In detail: DIY repair of windshield chips from a real master for the site my.housecope.com.
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In this article, we'll look at how to repair a chipped windshield.
Minor damage to the windshield can develop into a crack at any time. This usually happens when you least expect it. When the glass cracks, it will be more difficult, more expensive, and sometimes impossible to return it to its previous appearance. The chip on the windshield needs to be repaired in time. Before repairing the damage, it is advisable to immediately close it with adhesive tape. This will prevent dirt and moisture from entering the chip.
Windshields consist of several layers. Two thin glasses are glued together with a polymer layer. The outer parts of the glass are hardened. The polymer center layer is flexible and acts as a damper, reducing the possibility of glass damage from small stones flying off the road. If, however, the stone damages the glass, then the outer glass is damaged.
Chips and cracks are two of the most common windshield injuries. Some damages are more complex and have a configuration of several types of damages. There are ROLAGS (Repair of Laminated Automotive Glass Standard) standards that define the shape (by which the names described below are given) and maintainability, depending on the extent of the damage.
Star damage. Has a central damage, from which several cracks depart. Usually has an X-shaped appearance. Such damage must be repaired if it does not exceed 6-7 cm in diameter. Mother-in-law extending from the center of damage requires drilling to stop their spread.
Video (click to play).
Bullseye lesion has a major cleavage surrounded by a minor lesion that does not have cracks. Such damage is considered fit for repair if its size does not exceed 2.5 cm.
Damage to the "Crescent" is defined as a partial, incomplete "Bullseye". In English, it is called Half moon (half moon, crescent). To be repaired if it does not exceed 2.5 centimeters.
Combined damage is defined as damage with multiple characteristics. That is, it has the characteristics of damage "Star", "Bullseye", as well as cracks of various sizes coming from the epicenter of the damage. Such combined damage is considered repairable if its diameter (excluding cracks) does not exceed 4–5 cm.
The windshield consists of several layers. The layers are interconnected by a polymer. If the middle layer of the glass is damaged or the glass is damaged through and through, then the glass cannot be repaired and must be replaced.
Damages with recesses and a missing part of the glass are repairable if the diameter of the recess does not exceed 3 mm.
Long cracks cannot be repaired (at least not cost-effectively). Therefore, it is important to have time to repair the chip before it grows into a crack.
All types of damage to the windshield are repaired in the same way. The damaged area is cleaned and dried.Next, air is pumped out of the damage and polymer is injected under pressure. The polymer that is injected into the damage cavity is transparent and has the same refractive index as glass. Thus, after properly carried out repairs, the damage becomes almost invisible from any angle.
The area to be repaired is then illuminated with UV light for 5 minutes to activate the polymer. The next step is to cut off the remaining polymer from the glass surface and polish the segment to be repaired.
It is necessary that the glass be clean and dry before repairing. Do not use detergents or glass cleaners before repairing your windshield. Better to use the cleaner and degreaser that come with the repair kit. If the glass is damp, you can use a hair dryer to dry it. During repairs, it should be at approximately room temperature.
There are different types of repair kits. Most low-cost repair kits are simplified versions of professional chip repair equipment. The repair procedure using different kits may differ, but the basic principle is the same.
Professional kits are designed for use in specialized workshops. Their cost ranges from 500 US dollars and more. They are sold in handy cases, which contain all the necessary tools and consumables for repairing damaged windshields. Such kits include:
holder (bridge) injector
mirror for installation on the back of the glass. It helps control the installation of fixtures and the repair process.
portable drill on batteries. It is used to drill the ends of cracks to stop their propagation.
Ultraviolet lamp. Used to quickly activate the polymer after injection.
A set of polymers for injection into the damage cavity.
Degreasing wipes, adhesive tapes, glass polishing compounds, etc.
Professional kits allow you to repair any repairable damage, including some types of cracks.
Some professional kits may include several of the same fixtures for repairing multiple chips at the same time.
As mentioned above, most inexpensive windshield chip repair kits are simplified versions of professional kits. They are much cheaper and do not contain some of the tools and accessories that are in professional kits. Next, we will consider repairing a chip on the windshield using an inexpensive repair kit from 3M.
To repair a chipped windshield yourself, you can purchase a relatively inexpensive chip repair kit. Our example shows not the cheapest, but also not the most expensive non-professional kit.
3M offers a special kit designed to repair small chips, stars and cracks in car glass. Some small chips can be repaired so that they are almost invisible. Larger damage can be stopped from further spreading and made less noticeable.
This kit can be used in your own garage. No special conditions are needed for this.
So, let's look at the repair process using the example of a small chip step by step:
To begin the process of repairing a chip on your windshield, you need to remove any remaining glass shards. The kit includes a special rod for this. You can also use a blade.
It is necessary to thoroughly clean the damage itself and the glass surface around the chip to ensure good adhesion for the suction cups of the device included in the set. It is important to check that there are no particles and dirt left in the depressions and cracks of the damage.
