Windshield Repair Forum

I did my first crack repair on my windshield and it turned out nice. It was a small .5" size crack (.25" going each way from the impact point) and it took me awhile to fill it. I've placed the injector on there and filled it with resin but I had a tough time filling the crack. So I heated the glass with a lighter and use the vacuum trick.

Then while it was cooling down, I use pressure for the injector. It filled most of the crack but I had a tough time filling the ends. Using my finger to apply pressure inside the glass and also using a scribe on the outside helped, but when I released the pressure, the resin would move away from the ends. Then i remembered I bought a crack expander and used it inside the windshield. It filled up the ends but I can still see a line. It was getting late so with the expander still on there, I removed the injector..then applied pit resin and cured it. I then checked the area and all the lines are gone!! Is it because once the resin goes in the edges already, small remains are still there and enough to cure the crack together?

Just wanted to share my experience.

I have some few questions:
Are these small cracks one of the hardest to fill and work with?
I used a centerpunch from Delta to try to create a star but everytime I tried, it'll create a star with a nasty piece of surface glass missing.

I used a centerpunch from Delta to try to create a star but everytime I tried, it'll create a star with a nasty piece of surface glass missing.

Those centerpunches can be adjusted by screwing or unscrewing the other end, which varies the pressure. Experiment a bit to find where it needs to be to make stars that you like.

I've tried adjusting that pressure but every adjustments yields the missing surface glass. But it's not a big thing. I'd just filled it with pit resin, smooth it out and drill a hole. It's a bit more challenging which is nice for practice.

Go magicogar, sounds like you did good on the crack repair!! I like a good challenge and after doing stars and bulls cracks fill the void nicely, pun intended If you poped a bull at the end of the crack, got the air out and resin to the end you have a saved WS. As far as the resin at the ends of a crack sometimes flexing will show if they are filled or not, just use caution not to drag air back into the filled area!! Scott :~)

I learned how to do repairs with a center punch and it drove me nuts, was making stars the size of a quarter with 2-3" cracks coming off it. This turned out to be great practice because I sat there until they looked good. Would be in the middle of one, pull up this forum read and find a solution. Everyone here got me through it, then when I started doing retail work found out the chips were not as bad as the ones I learned to fix. Prepare yourself for the worst situations and you will succeed.

But it's not a big thing. I'd just filled it with pit resin, smooth it out and drill a hole. It's a bit more challenging which is nice for practice.

That's a good attitude, I must say...

If a 1/2" star counts as a crack reapir, then I am a crackhead afterall...

Oh, and yes these little buggers can be a slow sometimes because they are "tight". But, next time try only one or two "tricks" or techniques. You may find that it was only more time that was needed to fill it, rather than that 4th or 5th "thing" you did... you see what I mean?

Also, often the repair will disappear more as it cures... I assume the line you refer to was a clear line, and not a black line?

Thanks for the comments!!

Glassdoctor....the lines were indeed clear and was very thin.