Windshield Repair Forum

Can someone explain to me the preferred way of removing moisture Prior to beginning a repair. This is a process that isnt performed very often in the UK.

All responses are appreciated

Delta Kits customers use a moisture evaporator, which you can see a picture of here:

http://www.deltakits.com/dki-catalog/ds100.html

This plug is 12 volt. It has a button on the opposite side from the element, so you put it down on the windshield, hold the button for 20 seconds, and most, if not all, moisture should be gone. If it is not completely removed, simply let the windshield cool down slightly and repeat.

Adding heat to a damaged windshield has inherent dangers, so we recommend 20 second intervals, as this lessens the risk of it cracking out.

Other methods to removing moisture:

1. Other heating devices
These certainly can work. Just be careful with devices such as torches, since they can heat the windshield up very quickly.

2. Dryout solution
This is usually a mixture including alcohol that is introduced in to the break. Do NOT use this method. Alcohol is used to cut laminate during the manufacturing process, and will melt the laminate layer of the windshield on contact.

Glazman I use a combination of heat and vacuum, the vacuum lowers the boling point of water, where in the UK are you.

the reason why so few people in the Uk dry out is due to the fact that they have not been trained to. Keep dry out to ourselves its the secret weapon against the cowboys.

Warm the screen up with your desired method place vacuum pump over break and allow to cool if moisture is still there repeat process. moisture is difficult to see until you have a bit of practise it can appear as if the bullseye or leg is partly filled this is because water has roughly the same refraction index as glass. If you probe the break you can sometimes see the moisture move it is a good idea to use a magnifying glass until you get used to it. This goes for all practise it enables you to see better what is going on. Anyone who has trained with me has allways been suprised at how much more they can see and learn by using the magnifying glass even if they have done screen repair before.

Thanx Screenman
I am in the North east

I tend to use hot air blower at a distance to warm the screen.
I have been practicing star breaks which I have been making with a spring loaded centre punch. These repair beautifully probably as close to 100% successful as you ll get. But of course these star breaks are never like the ones that I have encounter on a customers Screen

Glazman,

Most of the spring loaded center punches are adjustable, so it's always helpful to do repairs on damage that was made at different adjustment levels.

The trouble I see with a warm air dryer is that it will warm up to much screen and take to long to cool again, also you would need a 240v supply unless you have a gas one but there are not many of them about.
I personaly use a small blow torch it took a bit of practise but is very quick to use.

PM me if you want and I will give you my number and we can talk about it.

Today i came across a big combination . in the middle on it there was a couple of horrible creamy slurry like patchs. My initial reaction was that this was water & someone had previously tried to repair, but messed up. On closer inspection there was no drill hole , the legs were not filled & no sign of any pit resin. Im sure that a repair had not been attempted.

So what was this creamy slurry ?

Sounds like some type of contamination: Air pollution, mixed with moisture from the road (as when another vehicle drives through a puddle and splashes you), or some types of detergent, or the kind of wax that car washes use, when mixed with moisture like rain water... all these can manifest a milky appearance inside the damage.