Reliance on heat.

[splitpit]

How many of you find yourself relying too much on heat to speed up the repair process? You know, grabbing that lighter and warming up the damage from inside the vehicle to help those stubborn legs fill in. I used to do it often but have found that patience and flexing may take a little longer but always make for a better looking repair. If you don't allow the glass to cool back down before curing, you may see legs or black spots reappearing. I only use heat now as a last resort. What about the rest of you guys?

[GlassStarz]

Heat is like the drill easy to get hooked i agree less use means better repairs

[grouselab]

I always have better luck using the probe for flexing that stubborn legs.. using that lighter don't work for me..

[jayjacque]

Yes I confess, I'm a heatoholic. But I don't want to be! Sometimes it's the only way. Other times I'm in too much of a hurry, especially if things aren't going well.

[sgailey]

It would depend largely on the ambient temperature of the facility you're using. If you're doing a repair outside on a 70-90 degree day, you're already at prime temperature conditions for a repair, and your heat use should be minimal and limited to initial moisture evaporation.

In air-conditioned shops or outside temperatures below 70 degrees, application of heat during injection serves to heat cold or lukewarm glass and the resin inside it, allowing a faster, more efficient fill. Secondly, heat should be applied as needed throughout the process as necessary to maintain your target temperature.

Also, I've used heat with great results to 'chase' larger air bubbles from bullseye fractures.

'Too much' comes when you heat the glass to such a temperature that fractured edges within it collide and press, either forcing out resin between them and or resulting in a new fracture from the pressure of the colliding edges.

[splitpit]

Wow, interesting information, but my basic question is - do you rely on heat more than you should? I already know why people use it, the consequences of using it, the advantages of using it at times, and now I've even heard about colliding edges, hmmmmmmm. Dontcha hate when that happens?

[GlassStarz]

heat isnt used to get to some prime temp it is used to cause the resin to pull into the break warm then cool causes a vacume affect. in most cases letting the injector do the work a litle longer will give you the same result with less shrink

[sgailey]

My apologies for rambling. :redface:

And no, I don't use heat more than necessary.

[ChipperFixer]

Many times I have had great success using my crack expander.......set it dead center of the break.....start applying pressure until you see bubbles, then stop with the pressure.....be careful not to apply to much pressure....try it you might like it....

[chips1144]

Wouldnt heat cause the glass to expand cutting off the ability to fill some legs?