Windshield Repair Forum

Are you drilling too much?

Why is it that there is so many repair technicians think they have to drill into every break It kills me to here guys talking about drilling to deep going into the lamination I don

Hey Brian,
When you are fixing chips with a super small impact point do you drill those??? Just curious.
David
Coitster

Yes I usually do just enough to make a bulls eye to open it up I rarely drill deep into the break.

Brian

Hi, Repair1.

Although I see your point about drilling "every one" and agree it isn't always necessary, I almost always drill every one but the depth of my drill hole varies depending on the circumstances.

It helps me to get a clear and clean entry point for the resin particularly when the damage is not recent and the entry point may be contaminated by road oil or whatever.

I use a spiral type drill bit that is almost always much smaller than the existing damage so it does not create a problem as far as esthetic end-result is concerned.

Yes, using a probe-scrape can do the same thing and I also use that in conjunction. But, I still drill anyway because there have been too many occasions where I have had to shove the bridge over and try to drill when the resin wouldn't inject. (You know: drill; clean off the bit; drill; clean the bit...)

I've seen many pro and cons about drilling. It's an interesting topic that may or may not be resolved some day.

(Incidentally, if the damage is a deep pit, I do NOT drill but use the probe exclusively rather than take the chance of drilling into the laminate.)

Jim your right I do use my drill on almost every job I worded it wrong. What I mean by scuffing is I scuff with the drill I don't drill a hole every time.

Happy Repairing

Brian

Brian.

I read an article some time back that stated 98% of repairs do not need to be drilled. (Their figure. That figure itself indicates to me the 98% is most likely arbitrary.)

I have experienced very few bullseyes that needed to be drilled and very few stars, combos or half-moons that DIDN'T need to be drilled.

Since, other than a crack-end or a half-moon, the w/s is already damaged at the drill entry point, I see no reason not to drill in every case other than bullseyes. The end result as far as esthetics is concerned is not affected.

That, of course, is a personal preference and may not even be a consensus of opinion.

What would interest me is reasons NOT to drill undcr the circumstances I outlined. In other words, what is the harm?

Takes a couple of minutes to just go ahead and drill up front rather than end up pushing the equipment over and popping a bullseye with a needle and starting the whole process over again.

Sometimes, one needs to pop a bullseye anyway but I have cut that possibility to almost nil by using the magnifying glass and a probe flex to analyize the repair before I start the job.

I had a post about magnifying glasses some time back and someone mentioned they use the reading type glasses. Believe you me, those are nothing like the magnifying glass I use that would set a wet haystack on fire in 30 seconds on an overcast day in Siberia.

What do you think?