Windshield Repair Forum

Hey everyone,
I just had to put out a post on this subject. If it sounds like I am tooting my own horn please don't take it that way I just wanted to talk about this.
Yesterday I was out with my sister doing my prospecting for windshield repairs and I came accross an office complex that had a few cars out front. I see this white Lexus that has a starburst with a 4 inch crack out of the side of it, and the crack wasn't straight, it was going up and down. Anyway I hunt the person down and boy was she glad to see me. She just got the chip 2 weeks ago and the crack just started this weekend, so anyway I ask the insurance question and she has statefarm. So she jumps on the chance to do the repair, however she was very concerned about how it was going to turn out because she has had the chip repair thingy done before. She needless to say she was a little concerned how it would look but more then anything she wanted it not to crack out. So I get started on the repair and assure her it will look good.

Well I started on the chip and all in all, I spent almost 25 minutes on this repair, I even pulled out my neat trick of using one of my old crack expanders, you know the little blue one that delta doesn't sell anymore and I put it on the outside of the windshield just past the end of the crack, maybe an 8th of an inch. Anyway I worked this chip and when I was done, because I used the expander on the outside the windshield it was GONE and I mean gone. She couldn't find it at all, and I bearly could either. Anyway I am thinking ok, I am done, hopefully I can find another one, and I see a few other vehicles but when I tried to talk to them, there was a big meeting going on. So I went on to my next place to look for chips figuring well so much for that.

Well I get all done with my day and come home and my wife tells me the phone rang and some guy wanted to talk to me, I call him up and find out its my customers co-worker. She was so amazed at the work I did that she told everyone in her office about me and especialy that I didn't try to do the chip in 5 minutes like the last guy who did her windshield. Well this guy liked that, and he went around the office and asked every person who had a chip, (I like that). I am going back today because I have 6 Set appointment set up at that office and all of them are insurance work because I took the time to do the job right and boy did it pay off. \:D/
So next time you are tempted to rush through a job.... DON'T, stay patient and do the job right. I sure am glad that I did, really payed off.
David
Coitster

Way cool Coitster Love that!! Crack expander on the outside huh, are you using it to stop the crack from spreading or to close the crack to improve the look? Scott

You lost me on the crack expander thing... what exactly did you use it for? Thanks...

And good work on the whole deal... $300 in the bank for today is cool...

You the master Coitster...
Crack expander on the out side??? Never tryed that trick before did you do it after the resin was in the crack while you were curing

Happy Repairing

Brian

Hey Guys,
With the crack expander on the outside it doesn't close the chip, its just like if you where to flex from the outside, which I almost always do now, instead of the inside. It opens it up and maintains the opening while the resin travels up the crack to the very end, then when you are done, slide it away and take it off, the crack is gone, Wala. You can get the same results if you where to stand their and flex and hold the flex for 2 minutes, I just like being able to walk away or work on another chip. It works great, also I just got back from the job. I actualy did 4 repairs not 6 because 1 was cracked out all the way and the other was just a little nick and didn't need fixing, but still, $240 dollars for one stop isn't bad.
David
Coitster

hey , David TOOT! TOOT! way to go ! I do the crack expander "thingy" too works good as long as the crack isn't to the surface.

Cool, I know how "painful" it can be to stand there flexing the glass... it's like a good stareing contest. 8-[

I was just curious if you used it at the tip of the crack? Oooooo cahones grande, hee hee.

I would be nervous that if I walked away, I might come back to a three foot crack instead of a three inch one. :-#

YOU DE MAN, COLT!
I gotta try that tomarrow eve.

By the way it was good to see you again!

keep Smilin'................mr. P

Nice work, David.

Good question, glassdoctor.

Questions, David.

Did you drill the end of the crack before setting up?

Did you drill the star gut? (I assume you filled from that point.)

What viscosity resin did you use?

Was it a thick or thin crack? (IE: lot of black; little black? Deep; surface?)

This sounds like damage I wouldn't touch under ordinary circumstances because of the "up" and "down" crack you described.

I've repaired 12 inch cracks but won't touch jagged cracks. (Except one time way back when. Drilled it in four different places just to see what would happen. It held but I'll poke myself in the eye with a needle before I'll take the time again.)

I feel like a ballerina at a martial arts convention.

Excellente'!! The Tiger Woods of Windshields, the Coitster pulls another trick outta his seemingly tireless magic bag.
Desertstars had some poignant comments- the zigzag's can make a grown WR Tech cry!
BTW, did I mention that the next windshield I serviced after my new (Thanks Delta!) factory certification course cracked!
( No, Jeff, it's mine, you can't have it Back!)
Yeah David, I was actually holding my breath through your entire post?:~)
but ahh- with 6 prospects all camped out together- Buddy, what did you do AFTER Lunch??:~D
Ken