Welcome back to Dielectric Videos! On today’s episode, I’m going to be testing a low-cost DIY windshield repair kit that I purchased on Amazon. I picked up a pretty bad rock chip on the drive to work yesterday and I want to reduce the probability that the chip propagates outward into a crack. I previously had a different chip repaired by a professional service and the professional repair turned out very nicely. We can use this repair as a reference to compare against the DIY repair. I’ve never tried a DIY windshield repair, so this will be a learning experience for all of us. Let’s get started!
Alright, so the repair kit has arrived and now we get to see what’s in the box. It’s quite a bit smaller than I expected, but I think it has everything we’re going to need to complete the task. We’ve got our injector syringe for applying the resin, two bottles of resin, the actual applicator, a razor blade, a push pin, and instructions. I’ll be following these instructions as closely as I can.
I’ve gone ahead and moved the vehicle to a less sunny area, as it’s important to make sure that the adhesive or resin doesn’t cure before we finish the repair. The first step is to thoroughly clean the windshield with a dry cloth or paper towel to make sure there’s no dust or debris present. The next step is to apply the suction cups where we’re going to inject the resin.
I thread down the suction cups and tighten them down to ensure a good seal. I then add drops of resin to the chamber and pull a vacuum to allow any air inside the crack to vent out. After several minutes, I release the vacuum and pre-load the syringe with air to apply positive pressure and push the resin into the crack.
After inspecting the crack, I realize that some areas still need more resin, so I repeat the vacuum and pressurization steps. I then apply more resin and spread it over the cracks before covering it with a plastic sheet to cure in the sun for 5-10 minutes.
After curing, I peel off the plastic sheet and use a razor blade to clean up any excess resin. I then wipe the area with acetone to remove any remaining residue. Overall, I’m happy with the result of the DIY repair. While it may not be perfect, it’s likely to extend the longevity of the windshield and is a viable option for those not interested in hiring a professional service.
Comparing the DIY repair to the professional repair, they exhibit a similar level of visible cracking. I believe the DIY repair is not far off from what you would get with a professional service. Have you ever used windshield repair kits? What do you think of this repair? Let me know in the comments below. Thanks for watching!
