Done with cracks!

[SMITHY]

I worked two hours Friday on a star break with a 2 inch crack on each side of it. It was 98 degrees and I worked at it for over two hours. For $50 bucks. Since the length of the crack was so long on each side, I anchored each side by drilling partly into the glass. (half the depth of the drill head) then popping a bullseye. Upon popping the bullseye the crack shot right past it, all the way to the pillar of the vehicle. The other side filled on it's own, while repairing the impact point.

Question: Do you guys fix the impact point first, then work on the crack or do you do the opposite?

So now after two hours of working in 102 heat index, I have to issue a refund back. Not happy about it, but obviously the credit is deserved and I will do it. But very frustrating.

[screenman]

Every break is different so it is hard to say, but with only 2 inch legs I would normally go for impact first. Did you cool the glass down? was there any chance of UV getting in, indirectly or directly.

2 hours is way to long for any type of damage, you were doing something wrong or something not right. Start to finish including drying out and curing an 18 inch crack should be finished in 40 minutes or less.

If you stop offering crack repair your market share will decrease, improve your skills and techniques not say no to a large portion of jobs.

Get the practise windshield back out again, mind you most people in this trade never had one.

[just chippen away]

Each one of us have our own way of repairing cracks. In most cracks I will set up on the impact and fill outward on. Now it may change on vert top impact to bottom, to vert cracks with impact at the bottom. Edge crack with impact in in the inside verses edge crack with impact at the edge....... Each one is approached different...... That is the challenge of a crack..... I like doing the cracks as to chips....

The first thing you MAY have done wrong is, you may not have drilled deep enough to stop the crack.... Most say to drill and pop, I drill just an RCH shy of the lam and walk the crack to the impact....

Most say they do not use crack jacks,, I use them all the time....

We are all different and it is a learning curve on cracks.... This is not an easy quick buck.... Just cus you can do a chip does not mean you can do a crack,,,, Right away...

Sorry I did not answer the question straight out but it is not a straight out fix.

[SMITHY]

Every break is different so it is hard to say, but with only 2 inch legs I would normally go for impact first. Did you cool the glass down? was there any chance of UV getting in, indirectly or directly.

2 hours is way to long for any type of damage, you were doing something wrong or something not right. Start to finish including drying out and curing an 18 inch crack should be finished in 40 minutes or less.

If you stop offering crack repair your market share will decrease, improve your skills and techniques not say no to a large portion of jobs.

Get the practise windshield back out again, mind you most people in this trade never had one.

I did go for the impact point first, then cured it. Yes the glass was cool considering the temp outside, it was shaded on the side of a building completely opposite from the sun. The temp of the windshield was 87 degrees according to my laser thermometer.

Then I proceeded to break out my crack expanders and used one on each side of the impact ....one on each crack and used the wicking method, which was the method I was trained doing.

I agree 2 hours was a long time but this crack was very old.

It was on a 1999 Toyota Tundra and was around two years old. However, it was for my fiance's boss and I was trying to do him a favor. I was very clear with him about the expectations due to age and condition of it, but since he is her boss, I am not going to argue with him about it, nor would I have with any other customer. While there at the factory, I did acquire two other jobs, one on the mitsubishi fuso straight truck with two giant half crecent moon shape breaks and one on another employees car. Both of those turned out great!!

Oh I have had more than one practice windshield and on my slow days, still go out and just practice for the hell of it.

[just chippen away]

screenman was typing as I was, We moreless said the same thing...

On a practise windshield, I would rather hit a junk yard or a car that will have the w/shield replaced anyway from a car lot or what ever other place you can find.... On a crack I would rather have the shield in the car glued inplace to get the true feel of working the crack. A loos shield can be flexed to easy and you will not get the true feel on how difficalt it is... You could use a practice shield all day and be a master on it but when it comes to a shield that is in the car may have you pulling your hair out....

Just my take on cracks.... Chips are ok for a looss shield on a stand.

[screenman]

You did not answer my question about UV.

Personally I feel it harder to fix a running crack in a loose shield, than one that is still bonded in. That said I agree with the scarp yard bit 100% but what are the chances in reality of somebody trying that hard to increase their skills, in would be nice.

[SMITHY]

screenman was typing as I was, We moreless said the same thing...

On a practise windshield, I would rather hit a junk yard or a car that will have the w/shield replaced anyway from a car lot or what ever other place you can find.... On a crack I would rather have the shield in the car glued inplace to get the true feel of working the crack. A loos shield can be flexed to easy and you will not get the true feel on how difficalt it is... You could use a practice shield all day and be a master on it but when it comes to a shield that is in the car may have you pulling your hair out....

Just my take on cracks.... Chips are ok for a looss shield on a stand.

I agree with you 100% on what you said about the windshield being affixed to the car versus, being on a stand in my garage. And yes when not glued they do flex alot easier. This is one of the things I was experiencing working on this crack is that the crack was just not opening up!! Very close to the glue point in fact! With my crack expanders I had them screwed in tight, at least I thought I did, and surely I was a little intimidated or scared to tighten anymore because I did not want to buy the windshield. Perhaps I did not put enough pressure on it.

[SMITHY]

You did not answer my question about UV.

Personally I feel it harder to fix a running crack in a loose shield, than one that is still bonded in. That said I agree with the scarp yard bit 100% but what are the chances in reality of somebody trying that hard to increase their skills, in would be nice.

My best guess screenman, would be that UV was not my issue here because of where the vehicle was situated and as I stated earlier, that the two other repairs I performed were in the same location and turned out great!

[just chippen away]

[quote="SMITHY
It was on a 1999 Toyota Tundra and was around two years old. However, it was for my fiance's boss and I was trying to do him a favor. I was very clear with him about the expectations due to age and condition of it, but since he is her boss, .[/quote]

For starters, I would not do the crack at 2 yrs old... Contamination factor.... Your choise though.... Being your Fiance's boss, I would have done it free for the PR and browne points to both.... Just letting hin know it is old and may not work,,,, but I will try it for him.... If it worked, they would have paid you for your time after saving him money, if it did not work,,, Oh well he know the terms... and it was a free shield to work on.

Just my take ...

[SMITHY]

[quote="SMITHY
It was on a 1999 Toyota Tundra and was around two years old. However, it was for my fiance's boss and I was trying to do him a favor. I was very clear with him about the expectations due to age and condition of it, but since he is her boss, .

For starters, I would not do the crack at 2 yrs old... Contamination factor.... Your choise though.... Being your Fiance's boss, I would have done it free for the PR and browne points to both.... Just letting hin know it is old and may not work,,,, but I will try it for him.... If it worked, they would have paid you for your time after saving him money, if it did not work,,, Oh well he know the terms... and it was a free shield to work on.

Just my take ...[/quote]

True I should have offerred it up for free. But I figure the guy is loaded and can afford it...LOL....And I would not normally take on one that old either. I felt it would be a great opportunity for me to get some practice at it.