It’s such a beautiful day outside. Birds are chirping, the sun is shining, and the traffic seems to be going around smoothly. You’re seconds away from starting to sing Louis Armstrong’s What a Wonderful World when a random rock comes into full contact with your windshield.
Crack! Your face suddenly went white, then red, and probably thought through every murder plan possible before the realization hits: you’re going to have to change your windshield. But when you think about how much it’s going to cost you, you feel faint.
Becoming the Mechanic
What if we told you that you didn’t necessarily have to change it completely? Yes, it’s cracked; but yes, you can also fix it or at least make the damage less visible.
First, you should start by purchasing a windshield repair kit. Every auto store should have one, and it won’t cost you an arm and a leg either. Aside from the kit, you will also need the following items:
- Glass cleaner
- Clean razor blades
- Paper towels
- Tape
It’s also recommended that you don’t attempt to fix your windshield during a hot day. The resin that comes with the kit will harden too fast, and you won’t be able to blend it into the crack.
Conquering the Crack
If you have the tools ready, you may start with the repairing steps:
- Clean the surface. Take a glass cleaner and clean around the area. The kit comes with suction cups, and this will help it adhere much better to the surface. After that, take the razor blades and pick out any chips or debris that may be in the crack.
- Place the suction cups. Position the center tool over the chip and secure its four arms into place. Adjust if necessary.
- Insert the repair tube. Tread it right into the center of the suction cup tool. To prevent de-centering or further damage, you might want to screw it by hand.
- Open the tube and add the resin. Place the tip of the resin bottle over the tube, and give it some gentle squeezes. Depending on the size of the crack, you may not even need to add a lot. Generally, two drops are enough, but if the crack is bigger, you might add four just to be safe.
- Insert the plunger immediately. You need to tighten it all the way down in order to force the resin into the damaged area. Give the resin a minute to penetrate the chip.
- Remove the suction cup. Place some finishing film over the most area and use the blade once more to press the resin towards the edges.
- Leave the film for ten minutes until the resin dries. Don’t worry if it’s still a bit wet, as long as it’s clear.
After this, your windshield will look as good as new – and you won’t have to pay fortunes to get the result either. Still, if you do require new glasswork, you may want to go for the windshield replacement company Dealer Auto Glass for professional help.
