Windshield Repair Forum

How bad is it when you drill to the laminate? I underestimated the depth of an impact point and it only took like 3 taps of my dremel to hear a change in pitch. I stopped and started the repair again. I first tried with out drilling and nothing was happening. Well when I finished I got that darker spot in the drill hole that I guess happens when you hit laminate. Well I am just wondering if there is any type of damage to worry about or is it just a little more ugly than normal? Customer was still very very happy because all the cracks dissappeared I was even amazed.

Jeff

tooldini wrote:How bad is it when you drill to the laminate? I underestimated the depth of an impact point and it only took like 3 taps of my dremel to hear a change in pitch. I stopped and started the repair again. I first tried with out drilling and nothing was happening. Well when I finished I got that darker spot in the drill hole that I guess happens when you hit laminate. Well I am just wondering if there is any type of damage to worry about or is it just a little more ugly than normal? Customer was still very very happy because all the cracks dissappeared I was even amazed.

Jeff

For us as a rule of thumb, when we have to drill we do not drill to the lami. As long as you did not comprimise the structural integrity of the inner glass and you were able to effectivly repair the damage, for the most part you are just dealing with a cosmetic issue.

I knew not to drill into the laminate but it was an accident. Seemed to happen so fast. The repair did turn out very good. Thanks

Jeff

StarQwest
If you read the original question, I'm just saying I put a drop of resin on a stonechip and if it starts to fill I'don't drill, because the chip is open. In any case I usually never drill, but if ever I have to, I drill just enough to have stable grounds to be able to pop a bulls eye, and with experience you will learn to be able to pop a bulls eye without even drilling. I do not have procedures I follow from my teachers... I work with experience and my own instincts and interpretations, not to go into details or to confuse anybody but I don't even drill cracks, I just pop a bulls eye... but that's a different topic. In my opinion, what is accepted by you or your company or standards, doesn't have to be the law of drilling for all of us. Also I see you are critisizing but you must have forgot to put your post on the acceptable ways of drilling. Or what is your accepted procedure.

Daris,

I only drill to accomplish one thing and that is to clean pit area of any lose glass or debris that could later become lodged in damage and cause a blockage. After drilling I'll blow out any lose particles prior to repair. Now common sense tells me if you put in a drop of resin that lose glass would sink further into damage and would be very difficult to remove, wouldn't you agree?

The reason I don't advise using a lubricant with the majority of glass bits available on the market today is because the cutting ability is greatly reduced. Don't take my word on this though...just experiment for yourself!

I'm also not one of those pop happy techs! Why create more damage when more often than not, it's unnecessary? I very seldom find the need to pop when other available repair techniques work just fine.

As far as stating this pre-lubricating method is not widely used. I'll let you know as soon as a buddy of mine returns from the Las Vegas repair Olympics. I could be wrong but I highly doubt he'll see one contestant doing this but if there is one I'll be sure to let you know!

Starquest..
being that you are not pop happy; does that mean that you don't bother to drill and pop the ends of long cracks. Just wondering thats all.

toab,

No, I don't drill ends or pop bullseyes on long cracks. Nothing against those who do but my training didn't include using these methods.

Starquest; If you dont drill cracks , How long do you cure the end?
Do you have many coming back?

I was taught to use drilling as a last resort. The reason for this is the danger of drilling into the PVB interlayer and compromising the structural safety performance of the windscreen, in an accident, where the windscreen must prevent objects passing through the glass. If I have to drill, I use the depth indicated by the visible crack ( not all windscreens are the same thickness) and If there is a strong chance the crack would continue to travel, during repair.

For me drilling is second nature. I've never worried about it. And that was from day one of my training.

I never drill for the sake of it, but depending on the type of damage, I will never think twice if a break needs drilling.

Come on guys! Its only a drill, it don't bite!!!:eek: