Windshield Repair Forum

This afternoon I stopped by one of the local replacement shops. I quickly renamed them: almost pro auto glass .While I was talking to the owners wife about using them for replacement referrels their windshield tech kept interupting my conversation asking about various things like he could repair a windshield in five minutes and if I repaired cracks, how long ,and if i did them if they run to the edge of the glass. I tried to explain myself with out much success . and I have repaired short cracks that ran to the edge, but only if i could find the damage area that caused it to begin with. The only way I could get him to shut up was when he told me his injector was one of those plastic ones with the steel triangle base I instantly told him his was obsolete. I really don"t think I will be doing business these guys . What a clown. This most of my competition in these parts attitude included . Thank god for decent people their ar'nt many of us left.

I'm not sure about the rest of your conversation, but you comments about the equipment were unnecessay. Have you seen this guys repairs? If not don't draw judgement on his equipment. With the 5 minute remark I'm sure you asessment was correct. I just want to point out that almost any equipment will work well when in the hands of an experienced tech.

I have used nothing but plastic injectors since I started in this business and yes i have tried many other types, due to the fact that I run training courses in the UK for people who have purchased kits of all diffrent makes and have not recieved enough training to carry out quality repairs.

When you think about it does it make any diffrence what the injector is made of it is still basicaly a piston pushing through a rubber seal to create enough pressure to help the resin flow into the crack/chip and with enough vacuum to withdraw some of the air.I have seen the wheel reinvented so many times in this trade it is amazing. I have tested stainless and brass and alloy injectors and have found no benefit over plastic. Except of course people will pay a lot more from suppliers for something that is shiny.

Many injectors claim to draw fantastic amounts of vacuum I am yet to find one that does get anywhere near what you can achieve by putting a mityvac or whatever over the top of the injector with the piston out you just watch the air appear.Glasweld even say theirs draws an absolute vacuum someone should tell them this is impossible in the earths atmosphere.

Sometimes what we assume to be vacuum is actualy a release of pressure built up in the break after injection of some resin.

I didn't state before, but I agree with screenman. I haven't found any real world advantage to an injector made with another material when compared to plastic. Sure there are better plastic injectors, just as there are junk metal injectors. I use plastic injectors, and I have also tried several made from different materials. Always went back to the plastic.

Dude try hangin onto a metal one at 10 degrees and of course the cold transfers to the resin as well. No way Jose. I stick with the plastic everytime.

I respect you guys that use a plastic injector . I also started out with one . the only reason for my comment about the plastic injector was because the fact I was being hammered by someone that was not listening to the conversation his only motive was to critize someone he did not know anything about a common thing that takes place in our walk of life. MY philosophie is spend half your time listening. dominating a conversation is not a good thing . the only reason i stopped by this place was to try and find a replacement shop that I could send my windshield replacements to not to debate about anything.there is to much confusion in life anyway does any one agree with that. ?! I really don't care if a windshield can be properly repaired in 30 seconds if it can I will be the first in line to learn how.l

You need to remember most replacement guys started out as a guy on the street looking for a job with no knowledge of the field. They have been taught how to replace and told why replacement is the best way. I used to see this when I was in the car buisness the dealerships would hire a green pea off the street train him the way they wanted and end up with a brain washed salesman. I worked at a Dodge lot in the early 80,s you should have heard the guys rave about how superior the dodge aries or omni were to every thing else on the street. You couldnt help but laugh. Didnt make them bad people they just didnt know any better.
My point is the average replacement guy only knows what he has been taught hes not a bad guy or a liar just one of the brain washed many. Everyone wants to take pride in thier work and think they are the best. Wandering into a replacement shop looking for work is like walking into the Mosque with a Bible tract there are alot better places to go. I have a relationship with a replacement shop but I snuck in the back door had him do a replacement for me got to know the guy explained that sometimes I run into windshields that cant be repaired and could I have a couple of his cards to give to customers when this happened result he has good things to say about me and sends the odd job my way and I do the same. but lets face it they do repair as well dont expect much from them.

Way to go Reggie- it takes alot of guts to walk into a competitors place, and even more guts to stand your ground when you're getting that kind of disrespect. As far as cutting down anothers system, you were probably out of line but when you're getting hammered.....sometimes you gotta fire back...right ?

The glass shop that I send referrals to also does repairs, fortunately I had a lot better results when I walked in. This shop is a mid-sized shop with about 6 employees. Heres how my experience went.....

I arrived at 9 a.m. Most shops are super busy between the hours of 7 -8:30 a.m. (thats the time when they want a customer to drop off cars for replacements and they are getting their work orders and employee assignments lined up.) I walked in with two boxes of krispie kreme donuts with my business cards taped to the top.

I sat down with the owner, and told him that I knew his shop did excellent work, and that I wanted to refer my replacement customers to him. I was surprised to learn that they did not do any mobile repair work. He had only one tech that he could trust to do his repairs. That tech was his best man and he needed to keep him in the shop all day.

We discussed which systems we use ( I use Deltakits, he uses a competitors) Soon his WSR tech was invited in the office, and before I knew it we were doing competitive demos in the back shop !!!! I was even able to show the tech a few tricks. Real nice guys.

And now the rest of the story....... This shop has an established customer base and a long time quality reputation. They have a big Yellow page ad in the phone book that says they also do repairs.... but when they get a customer that calls requesting "mobile only" or service on a busy day they are often unable to accomodate them. Guess who they refer those people to now ?

Last year I sent this shop 4 replacements from friends and customers. Good Luck with your next glass shop encounter. Bob