Windshield Repair

[tech4]

I have a tiny spot where a rock hit my windshield. Has anyone tried one of the windshield repair kits? If so which one and did it work? I don't want to pay one of the companies $110 and I don't want to stir my insurance company as they will just raise my rate.

[markkw]

I haven't tried the kits but did patch a crack on mine with epoxy - I didn't have any of the good stuff I normally carry (it's on backorder). I use a diamond point www.fire-iron.biz/Fire___Iron_-_Tools.html to open up the crack and stop-drill it then fill with epoxy. The generic epoxy holds for a while but degrades rather quickly from UV exposure but will get you by for about a month. Do not use any silicon product and definitely do not use any type of solvent that can attack the inner plastic between the layers of glass.

[garystewart]

I got a small chip in my new car and I checked with the dealer. They have a guy that stops in weekly, did the job for $40.

[franz]

So Mark, how long till you get the good epoxy, and how well does it function in a vacuum?
My star is above the siteline so I ain't worried about obscuration or discoloring.

[markkw]

Jun 8, 2011 12:23:00 GMT -5 franz said:

So Mark, how long till you get the good epoxy, and how well does it function in a vacuum?

I don't have an ETA yet, soon as I do I'll let you know.

I assume you're asking about applying it with vacuum and if so, the lower viscosity mix works great, it actually penetrates cracks and other porous surfaces fairly well even without vacuum but you know a helping hand isn't unwelcome. As for performance in vacuum once cured, no issues at all. Both the low and high viscosity blends have minimal outgasing when curing and zero after cure, it's one of the very few that's approved for museum restoration.

[franz]

I already moved one building for the girls of the Histericle Society and taught them to use neatsfoot oil on harness and Buzzardshield on iron. I'll be damned if they get me to restore glassware, my hands are too damn old.