In detail: do-it-yourself car glass chip repair from a real master for the site my.housecope.com.
Nowadays, there are various proposals on the market to protect glass from damage. One of the most popular options is a protective film sticker on the glass, which protects an expensive part from damage, and many car owners prefer not to wait for the next stone in the glass with subsequent repair or replacement of this glass.
But what about the situation if the windshield of the car was nevertheless damaged, and small cracks and chips have already appeared on it? Go to a car service for an expensive repair or try to fix this problem yourself?
If you decide to repair cracks on the windshield with your own hands, we will tell you what materials and tools you need and how to do it according to all the rules.
To begin with, we will determine what minor damage can be easily and simply repaired on our own, without replacing the windshield.
Glass chips in any part of it. Chips should be repaired immediately before they develop into deep cracks, otherwise you cannot avoid glass replacement.
Simple cracks. They often appear as a result of a sharp and constant temperature drop due to improper heating of the car, non-observance of the temperature inside and outside the passenger compartment.
Branched cracks. Unlike simple cracks, branched cracks are difficult to remove. Untimely elimination of a simple crack can lead not only to the appearance of deep branched cracks, but also to the forced replacement of the windshield.
Chipped. The reason for their appearance is a gross mechanical effect.
Video (click to play).
So, in order to independently repair cracks on the glass, you need to prepare the following set:
Photopolymer glue. This glue is intended for the repair of automotive and other glass. The glue has a sufficiently high coefficient of transparency and reflection of sunlight, therefore, after application, it remains completely invisible on the glass. Photopolymer hardening occurs due to exposure to directional ultraviolet radiation. The hardening time is 15 minutes (when using a UV lamp) and 45 minutes (when naturally drying).
Glue injector. With the help of an injector, the polymer is applied to a crack or chip on the glass. Injectors can be either plastic (disposable) or metal (reusable). We recommend purchasing a reusable injector.
Electric drill. It allows you to remove excess stress from the glass by drilling the edges of the crack to prevent its possible enlargement. For cracking, thin diamond drills are used.
UV lamp for drying glue.
Scriber. Used to gently clean the edges of the crack, as well as the working area around it.
Applicators. Allows you to attach the injector to the windshield.
Liquid and wipes to remove excess dirt and moisture.
Pump for cleaning the edges of cracks from dirt and dust.
Having prepared the necessary set of materials and tools, we proceed to the repair.
Watch a video detailing the entire windshield repair process:
If you want to get a high result of windshield repair, we recommend that you take this process with the utmost seriousness and scrupulousness. Read also how to fix cracks in the bumper.
When driving behind another car on the track, it is easy to get hit by a small stone on the windshield, body or optics. First of all, these are chips and cracks on the windshield.In this article, we will analyze the main types of damage, find out which defects can be eliminated on our own, and with which it is better to contact a specialized service station.
The windshield can be safely called the most vulnerable point of the car. Various defects appear on its surface during operation. They can be divided into the following:
Scratch. This defect occurs on contact with a sharp object, the hardness of which exceeds the strength of glass. The depth of the scratch prevents a crack from forming. Shallow scratches are caused by sand particles that hit the vehicle.
Round chipped "bull's eye". This is the most common defect, the chip has the shape of a circle without cracking.
Crack. This is the most dangerous defect. In addition to impairing visibility, the crack tends to grow while driving.
Combined defects. They are complex in structure.
Next, we will consider in more detail how to remove some defects from the windshield with our own hands. We will find out what consumables and special tools are needed.
Remember that defects on your windshield not only impair the appearance of your vehicle, but can also cause a traffic accident. Don't shelve windshield repairs!
The main reason for the appearance of small scratches on the glass is ordinary sand. It deposits on the glass, windscreen wiper bands, seals, and the rag you use to wipe your car. Sand particles constantly scratch the surface. Therefore, visibility decreases over time. Polishing will help to restore transparency to the windshield. Grinding is not recommended. Most likely, such processing will not be possible to carry out qualitatively on your own.
To polish the windshield, you can use folk remedies and professional materials. Before starting to repair scratches, wash your windshield thoroughly. Wipe it with a clean dry cloth or a special glass cloth. Don't use newspaper.
GOI paste will help get rid of small defects on glass
To eliminate small scratches with improvised means, use GOI toothpaste or paste. The best effect is achieved when using GOI paste. A small portion of the paste is applied to a clean cotton swab or piece of felt. Then rub in a circular motion on the problem area.
Reapply the paste and rub in a circle in the opposite direction. To speed up the process, you can use a sander with a felt attachment.
For polishing the windshield, various types of polishes are available in automotive stores. Before using the pastes, we recommend making a test polish on a small area of the glass. The composition of polishes includes various reagents and it is not known how they will act on a glass surface.
Wash the glass thoroughly after polishing.
Deeper scratches are difficult to remove. In this case, there are two options: you need to come to terms with this state of affairs, or do it radically and replace the windshield.