Professional windshield crack repair kits

[cgrutt]

Any of you guys have experience with professional crack and chip repair kits? I'm interested in buying a professional kit that uses a vacuum/injector and UV curing. Don't really know much about them but there seems to be a lot of companies making them.

Looking at GlasWeld and GT Tools they seem to have really well made products (well, nice website with demos/training videos) and Made in USA, which is a plus for me. The GlasWeld Pro kit is about $1,500 and the GT Tools, which might actually be better, Vanish kit is $1,200. I watched some videos of each both seem pretty good and basically same process.

Also saw a few others but leaning towards either the GlasWeld or GT based on what I've watched:

Ultra Bond claims their resins etc are stronger than other brands and their Crack Master kit seems to have the most products and claims it's good for both chips and "long" cracks. About $1,400.

Delta kits, also USA made I think, Pro Repair Kit EZ-450D $1,555

American Windshield Repair Master Kit. Of the ones I looked at significantly less expensive ($589) but I think the UV curing light is just a pen light. The others seem more substantial.

Crack Eraser. Most expensive of above ($1,793) but supposedly comes with 5 hrs of training videos (I think some of the other companies also include training on their websites).

Anyway, would appreciate thoughts and suggestions esp if you have experience with any of these brands or other similar kits. Thanks.

 

[crguy]

Why would you need this? Insurance has paid for glass replacement the few times I've needed it.

 

[cgrutt]

Why would you need this? Insurance has paid for glass replacement the few times I've needed it.

Don't carry comp or collision no glass coverage besides I'd rather fix a couple small cracks/chips than replace an OEM windshield. Have to fix my son's BMW and wife's Mercedes cost of kit is about the same as buying the windshields/urethane etc and doing it myself. Looks pretty cool and figured if works reasonably well I might be able to repair friends & family chips or make a few $ on side in the future.

 

[m6z]

No experience with the pro kits, but I've used a couple of the DIY small kits with good results. Think the kits were around $12-20, though it's been a few years.

 

[rlitman]

No experience with the pro kits, but I've used a couple of the DIY small kits with good results. Think the kits were around $12-20, though it's been a few years.

The syringe in the DIY kits can pull more of a vacuum than you'd expect, and you can always refill these with resin from pro kits.

 

[zmotorsports]

I have a Delta kit and I have been very pleased with the tools as well as the consumables. I upgraded when I purchased mine and bought the aluminum bridge rather then the plastic one. I've had my kit about 5 years now and it has worked great.

 

[zmotorsports]

Why would you need this? Insurance has paid for glass replacement the few times I've needed it.

I can't speak for others but personally, I don't like replacing things just because they're covered. Glass in particular, as each time there is a risk of scratching paint and I just simply don't like other people touching my stuff.

Secondly, I got tired of the inconvenience of having to take it to the local shop each time, even though they seldom charged me. My wife gets home from work late in the evenings and trying to coordinate with the wife and the glass shop got to be too big of a PITA so having my own tools and supplied to quickly fix a small chip have been invaluable.

 

[cgrutt]

@zmotorsports thanks. I think the Delta kit included one or.two Aluminum bridges and possibly two injectors. I looked at a ton of kits over the past several days so could be mistaken. Glad to hear you're happy with it. I feel same way rather have the tools to do the job myself than hire somebody else. Thanks for reply.

 

[no704]

Did glass in a past life. Don’t remember the brands. There are some tricks to it. Sometimes have to drill into the chip to make a passage for the liquid. While pulling vacuum rubbing on the inside of the glass with an actual cork wine cork, no idea why this works, but it does. Sometimes a little heat from a bic lighter helps to pull in the reason, don’t get it too hot and melt the laminate. Get a junk windshield to practice on. A ball bearing with a rubber band thru it makes good practice chips.

 

[cgrutt]

Did glass in a past life. Don’t remember the brands. There are some tricks to it. Sometimes have to drill into the chip to make a passage for the liquid. While pulling vacuum rubbing on the inside of the glass with an actual cork wine cork, no idea why this works, but it does. Sometimes a little heat from a bic lighter helps to pull in the reason, don’t get it too hot and melt the laminate. Get a junk windshield to practice on. A ball bearing with a rubber band thru it makes good practice chips.

Yeah the kits I listed include a rotary tool and carbide bits. And believe it or not some actually include a cork. I think the idea behind pressing with cork or tapping is to help release any air that might be trapped. These also cure while under pressure as the resin shrinks when curing so it keeps adding resin as needed throughout cure to minimize any gaps. I don't believe the $20 kits do this.

 

[Spud McGee]

My did did windshields while I was a kid. I rode along and watched him do hundreds of them. I think the kits are like any other tool. The kits are different and one will work as good as the next if you take your time to learn to use it.

I vote got to your local pull a part yard. Throw a couple handfuls of rocks at a bunch of different cars and spend a couple hours fixing rock chips. That way you learn the ins and outs of whichever system you bought.

 

[Walkers]

Yeah the kits I listed include a rotary tool and carbide bits. And believe it or not some actually include a cork. I think the idea behind pressing with cork or tapping is to help release any air that might be trapped. These also cure while under pressure as the resin shrinks when curing so it keeps adding resin as needed throughout cure to minimize any gaps. I don't believe the $20 kits do this.