Next, you need to assemble the device and install it on the glass so that its central part is above the center of the damage. The adapter must be positioned perpendicular to the surface.
It is necessary to check the location of the "bridge" from the inside again, before proceeding to the next step. Notice that a paper towel was placed near the center of the unit to prevent resin from leaking onto the glass.
The next step is to use the special injector included in the kit to fill the chamber with a special polymer.
Screw the injector onto the cavity. It is necessary to inject the polymer into the cavity of the damage and pump it out again to remove air bubbles. Next, the polymer has to be injected again with pressure.
Next, you need the entire structure to stand for 30 minutes, preferably under the sun, after which you can dismantle the device.
Further, leaked polymer residues are removed. And the repair area is wiped with a cleaner.
In the photo you can see that the chip has become invisible.
No need to repair your windshield in the sun. The sun's rays will accelerate the polymer's hardening before it spreads, which will impair the quality of the repair. After injection and spreading in the cleavage cavity of the polymer, you need to apply an ultraviolet lamp or leave the repair area under the sun.
Some kits contain an adhesive film and it is supposed to be applied to the repair area, some time after the polymer has been injected. For some types of damage, it helps keep the polymer from flowing out at the initial stage of hardening.
Small cracks must be stopped from further spreading by drilling a small non-through hole at the end of it.
What to do if a chip appears on the windshield? Try to repair the glass as quickly as possible, because due to vibrations and temperature changes, even a small chip can turn into a large crack. You can remove a crack or chip on the windshield at a service station or using a special kit.
You can buy a special set at a price of 300 rubles. It should include: a syringe with a repair compound, an applicator for filling in chips and rings with a sticky surface for installing the applicator on the glass. Additionally required: blade and food film. Using the kit, you can repair a crack in the windshield up to 20 cm in length.
The windshield must be clean, dry and cool (not exposed to sunlight).
Procedure:
Remove shards of glass from the chip (with a vacuum cleaner or a pin).
Remove the protective film from the ring from the set and stick the ring on the chip (the protrusion should be directed upwards).
Remove the protective film from the other side of the ring and install the applicator on the ring (align the projections).
Insert the syringe into the hole of the applicator.
Pull the syringe plunger to the mark and turn it to fix it with a stopper (wait 30 seconds for air to come out of the chip).
Release the piston from the stopper (the piston will go down).
Press the piston gently until resistance appears.
The procedure for removing air (points 5-7) is repeated 3-4 times.
Release the syringe plunger and leave it in the down position for 15 minutes.
Check the filling of the chip with the repair compound (from the inside of the glass). If there are voids, repeat the air removal procedure (points 5-7).
Remove the applicator and the remnants of the ring with a blade.
Cover the chip with cling film.
Put the car in the sun for 20 minutes to polymerize the compound (on a cloudy day for 1 hour).
The windshield must be clean, dry and cool (not exposed to sunlight).
Procedure:
Place the syringe firmly on the edge of the crack.
Squeeze out the repair compound by moving the syringe (from the end of the crack to the beginning) slowly and smoothly along the crack. In order for the repair compound to completely fill the crack, lightly press on the glass under the crack.
Cover the crack with cling film.
Put the car in the sun for 20 minutes to polymerize the composition (on a cloudy day for 1 hour).
To stop the crack in the windshield, you will need to drill the glass, for this, seek the help of specialists. If the number of cracks on the glass is large and they cannot be repaired, then the windshield should be replaced (instructions).
If the crack is in the driver's line of sight, then such vehicle operation will not be safe. By the way, do you know which washer nozzles do their job better?
A nuisance has occurred: a pebble or a spike from the tread of a passing car that flew out from under the wheels hit the windshield of your car. But there is no reason to despair yet. Stop for a second and assess the situation.
Chipped glass. And this has its own plus. Chipping is not a crack. Repairing a chipped windshield is less problematic than repairing a cracked windshield.
What for? At least in order to take preventive measures that will help you in the future cope with the procedure for repairing a chip on the windshield. Do not be lazy, cover the chip with transparent tape - this will then reduce the process of cleaning the defect from dirt.
Why is there such attention to chips on the glass? Elementary simple. A timely repair of windshield chips allows you to stop the process of turning a chip into a crack, and avoid a more costly procedure - repairing cracks on your car's windshield. Take your pick, you are a practical and sane person.
Repairing chips on the windshield does not require special professionalism and deep knowledge of the internal combustion engine from you. You need everything: your desire, a "field" set of "ambulance" for glass in the form of, for example, a set for repairing chipped windshield "Abro" and time.
Why Abro? Not necessary. The set can be of any manufacturer, which you choose at the auto shop. The main thing is that it is complete and the expiration date is correct. Otherwise, the polymer applied to the chip will either not “take”, or it will have a low transparency coefficient, and even glass polishing will not help you.
