You may have read my dilemmas on the Dress-Up and Style forum. Long story short, with 195 miles on my car a rock make a 12" crack in the windshield. After a $330 replacement and 5 days, ANOTHER rock hit my windshield.

The 2nd crack did not spread and figuring my luck, I just had it filled to prevent expansion. I've opted to leave it be until it happens again.

The acrylic fix used by the glass company did a fair job. I know the repairs are not advertised as cosmetic, but it did improve te elook of the glass somewhat. The parts that are still visible are the areas of impact (two actually) where the glass has been crushed into so many little pieces that it refracts light readily. Structurally, these spots were still decent so vaccuuming or picking out this glass wasn't an option.

So here's my thought...

Chips/cracks in windsheilds can be made nearly invisible when the break is clean e.g. bulls-eyes where a scoop of glass has come out. When these are filled with acrylic they're basically invisible. You can see the impact marks on my windsheild because the glass is crushed and the acrylic can't get into all the voids. If i were to grind out the impacts points with a very fine dremel glass bit, I should be able to fill it with acrylic and it would be nearly invisible. Right?

Trying this would cost me about $25. screwing up would cost me $330.

The fact that glass repair companies DON'T do this might be quite telling, but I'm toying with giving it a shot myself. So, am I nuts?

Have you considered trying it on a junk windshield? That way, if it doesn't work, you only wasted $25, and by reusing supplies if it does work it would probably be <$50 after you did the actual car. I guess if I wanted to try it, that is what I'd do.

Sounds risky. Even if you were successful, I'd be worried that the structural integrity of the windshield would be compromised even further. Have you talked to any windshield experts?

Kean

I say pay your 2$ and practice on as much glass as you want at the local pick and pull!

I think its a good idea.

I had a bulls eye in my old car and i got it fixed professionally. My insurence also paid for it. Call your insurence company and see if they will pay for it to get fixed.

No.

the acrylic repair is a bit more involved.

What they do is use a very high powered vacuum to pull out all the broken glass.

then fill the break with the acrylic gel, then use a special uv light to cure the acrylic.

the mark will always be there cause thats where they fill the void, through.

I got one filled recently, 50 bucks. tiny little mark on the windshield, down in the lower corner dont even notice it.

Jay

I used prestone fix-a-windshield on my honduh with EXCELENT results.

Just to say ditto to McDade's post. I have had a couple of successful cracks fixed for $45.00

Mr Boogie Banana:banana:

Permatex Bullseye. Similar to the pro process it uses a syringe held on the windshield with a suction cup to draw out the air while a viscous acrylic replaces it. It will not completely eliminate the break but it does a great job cosmetically. Also, by filling the void it reduces further cracking that occurs when water gets in there and expands.