It's a beautiful day; the birds are singing, you love your life, job, children, everything. You're singing along to your favorite tune driving down the freeway, when BAM! A rock flies through the air and lands smack dab in the middle of your windshield. What can you do? Well, depending on the extent of the damage, it is quite possible to repair a the place that is cracked or chipped. In this article, we will outline instructions set in place to help you perform a DIY auto glass repair.

Never pour hot water on your automobile windshield chip repair. If you walk out and notice that your windshield is icy, you may consider pouring a large cup of hot water on the glass to melt the ice. This is actually a very bad idea. Large temperature changes can cause the glass to crack. It is best to turn on the car defroster and let the glass slowly warm up. The ice will melt away safely without damage to the glass.



Not wearing disposable rubber gloves when handling auto glass Oils and dirt from the installers' hands can contaminate the bonding service of the windshield.

The main question when you are seeking to fix a cracked windshield is whether to replace or repair the glass. Most auto glass shops will opt to repair a crack or chip, as long as it is not directly in front of the driver. They will use a clear resin that is dropped onto the crack and then fixed with an ultra-violet light. The clear resin will then cure and the crack will no longer be visible to the human eye. Most cracks or chips can be effectively fixed in this manner. This method can fix small cracks as well as larger spiderweb style cracks. If an actual hole is formed in the windshield or the crack has traveled too far, your best bet is windshield replacement.

Do-it-yourself repairs are the cheapest option but if not done correctly, it may cost you more. If you plan to do it yourself, it is important to choose the best kits. Research or seek the advice of experts so you would not be sorry. There are two types of windshield repair kits. The first is the less expensive syringe-type. The kit includes a syringe and the resin, intended for one-time use only. It contains just enough resin to repair one chip. The second type is the more expensive bridge system that includes the resin's and a plastic bridge. This type can be used several times because it is refillable.

Paint doesn't bond well with rust, so keep touch-up paint nearby to immediately apply over small scratches and nicks. If you wait too long to apply the touch-up paint, the scratch will have already began to rust and you the paint won't stick. Apply the paint quickly and cover the spot to prevent the rust from accumulating.

To further strengthen the windshield, the auto glass is subjected to a tempering phase. The sheet is heated to a temperature of 1565 degrees Fahrenheit or 850 degrees Celsius. It is then subjected to blasts of cold air. A piece of PVB plastic is sandwiched between two pieces of auto glass. The sandwich is heated inside an autoclave. This bonds the components together tightly and removes any trapped air.