Equipment questions

[glass_meister]

I know this forum is hosted by Delta and they have been generous to open this platform up. I am going to ask some questions about different manufacturers that will help me in a purchase decision.

I have used an old Delta Kit and a Glassweld system in the past. I owned a Glass Mechanix system in the 90's that I gave to a young man that needed some direction. Our shop presently owns two AEGIS systems that were there prior to my arrival.

The AEGIS and Glassweld system are too bulky for what I want to do. I am leaning towards another Glass Mechanix or a Delta kit.

My question, the two bulky systems work on the vac / pump principle. Glassweld even has theirs computerized. The Delta kit did not have a vac cycle as well as the GM system. I can perform the same quality repairs with the simpler systems.

Do the new GM or Delta kits have a vac cycle? Is it neccessary to have this vac? Even on the AEGIS system I do not spend too much time on the vac cycle. Comments? The vac seems to give little benifit for the time it takes. On a multiple break windshield or at a car lot - time can be like gold. Lugging around big kits is a bummer. I like the lighter, more agile systems.

Plus - is it just me or is it common for most windshield repair to NOT drill. I do not drill unless I absolutely have to. Do other WSR techs drill to get at those pesky tips that are the last holdouts on a repair? I try to have a good looking repair as well as a sound repair, but I hate the marks that a bit leaves.

I do not heat the break from the inside - afraid of causing problems down the road with clouding. I do use some tapping, but I still have those pesky tips.

Thanks for the view and look forward to the answers.

Tom

[Repair1]

Tom,

Well been reading some of your post sounds like you walked into a can of worms and you have a challenge on your hands been there done that and it’s fun I must say. I just wonder about you who are you and are you for real? Does Glass Doctor not have a standard repair system they use? Sounds like you need an operations manager LOL pay me enough get me out of this cold I’ll come spend a few days with you show you how to get it going..

Anyway I felt I needed to give my 2 cents worth on this your right Aegis and GM are bulky and can be complicated to use from my experience. I am a DELTA fan I must say it is one of the simplest systems out there and I have used so many different systems I couldn’t tell you all of them have used Aegis and GM been in the business for O about 24 years now, dam I’m getting to be a veteran. If your going to have a bunch of different guys doing repairs I would highly recommend DELTA over GM. I myself carry 7 bridges sounds overkill I know however I do a lot of fleet business and it’s not uncommon to walk 60 trucks and have 8 to 10 repairs in one stop yahoo!! The more bridges I have the quicker I’m out of there and as you know time is money in this business. If you are going to go after fleet business and or Dealer work I would carry at least three bridges.

As far as vac cycle your right you don’t always need it however DELTA does have plenty of vacuum it’s in the design of the injector works awesome when you need it.


Drilling and Heat I wrote a spill on this awhile back I will paste it for you.

Are you drilling too much?
Why is it that there is so many repair technicians think they have to drill into every break? It kills me to here guys talking about drilling to deep going into the lamination I don’t understand how you can do that it. I think the less glass you remove the better the repair. There is no reason to drill into the cone inside the break. I think to many techs think when you say drill that means drilling a hole every time, when all you need to do is use your probe pick out any loose glass scuff the shinny areas of the pit (with your drill) and fill. You should only be drilling to make bulls-eyes, scuff and when you need to get into a clogged legs etc.
Hopefully the guy that’s drilling the craters into windshields around here will read this and STOP!


Heat???? Me personally use heat very rarely if it’s 65 degrees out side your window will be plenty warm you shouldn’t be using heat. You have to be dam careful if you cure it while it’s warm and the glass is expanded you will think your repair is complete then to find out everything opened right back up I’ve seen this so many times. If you just remember heat is one of your last resorts you will find you really didn’t need it all that often.

I do use it more in the wintertime that’s for sure like now highs of 20 degrees burr. Warm it up on the inside slowly touch it with the back of your hand if it’s too hot to hold your hand there you’ve gone to far let it cool and heat less. Sometimes I will heat from the outside to dry them out that can be tricky be careful really all you need is about 70 to 80 degrees.




Happy Repairing

Brian

[autocosmetics]

glass meister, did you mean Glass Technology when you said "computerized"? I had one of those and found the plain manual injectors to do just as good of a job--and you're right, alot less bulky to carry around.

Jim