Windshield Repair Forum

First of all I would like to express my thanks to all of you that have willingly shared your professional expertise with all of us in this forum.

In a sort of "pay back" attempt, I would like to share this with the newer techs just getting started. I haven't seen this mentioned in the archives.

Since it is my policy not to move or drive a client's vehicle...I realized that UV rays bounce (or reflect) similar to a laser beam. Therefore on clear days I use a mirror to intercept and bounce the sun's rays directly onto the repair area and readily cure the resin.

However, on those cloudy days I still resort to the curing lamp. I am now looking for a small portable dolly that will allow me to transport a battery adjacent to the vehicle for operating my drill, curing lamp and other powered accessories.

Anyone familiar with such an "off-the-shelf" apparatus?

Why not use a small battery or power pack I have used a small 14 amp hour battery off a motorbike for the last 5 years it only needs charging about once a month and cost

Layne,

Not sure how everybody else cures but I use my Delta UV lamp on everyone of my repairs regardless of sunlite conditions or season. Seems to always provide the best results for me. Jeff from Delta could probably explain further technically why using a UV lamp on every repair has it's benifits. As far as the power pack, I only use a 7.2 amp battery and charge it every 2-3 weeks. So screenman is most likely to get 4 weeks with his 14 amp. I've checked on 14 amp motorcylcle batteries here in the US and prices were into the mid $40 range. My 7.2 amp costed $23. Guess it really depends on how big of battery you feel comfortable hauling around and how often you'll need to charge it. With mine,(small as it is) I just modified a six pack hard cooler to contain it, added 12v lighter adapter through side and quick plug in connect for charging. This cooler also is set up to contain all resins, pit fills, probes, blades, and curing strips. My 12" lamp is velcrose held to side of cooler, all other equipment, bridges ect.... is carried in simple inexpensive sport duffle bag. Only requires two hands (even with short ladder) to get me from A-B quite well

I use a portable jump box with a cig lighter plug built in, I get 3-4 weeks between charges and it can start your car in a pinch.

I see a lot of previous repairs(?) where the pit filler has shrunk inside of the pit.
I understand simply relying on sunlight may cause the p/f to cure so slowly it can be part of the problem.
Is this correct?

Thanks for your comments graybeard.

Having been in the profession (part time) for over 6 years, I have had occasions to view windshields that I have previously repaired and called to repair new chips. I have seen some that evidenced pit filler loss over time but had not thought about the reason for that. Yours and other's inputs will certainly cause me to review this and quite possibly lead me to UV lamp curing methodology only.

Thanks a bunch!

On larger pit I tend to rough any smooth parts with a scribe or drill, I always use a curing lamp and make sure my resin is kept in good condition and not out of date.

Sometimes it happens and we know not why and thats being honest.

I use the sun as much as possible to cure, down here it takes 2 minutes and you can tell the difference between the sun and the lamp when it is time to scrape the pit. The ones that are sun cured are alot more difficult scrape off the glass, your results will vary based on where you live.