Big Crack dilemma

Post your windshield repair tips, questions, advice! Note there is a sub-forum specifically for business development questions.
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scratchy

Post by scratchy »

You know guys. People are funny. Every day I am running into the same thing. People have chips on their $30,000+ vehicle and they don't have the time to do anything about it. They say, maybe later. The chip isn't doing anything but just sitting there harmless... even when their insurance will pick up the tab. Next thing you know, it cracks out and these same people are in a panic. Now they have to eat the deductible. They check on the price of replacement glass and the sticker shock has them running back and they will gladly part with $70-$80 cash for a crack repair. Everyday is the same thing. It is frustrating to see so much time and money going down the tubes. I really can't do both chip and crack repair together all day, too slow. It needs to be either one. Maybe setting aside one day a week to do only cracks is the answer. I am on a quest for the best tools first...
scratchy

Post by scratchy »

I guess I should have been a little clearer. Things are going great. It was just a little lament of the fishes that get away.
gt_repair

Post by gt_repair »

Scratchy
What tools are you saying you need? If you bought a repair system (nota kit, bridge only) you should have all the tools. You should have crack jacks, depending on the length of crack you should have at least 6 -10 crack jacks in your storage box so you can do long cracks and crack resin.

Doing cracks does not really take much longer to do than 2 chips using one bridge, you are just moving the whole time so the resin does not set before you want it to. When you book the job justafy the time you will need to do the crack.

I allow an average of 1hr per job. If I get done early then I am ahead of time and show up early, They like that part. If I am running behind I call and let the next one know I am running late.. By the end of the day you may be able to log one or two jobs between you other appointments.
Just learn to do time managment.
scratchy

Post by scratchy »

I got one plastic crack jack with my competitor brand kit. When I used it once the thing sprung off by itself. Seemed cheap. I am going to pick up a few of the sturdier ones. My injector system has the little pump on the back with a filter inside. Didn't look too condusive to soapy water for sliding. Thanks for the tips! I am looking into alternate tooling just for cracks.
gt_repair

Post by gt_repair »

Just find a few good aluminum crack jacks that hold there shape. I know Glass Technology has them. The one thing you have to do is make sure you have the suction cups clean and the inside of the W/S so you have contact..
I do not normaly use the injector to fill cracks unless it is a short one by the edge. My reason is because the injector and bridge in place will push the crack closed and you will have to apply to much presure to the crack jacks and you will even get a air trap when you take the jacks back off.

Just lay the crack open using the C/Jacks and fill from the lowest part of the crack. It will be a little slow at first but will pick up speed as it gets to the wider part of the crack..

DO NOT apply to much presure at the end jack, just enough to open it up a little and apply more presure to each one of the other C/Jacks.

Take your time a always stay behind the filled part (you can see where you filled it).

Number one thing to ALWAYS remember is: DO NOT answer you cell phone when doing cracks. As you stop to answer you phone the resin will start to set. It is a Bit-- to start it again with out air traped.

Practice Practice Practice. This is not like chips.... They are funner as you find out what you are doing..

I like the cracks better than chips... Every one is totaly differant and a chalenge. The customers like what you can do for them. and most don't mind the expence compare to replaceing it..

Good luck
sunshine wr
Senior Member
Posts: 626
Joined: August 13th, 2003, 5:53 am

Post by sunshine wr »

gt how do you work your resin into the crack w/out using your injector ? :shock:
gt_repair

AGRR Magazine

Post by gt_repair »

gravity flow. When thew crack is opened it just flows into the crack.
sunshine wr
Senior Member
Posts: 626
Joined: August 13th, 2003, 5:53 am

Post by sunshine wr »

gravity ! cool.
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