bull near the edge to gain more holding power.Decisions decisions

[Bruno]

Admititly I am a newbey to WS repair, but it seems to me that the advice previosly given by repairbrese, and screenman is intellegent and there experiance speeks for itself. If the crack runs under a moulding, resin will not reach it, and even if the resin goes there the UV rays wont. Where I live(Cambridge Ontario Canada) we get winter, and it seems to me that the uncured crack segment could be replaced by water, and when it frezes it would open.

[screenman]

Bruno.
Thanks for the compliment. With a little thought you can understand why the cleat hole works. I train people to do it this way and we have had very little problems with cracks, if people do not want to drill it is up to them.

As far as I know there has never been any scientific testing on this method but it works for me.

I must upgrade my signature another £1275 this week alone, got to be better than going to work.

Good luck to everyone in this great trade and I hope you all earn more than me.

[Glasseye]

I think this point of repairing a crack that has run to the edge of a glass needs further discussion. I do not doubt that some repairers have the ability to do good repairs. The fundemental question we should be asking is will the repair restore the strength of the windsreen. The acid test would be if a vehicle had been involved in a serious accident and the repair was brought into question. The authorities would make reference to the relevant safety standards to judge the legality. I have not seen any safety standard that states repairing cracks to the edge of the windscreen is acceptable. If anyone has, please let us all know. I would further add that the weakest part of a laminated windscreen is the edge. If damage is not repaired it risks delamination and separation from the bonding agent holding the glass into the aperture.

[Bruno]

WHY IS EVERYONE AFRAID OF CRACKS? As far as I can see the glass is only cracked on 1/2 of it's thickness, so it still has one pane of glass that is full strength. That solid peice of glass is the one that is bonded to the frame. What I have garnered from my lurking here and elsewhere, is that a good repair is as strong as the surrounding glass. Personaly I am with screenman(my unsolicited mentor).

[mourad]

hi I am a new member to this forum i like to know how to repair long cracks and the maximum that delta kit can rich

thanks

[Brent Deines]

Delta Kits does not advocate long crack repair (over 6") in most instances, because even a crack that has been successfully filled with resin will be visible depending on the location and the lighting conditions present. Exceptions include if the crack is at or below the wiper level, in the shade band, in the frit band, or in one of the corners of the windshield where it will be less noticeable.

In our training classes we limit our crack repair training to 6" or so do to time constraints; however the basic process we use is the same for cracks of any length. Some Delta Kits customers repair cracks up to 18" and longer, and I have to admit that I have been talked into repairing long cracks on more than one occasion, but in general I believe that the customer is better served by a new windshield when a crack has reached a length that exceeds 6", except in the cases noted above.

Repairing long cracks has much more to do with resin quality and technique than it does with equipment in my opinion, so if you plan to specialize in long cracks, be sure you are properly trained, use the best resins available, and practice, practice, practice. Come to think of it, that's pretty good advice even if you don't repair long cracks.

Frankly, the extra time and resin expense associated with long crack repair keeps me from getting too excited about it. I think you can make more money and have more satisfied customers if you stick to the chips and small cracks. But that's just my humble opinion based on my 19 years repairing windshields, and there are certainly plenty of repair technicians that have their own opinions.

[Coitster]

I agree with Brent,
my twist on it is this. If you arn't really experianced at chip repair don't attempt long crack repair. Personaly I do a lot of Long Crack repair now and don't want anyone else doing it because it is harder then chip repair. It's also easy to mess it up if you don't know exactly what you are doing. So no, don't any of you get involved with long crack repair.
David
Coitster