Cracked Windshield repair

[argve]

If you guys have a cracked windshield and don't want to part with the money for a replacement get that cheap windshield repair kit down at your local auto parts store or Walmart (I got mine from Walmart) it works! Just have to go super slow when appling the epoxy it helps to have a second person there to push out on the crack so that the epoxy works it's way into the crack. I did mine today in the garage when the temps were hovering around 30 degrees so temp does not seem to effect it.

Pretty simple job, took about 20 mins of work and 40 mins of waiting.

Package directions say to wipe with clean dry cloth and perform the repair before dirt has a chance to get into the crack - <font color="red">err scratch that my crack is two months old but figured what the heck I'll give it shot (beats 200+ bucks ya know). </font>

It then says to move extremely slow to allow the epoxy to work it's way into the crack to purge the air out. Well seeing as how mine has that spray on car wax and tons of salt in it I'm figuring it won't work for anything.

It says to press on the crack from the inside of the windshield to open the crack some to allow the epoxy to work it's way down inside but not to push too hard. I found that after some trial and error that if you had a 2nd person on the inside to apply a little pressure while your squeezing the bottle that you get much better results. <font color="red"> crack flat disappears when two sets of hands are involved </font>

Then it says to take these clear little sheets of plastic and cover the crack the place the windshield either under UV lights or out in sunlight. So I pulled out in the driveway <font color="red"> it started snowing at this point so I figured I was hosed </font>

Then let it sit in the sun for 5-10 mins then pull the plastic sheets off <font color="red"> thought pattern that the plastic would be bonded forever to windshield but not so </font>

Then after getting plastic off to take razor blade at a 90° angle to windshield and scrape away excess epoxy. It will turn white and flakey.

Once done you end up with only epoxy in the crack and the crack just about all but is invisible.

Thought I would toss that up. I can see where having a clean, fresh crack or chip would be best because not all areas of mine filled up then also where I did not have pressure on the inside but the newest area of the crack (not much dirt and where we applied pressure) worked wonders.

Package said only good for cracks up to 12 inches long <font color="red"> mine was over 2 feet long </font>

I paid 10 bucks for my repair kit from Wally World. I sadly did not take pics - forgot until half way through [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img] But will try to remember to do so when I do the three rock chips in the center of the windshield.

No this was not done to an IDI but a windshield is a windshield and I thought everyone could get some benefit from a review on the product/procedure as I have never seen nor heard from anyone doing a repair like this.

It's called

Fix a Windshield from the makers of Fix a Flat. In the yellow/black package back in the auto section.

Enjoy!

[vonTrapp]

Excellent post...I'm going to look for that. BOTH trucks and the minivan have monster cracks [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]

Even 5 packages of the stuff will beat $800.00 is glass. If it lasts a year, I'll be happy [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]