Fear of a running crack

[kentcrossfit]

I've been practicing on a windshield that I took from a windshield replacing business. Even though I've done probably 80 repairs I had one that I was filling and then it just started to run on me like crazy. I'm very afraid of this happening to a customers windshield even though I have insurance. How likely is this to happen? The windshield does have a full length of cracks running across it. Could that possibly be the reason why it started to run without any real hesitance? Also, if it DOES happen what is the protocol? Do you contact your insurance company and tell them they have to replace a windshield, or do you pay out of pocket, or do you tell the customer "you signed here acknowledging that it could happen." The point is I find myself hesitant to really start doing peoples windshields because of the fear that it's going to end up ruined. Even though I've done TONS of repairs on my practice windshield without real issue. I want to be confident to handle running cracks, or situations when I need to drill and/or tap bullseyes. Thanks guys!

[candyman]

Crack outs happen. You dont pay for glass that is already broken. Thats a risk taken to repair. Contact the insurance company that gave you the work order and they will get someone to replace it and talk to the customer. If it cracks out after you made the repair and departed , the customer calls his insurance company and they will set up a replacement with him. They will contact you and pull the fee you collected to do that WS from your next repair they give you, plus a processing fee. Try to stay in the temperature range of the resin you use. Dont use cold resin on Hot glass or hot resin on cold glass. Use your laser temp meter. If the glass is too hot to touch, cool it down using methods you were taught or look on past post on this forum. It is scary the first time it happens and the customer is standing thee. I educate my customers. Also instruct customers prior to your arrival not to use heat or cold on defrost next to windshield. That could cause a crack out or make the break bigger and not to slam vehicle doors closed.

[kentcrossfit]

Crack outs happen. You dont pay for glass that is already broken. Thats a risk taken to repair. Contact the insurance company that gave you the work order and they will get someone to replace it and talk to the customer. If it cracks out after you made the repair and departed , the customer calls his insurance company and they will set up a replacement with him. They will contact you and pull the fee you collected to do that WS from your next repair they give you, plus a processing fee. Try to stay in the temperature range of the resin you use. Dont use cold resin on Hot glass or hot resin on cold glass. Use your laser temp meter. If the glass is too hot to touch, cool it down using methods you were taught or look on past post on this forum. It is scary the first time it happens and the customer is standing thee. I educate my customers. Also instruct customers prior to your arrival not to use heat or cold on defrost next to windshield. That could cause a crack out or make the break bigger and not to slam vehicle doors closed.

Keep in mind. I'm not planning on getting any work orders from insurance companies. I just want to be able to run customers insurance through the different networks. I'm not sure if that changes things or not. Just wanted to let you know. I don't want to or count on getting handed insurance jobs.

[candyman]

If you file, regardless of what insurance company TPA pays you, you fall under the same requirements as the ones that are dispatched. They normally issue you a work order number even if you call it in with the customer standing there. The exception is, if the customer pays you cash. Then you normally return only what they payed you should the repair fail. For your knowledge, SGC, LYNX and HSG handle over 90% of the major insurance companies in the states, the last time I saw a report.

[Mr Bill]

Your practice glass will not behave exactly like an installed windshield.
The windshield is attached to the pinch weld of the car body.
As the car body expands and contracts and twists, the stresses on the windshield will change accordingly.
Every once in a while you will encounter a break that is unstable and cannot be repaired
A hot windshield can also be unstable, so it needs to be properly cooled to make it more stable.
I always assume that the repair could crack out, so I use caution and take my time.

[kentcrossfit]

Your practice glass will not behave exactly like an installed windshield.
The windshield is attached to the pinch weld of the car body.
As the car body expands and contracts and twists, the stresses on the windshield will change accordingly.
Every once in a while you will encounter a break that is unstable and cannot be repaired
A hot windshield can also be unstable, so it needs to be properly cooled to make it more stable.
I always assume that the repair could crack out, so I use caution and take my time.

Oh, I'm relieved to hear that installed windshields are more stable then my windshield on a stand. Because I thought the installed ones would be less stable before of the stress of being bonded to the car. Thanks Bill!

[benswindshieldrepair]

Kent, I love that you are cautious about your work and contentious about your customers cars. I have the advantage of also being a replacement guy (not to say that I bust people's windshields for fun just to make more money, I would rather repair, frankly) but it is ALL in your presentation. Give a verbal (and written) disclaimer about your services prior to starting. This is something I say: "Before I repair your windshield I should inform you that there is the possibility your windshield will crack during the repair, ultimately requiring replacement. This happens less than 1% of the time, but understand that this rock chip is guaranteed to crack if I don't repair it. Obviously if a crack occurs, I will not charge you for my services and can give a referral to a reputable replacement shop." In my case, I tell them I'll give them a discount of the cost of a rock chip off of a replacement. This has happened to me 2 times in over 3 years doing hundreds of repairs. You'll do fine with your mindset.

[kentcrossfit]

Thanks ben! Yea, if it happens most likely I'll have multiple repairs under my belt and will understand that it was part of the risk.

[bill lambeth]

I ALWAYS warn them of what could happen . I am not backing them into a CORNER . No I am just being upfront with them about what is going on and what could happen. You are right in saying that most customers do understand but you have to be upfront with them . I had a crack out after repairing a crack that was about 18 long to start with and this lady was one of those you don't come across of very often . I replaced her w/s just to make her happy . She also said I got resin on her car and showed her in person that it was sap from a tree. I make enough money that one w/s a year is not going to send me to the poor house. I am not saying that I will replace everyone I crack by any means . Just my 2 cents!

[Mr Bill]

Oh, I'm relieved to hear that installed windshields are more stable then my windshield on a stand. Because I thought the installed ones would be less stable before of the stress of being bonded to the car. Thanks Bill!

You misunderstand.
I meant "Installed windshields are subjected to different stresses, which might cause them to crack out in a different manner than an uninstalled WS.
I cannot picture an uninstalled windshield being subjected to any external stresses other than gravity.