I looked into this a wee while back. The money in this industry comes from the insurance company for the repair, and from selling the kits. I had a kit from a decade or more ago and thought to upgrade. There are surprisingly few tools that are mid grade. It is either the plastic **** or the anodized aluminum, with special pumps, bits, etc. I have come to the conclusion that there is very little difference in the actual application tool you use, a little plastic eye dropper, or a $500 bridge, as to the job it does. Sure, there is a guy who knows what he is doing, and has excellent tools and can repair a huge star with 12" long legs, but for most repairs the auto parts store kits seem to do a decent job for pennies on the dollar.
Just buy the $20 kit, and learn how to wick the goo using a little heat. The stuff mostly works on its own. So long as it is warm where you are doing it, and you control the curing of it by doing it in the garage, you will do just fine.

 

[signcrafter]

I bought a kit from clearshield after reading Mike's thread(zmotorsports) in fab section. He has a couple good write ups on using it. I also bought a few extra pieces to add to the kit. It's definately a skill that takes some time to learn. Watch lots of videos and then practice on a window that don't matter before doing it on a good one. I've only done a few but worked good. I had a friend that has a bunch of chips and cracks in his van windshield. He bought a 20 dollar kit and it didn't work, not sure if it was him or the kit. He isn't very handy. But he said I could use his windshield for practice all I wanted. Worked good to get a hang of it.

 

[Walkers]

I bought a kit from clearshield after reading Mike's thread(zmotorsports) in fab section. He has a couple good write ups on using it. I also bought a few extra pieces to add to the kit. It's definately a skill that takes some time to learn. Watch lots of videos and then practice on a window that don't matter before doing it on a good one. I've only done a few but worked good. I had a friend that has a bunch of chips and cracks in his van windshield. He bought a 20 dollar kit and it didn't work, not sure if it was him or the kit. He isn't very handy. But he said I could use his windshield for practice all I wanted. Worked good to get a hang of it.

I dont suppose you have a link to the thread you referenced, or the kit you bought do you?

 

[cgrutt]

This is one of the chips/cracks in my son's BMW. I think repairing it may be a little more complicated than typical. There is a very small impact about halfway between legs. The crack may breach surface in more than one place making pulling a vacuum problematic. There also appears to be some voids below surface. I've watched a few videos dealing with cracks and believe it is repairable. I sent pics and an email to both GT Tools and GlasWeld will see what they say.

 

[signcrafter]

I dont suppose you have a link to the thread you referenced, or the kit you bought do you?

This is his thread, search in thread for windshield and it should pop up. Or just read the whole thing if you have a few days, it's a boatload of knowledge well worth the read.

The kit I bought was this one I believe, https://clearshieldsupplies.com/pro...9YrSQmxfI-iHeWENrnZ_-FbHmQ0QOrLBoCgMkQAvD_BwE

Seems like it may have came with a few more items but I don't remember. It's been a while since I used it. I also added a few other items like a suction cup mirror you put on the inside. Basically read Mike's thread and added some things he uses.

This is one of the chips/cracks in my son's BMW. I think repairing it may be a little more complicated than typical. There is a very small impact about halfway between legs. The crack may breach surface in more than one place making pulling a vacuum problematic. There also appears to be some voids below surface. I've watched a few videos dealing with cracks and believe it is repairable. I sent pics and an email to both GT Tools and GlasWeld will see what they say.

I'm far from an expert. I watched many youtube videos when I got my kit and saw guys fixing cracks pretty much the whole windshield long. I would never attempt that but just saying it's crazy what can be fixed. Will be interesting to see what their response is. Voids under the surface are normal in a crack and that is what you want to **** the solution into. That is why you grind out the chip with the dremel. There is a for sure learning curve and skill set to get them perfect.

 

[cgrutt]

I wound up ordering the UltraBond pro kit. Supports both chips and long cracks and was significantly less expensive than the other kits that I was interested in. Website is a little cumbersome but owner clearly wants to show lots of data. Apparently has very good resins. Had a pretty convincing video that showed inexpensive florescent uv lights included in his kits doing a much better job than very expensive LED curing lights sold in other kits. Watched a bunch of videos by owner and got pretty comfortable with product. Owner responded to my questions with solid recommendations and didn't try to steer me into more expensive products.

Basic kit but also includes some other accessories not shown in pic.

 

[cgrutt]

Hmm spam much?

ETA the posts that this comment was directed at seem to have been deleted please disregard.

 

[neophyte]

Since this doesn’t seem to have been posted yet.

 

[cgrutt]

Since this doesn’t seem to have been posted yet.

Thanks! Hadn't seen that one yet.

 

[WildBill]

I've used the $8-15 permatex ones probably 25-30 times. Almost always makes an invisible repair if you prep everything correctly and follow the instructions. Have 5-6 repairs that are at least 6 years old on my truck and are still invisible. Only ones you can still see are the big half moon shaped ones, have some faint lines if you know exactly where to look.