To clean the crack i use crc natural degreaser

[windshield]

To clean the crack i use crc natural cleaner/degreaser.The product is biodegradable,no chlorinated solvents,no petroleum distillates,disolves grease,tar,oil,adhesives and tree sap.A long time ago i was use denature alcohol but i believe the crc aerosol is more effective.Also i have a question:The crc electrical grade contact cleaner quick drying formula is also good for cleaning a crack?someone with some experience who knows something?What is your favorite cleaner for a dirty long crack?Thanks for the attention.Good luck.

[splitpit]

I don't agree with using any type of cleaner, alcohol, or solvent to clean windshield damage. My answer to a dirty long crack would be to not repair it.

[Brent Deines]

I have not found all that many windshield cracks that were filled with dirt. In my experience the ones that are filled with dirt are also very wide open and generally have been there for a very long time, greatly increasing the chance that the PVB has begun to deteriorate.

I agree with splitpit on this one, stay away from all liquid cleaners and recommend replacement for dirty long cracks.

When I first started I wanted to repair everything, but somewhere along the line it got easier to be a bit more selective. Some windshield damage simply should not be repaired. If I can't make a windshield repair look very good I prefer to pass it by.

Of course having the option to offer a replacement may have had something to do with my attitude, but I always figured that my repair was my signature. Most customers don't care how much better it looks, just how good it looks. Although I've been talked into doing my share of long cracks, unless done below the wipers, in the shade band, or in the frit band, I recommend replacement.

For all you crack "specialists" out there, more power to ya. I just found that I made more money in less time repairing smaller damage, and didn't need to repair the long cracks. If you are doing cracks, please make sure you spend plenty of time practicing before working on a customer's car. Long crack repair is not all that difficult, but it does take some practice and more importantly some patience. Patience is something that I need to work on, which may also contribute to my attitude about long cracks. Time is money and unless I can get $100+ for a long crack I can't justify the time.

That said, I have customers that like long cracks because people like me will pass them by, so their is less competition in the long crack repair arena. It's all personal preference I suppose.

[k9mkt]

Am seconding Brent & Spilt on this. I've tried many types of solvents and cleaners over the years. Some do work yet some made it worse. I hardly use anything these days to clean the damages. But if you're in the market for something, you can try the X ... from Gt .... seems to work.

Repairing long cracks is a personal preference. I however, am not keen in doing so though i've had quite a bit of success in arresting these long cracks and repairing them in the past. As what Brent pointed out, I've done my maths and found out that I made more by repairing all the 'other' types of damages. My competitors loves me for this reason and have had some referals from them too!

[toab]

I pass on all cracks that are not fresh and clean and no edge to edge cracks even though they actually flow resin better.The comeback/whiney customer/bad referral factor is just too high.Also you MUST determine 100% the cause of the crack.Body flex or rust on the pinchweld pushing up on the glass is a recipe for crack repair failure.

[toab]

Oh and trying to clean old dirty cracks with cleaning solutions and/or compressed air has generally produced non satisfactory results for me.

[splitpit]

Toad, How do you determine 100% the cause of the crack if no impact point is present? Do you simply turn down any crack that does not show to be caused from an impact to the glass? No way of knowing if it is a pinchweld flaw or body flex.

[toab]

If there is no impact point sometimes the customer can provide insight as to if something hit the shield without impact point.Crack repair is a risky part of the bizz.I try to feel out each situation as I come apon it.Up here in the great white north pinch weld rust is a factor sometimes especially if the shield has been previously replaced.

[screenman]

Like most of you I would not attempt to clean dirt out of a crack, however I would hasten to add that the quickest way to dry out a long crack is by using compressed air.

[windshield]

I clean cracks that have no more than 2 or 3 weeks old.It depends the kind of dirt inside the crack. I believe some types of cracks have some dirt inside that can be posible to remove with proper technique.First i use the degreaser,next remove them with an air compressor,final i heat all across the damage with an industrial heat gun.When the crack is very dirty i simply dont recomend the fix to the customer.I first text the crack with the crc spray to know if the repair will look good.In the area where i perform my repairs some people dont care about the cosmetic of the repair.They much care that the crack stop spreading.Puerto rico is my location.I suppose the little island have some economic issues where some people find "the remedy" good enough. Believe me folks i repair windshields for about 13 years.I am 33 right now.I was able to repair stars,cracks and some "complete planets"(disperse cracks) much large that the palm of my hand.Some people see the repair like "a piece of art":Now i always dont care for this kind of damages.The reason is over this topic:the time.I have the experience to loose two or tree "stone chips customers" waiting for me performing this kinds of cracks.