Fixing a Rock Chip

Rock chips in your windshield aren't just annoying, they are also potentially dangerous. There are really only three different ways that you can go about fixing a rock chip problem. The first is to hire someone to do the work for you. While you may get good results, you can also expect to pay quite a bit of money. The second is to replace the window, which you run into the same kind of problems with the first option. Your third, and arguably best, option is to do the work yourself. Fixing a rock hip isn't all that difficult if you follow a few simple steps.

Materials needed:

• Acetone
• Windshield repair kit
• Window cleaner
• Razor blade
• Several clean rags

Procedure:

1. Inspect the chip. Look at the chip, and make sure that it really is a chip and not a crack. Often cracks and chips can look very similar, though there is one way to tell if it is a chip and not a crack. Cracks are usually longer than they are wide.
2. Get a kit. Go to your local auto parts store, and take a look at their window repair kits. These kits are mostly the same, but simply differ slightly in the materials used, and how you apply them.
3. Read the instructions on the kit. When you are looking at the different kits, be sure that you look at the instruction as well. You will want to find a kit that is relatively easy to use and follow the direction on the container. Once you have chosen the kit that you will be using, make sure that you are completely familiar with the instructions and how to use the kit.
4. Choose the right time and place. When working on your window you will want to choose a place that is indoors, like your garage, and a day that is relatively warm. You don't want a whole lot of wind to interfere with your work, and the heat from a warm day will help everything dry that much quicker.
5. Clean the window. Clean the chipped window as much as possible using the window cleaner and some clean rags. Once you have done that, apply a little acetone to the chip location to help clean it out. In addition, you will want to use the razor blade to help remove any remaining loose pieces of glass or rock that may be stuck in the chip spot.
6. Center the alignment tool. Attach your alignment tool directly above the crack. Typically this is a fairly easy thing to do since there are three or four suction cups that come along with it. In the center of these suction cups is usually a threaded hole, which is what needs to be right above the chip.
7. Attach the repair tube to the alignment tool. Attach the repair tube that came in the kit tightly onto the alignment tool. These tubes are usually small and threaded with a rubber tip. Before pressing down on the tub, get inside your car and make sure that it is pressed firmly against the rock chip. Don't be surprised if you need to remove the alignment tool so that you can get it into the right place.
8. Put the proper amount of resin into the tube. Following the instructions that came with your particular repair kit, place an appropriate amount of the resin into the repair tube, Once you have done that, screw the plunger as tightly as you possibly can, and then loosen it halfway once more. This will allow an air bubble to escape, and then tighten it down again. Allow the alignment tool to sit there for about a minute, and then remove it.
9. Lay the finishing film properly. Once you have removed the alignment tool, you need to lay down the finishing film. Do this carefully so that there are no smears and no bubbles. Allow the film to remain in place for either 10 minutes, or whatever is recommended by the manufacturer, and then remove the film.
10. Apply the razor blade again. Once you have removed the film, apply your razor blade to the resin that is now in the chip. You want to remove any and all bubbles that you may find there. Once you are done, the chips should be invisible for all intents and purposes.