So I did a large combo the other day and it was a bear, (large, ugly, interesting!!) He also had a crack that was S shaped which was different, I got pics and will try to post. The guy has a septic outfit and didn't want to replace the WS. (I recomended replacement, he insisted on repair ) I'm still fairly new and like a good challenge so I agreed to do what I could. The thing took me 2 1/2 hours and looked decent given the damage. The combo's pit was the size of a dime and the bull the size of a golf ball with a crack forming off one side kinda like this @. The repair would have looked a great deal better if the pit resin could be polished better. Any Ideas? Thanks Scott:~)
Click on the link to view pics of Setup, bullseye before, bullseye after
My best mentor one said " be fair with your priceing but never too low, be honest with your customer/competition, when the day is done be sure you have done "good works", and always leave something of value on the barganing table!!
While my friend and trainer/ mentor Ray has moved on, his words live.
I use fingernail polishing creme and a Revlon nail buffer to polish the pits.
for the buffing creme, I go to Sally Beauty Supply. They have a website where you find the store nearest you, or you can order on line. They have the buffing creme, but they dont carry the Revlon buffer, and the one they do carry is. quite frankly, a piece of garbage. The Revlon nail buffer is available at Wally-World (Walmart) and most drug stores.
It only takes a couple of gentle strokes, usually, to bring the pit up to a clear, glossy finish.
Actually, using the nail buffer is not very different from what repair1 does. It is covered with a piece of soft chamois, and with use, it becomes smooth and shiny, as the buffing creme builds up. It's an actual tool, so for me, that is easier to keep track of. I prefer nail buffing creme to pit polish because of its fine grain, and no harmful chemicals (the glass might not know the difference, but my hands do). A tiny dab is all it takes. I also have a felt buffing wheel on a mini-dremel, which I used to use with the buffing creme, but really, I dont think it works any better than the manual method. Whatever you use, easy does it. When I first started buffing pits, I thought I had to rub hard and long... the opposite is actually true.
Yes, take your time when scraping. Rush it too much and it can ruin the finish... and make it harder to polish clear.
more tips...
Once the pit is scraped and flush... flat surface, not concave... good.
Then do it one more time... a thin application of pit resin and sure it good. Then you have a nice thin layer to scrape. Use a fresh razor blade. This will give very good consistent results, and you have a good finished pit to polish.
If the pit was finished well, almost any polish methods will give good results. I have used many different polishes that can give a crystal clear finish... and I recomend the cotton polish wheels. It's easier and quicker than hand rubbing for me. Having another dremel in my bag is no big deal for me, and you can always "borrow" the polisher's battery if your drill is going dead. poor polisher
You accomplished what at my stage of this game I wouldn't touch with either a ten foot vaccinated crowbar or a plugged toilet with less than a plunger and a pair of rubber gloves.
Oh, yeah. I've fixed them kinds in the past.
I won't bother to ask you what you got paid for that job.
High priase desertstars, thank you I kinda wish the pits would have polished up better they were huge. When I visit the outfit I'll probably apply some of the info I gleaned here to improve the appearence if possible!! I got some more pics today on some vinyl repair I'll try to post them on the same page later this week for anyone who might be interested!!
I won't bother to ask you what you got paid for that job.
I was at that job for 2.5 hours drilled mabey 8 holes. That was a challenge
the $ wasn't the point it's the challenge. (Any fool can make money ) Just kidding guys, Scott:~)
And thanks to gold star wsr,Repair1 and glassdoctor for the input I follow up with the results on a later post!!!
) I'm still fairly new and like a good challenge so I agreed to do what I could. The thing took me 2 1/2 hours and looked decent given the damage. The combo's pit was the size of a dime and the bull the size of a golf ball with a crack forming off one side kinda like this @. The repair would have looked a great deal better if the pit resin could be polished better. Any Ideas? Thanks Scott:~)
poor polisher 
I kinda wish the pits would have polished up better they were huge. When I visit the outfit I'll probably apply some of the info I gleaned here to improve the appearence if possible!! I got some more pics today on some vinyl repair I'll try to post them on the same page later this week for anyone who might be interested!! 