It sure is unpleasant having to deal with rocks or debris hitting the windshield of your car. They can lead to your windshield ending up with chips and cracks. This sure is an experience that no one wants to go through. We all want to have a crystal clear windshield as we drive from Point A to Point B.
Thankfully, any small enough windshield chip and crack can be repaired at home with windshield chip repair kits. Of course, you’ll need to learn how windshield chip repair kits work to have an effective repair. At the same time, it is crucial to know what they do and when to use one.
In this article, we’ll discuss the uses for windshield chip repair kits as well as learning how to use them. We’ll also go over how they’re effective at repairing windshield chips and cracks. You’ll also learn about which situations warrant the use of windshield chip repair kits. As they say at ClearShield, “Windshield chip repair kits will help make your windshield good as new in the end,” Let’s get started, shall we?
What Windshield Chip Repair Do And What Is In The Kit?
Windshield chip repair kits are a set of items in a toolbox that help fix any chip or crack on a vehicle’s windshield. A crucial piece of windshield chip repair kits is the resin bottle. Resins are a mixture of monomers and polymers that come from either synthetic or organic compounds. Monomers bond into long chains with identical or different molecules to form a polymer. This polymerization process makes resin a powerful liquid that works well in repairing windshield chips or cracks.
The best resin is one that is not too thin and not too thick. There are two types of resin used as part of windshield chip repair kits. One of them is the thin resin bottle that is used to repair the windshield chip. The other is the pit sealer bottle that is used to seal the repair. All of this makes resin an important part of windshield chip repair kits.
In addition to the resin bottles, here are the other big parts that are found in many windshield chip repair kits below.
- Repair Bridgers (Injectors)
- Inner O-Rings
- Curing Squares
- End Seals
- UV Lights
- Razor Blades
- Drill Set
- Collet
- Drill Bits
All of these parts to windshield chip repair kits help make your repair an effective one. In this next section, we’ll talk more in-depth about how the repair kits work.
How Do Windshield Chip Repair Kits Work?
When it comes to knowing how windshield chip repair kits work, it’s important to get it right at each step. Before using any repair bridge, you first need to use a repair drill or a pick to open up the resin impact point. This allows the resin to enter into crucial parts of the chip. After you’ve done that, wipe down the area with a cloth to ensure that all goes smoothly when it comes time to place the bridge. To minimize vibration when drilling, use a collet. This helps give you greater control when you drill.
After that, place the bridge over the chip. Then, remove the piston and drop 4-5 drops of thin resin into the chamber. For larger breaks, add a few more drops as needed and slowly tighten the piston to inject the resin. If resin comes out of the chamber’s bottom, stop and let the pressure push the resin into the impact point. If the resin doesn’t progress, loosen the piston slowly by a ½ turn and tighten it back to where it was and a ½ turn more. Repeat this step as needed and allow 30 seconds to a minute to let the resin fill.
After injecting the thin resin into the chip, proceed to use a thicker resin like a Pit Sealer Resin. This resin type helps seal the repair. On top of that, it helps protect the repair from outside elements that seek to penetrate the surface. You also want to use UV lights as part of the repair. This will help harden the resin and ensure that the windshield repair is a success. Following each step will help ensure that your windshield is crystal clear and will be as good as new.
How Windshield Chip Repair Kits Are Effective?
When evaluating windshield chip repair kits, you need to look at three things:
- Speed
- Durability
- Affordability
Windshield chip repair kits allow for even amateurs to complete repairs any time, any place within an hour or two at most. At the same time, kits are usually less costly than having to take it to a professional to repair it. All these factors together help make windshield chip repair kits an effective solution to repair chips.
Besides, windshield chip repair kits can last up to about 1000 repairs depending on what type of kit you get. It can also be extended to a couple of thousand more repairs with kit extender packs. The long lifetime of windshield chip repair kits also helps make it an effective repair solution that will last.
When To Use Windshield Chip Repair Kits?
As great as windshield chip repair kits are, they do have limits on what types of repairs it can do. If windshield chips or cracks get too big, then it will require a professional to get the job done. That’s why you need to take action quickly to ensure that the chip or crack doesn’t get too big.
Key things to check for before considering windshield chip repair kits is the size of the windshield chip or crack. If the chip is smaller than a quarter, then windshield chip repair kits can be used to repair the windshield. The same is true if the crack is three inches or less. Knowing when to use these repair kits and taking prompt action will help ensure that your repair goes smoothly and promptly.
Windshield Chip Repair Kits Make Your Windshield As Good As New
There is no doubt that windshield chip repair kits are a great solution in restoring your windshield to its former glory. At the same time, it will save you time and money in the end. All these facts are something to think about when considering top-notch repair options like those that ClearShield offers. By understanding how windshield chip repair kits work, you shall be enjoying a crystal clear windshield in no time.