How to Repair Star Break in Windshield

A star break is a kind of break in a windshield that is usually made from a regular sized rock hitting the car. It looks like a small "x," or sometimes it can appear as just a little sliver. It doesnt really obscure your view, but over time, star breaks can grow into large cracks that will make the entire windshield to have to be replaced.

Instructions

1

Gather your tools. Grab your drill with a carbide tip. You also need a torch to heat up the break to prep the glass. Get cellophane patches and a couple of anaerobic resins like Stone Chip of Chipfix, Inc. products that works with ultraviolet light. You also need a UV light. Get out a probe to use as a chisel on the break. Pull out a regular razor blade to scrape the glass and most importantly for windshield repair will be the bridge. The bridge, also called Injectors, is the piece of equipment that sticks to the glass. It uses a piston that injects the resin in and siphons air out

2

Understand the process of repairing a windshield of make of. Windshields have two layers of laminated glass. When a rock or something hits the windshield, air gets in between the two layers, which will make the break contract until you have a long crack across the windshield. When the resin is injected inside the break, the bridge fills up the cracks while at the same time it pulls out any air that has been caught between the glass layers.

3

Make any break into a bullseye break. A bullseye break is the only kind of break that isnt going to keep on cracking because instead of little stars or lines shooting out that air gets in and expands, bullseye breaks have a little circle that surrounds any sharp fingers. Tap the probe into the center of the star break until the glass forms the circle. You dont have to tap too hard.

4

Drill into the center of the break. What you want to do is make sure there isnt any loose glass floating around in the broken area. As you drill the center of the break, a circle will pop around the break, making it become the classic bullseye, which is what you want.

5

Inject the resin into the Bridge or Injector. Place the Injectors tip right in the center of the break. Screw the feet down to secure it to the glass. Pull the vacuum. Some bridges have hand pumps, or may be electric or spring loaded. The vacuum draws the air out of the glass. Do that a few times to get all the air out.

6

Leave the Injector there and either let this cure in the sun or place an ultraviolet lamp next to it.

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