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[horsecow]

Got a crack in my windscreen, any tips on how to stop it spreading until I get it replaced?

[Entwood]

Very old method of stopping cracks is to drill a small hole at the very end of the crack, makeing sure that NONE of the crack propagates past the hole. Theory is the "end" if the crack is now spread around the circumference of the hole and so won't spread.

Done this a lot in metal .. but never in a windscreen !!!

[05omegav6]

Wot 'E said

Works a treat on sheet metal, so probably worth a try on glass if the screen is shot

A couple of things to bear in mind though:

1. Support the back of the glass while you drill.
2. Use the smallest drill bit you can, prob 1mm, 2mm max.
3. Be sure not to drill through the plastic laminate sheet.

Once done, be sure to put some clear silicone sealant in the hole to keep the crud out. If it's in the swept area don't expect it to pass the MoT.

HTH, Al.

[Nick W]

You're suggesting drilling a laminated screen that is already damaged ?

If anyone succeeds at that, I've a jelly that needs nailing to the ceiling .


Seriously, if it's cracked, it needs replacing. If the crack is short, then you could leave it for a while or until it isn't short.
Anything else will just increase the damage so that you will need to replace it straightaway.

[05omegav6]

If the screen is already fubar, op has absolutely nothing to lose

If it were my car I'd give it a whirl

If it can be done successfully, then it could have uses on boats/plant etc.

What flavour jelly is it

[Michael2.6]

What drill bit do you propose to use on the drilling of the windscreen?

[sticka_v8_init]

What drill bit do you propose to use on the drilling of the windscreen?

Diamond tip with the drill set to hammer 

[05omegav6]

What drill bit do you propose to use on the drilling of the windscreen?

Diamond tip with the drill set to hammer 

One suitable for glass would be a start dremmel probably do something suitable

[Del Boy]

You're suggesting drilling a laminated screen that is already damaged ?

If anyone succeeds at that, I've a jelly that needs nailing to the ceiling .


Seriously, if it's cracked, it needs replacing. If the crack is short, then you could leave it for a while or until it isn't short.
Anything else will just increase the damage so that you will need to replace it straightaway.

 

[plym ian]

You're suggesting drilling a laminated screen that is already damaged ?

If anyone succeeds at that, I've a jelly that needs nailing to the ceiling .


Seriously, if it's cracked, it needs replacing. If the crack is short, then you could leave it for a while or until it isn't short.
Anything else will just increase the damage so that you will need to replace it straightaway.

 

haven't stopped laughing for 5 mins my ribs hurt now
 

[05omegav6]

Jelly notwithstanding, I know of several commercial aircraft flying around with various parts repaired in this fashion. It's hypothetically possible that it would work on glass. It works on most sheet materials, including steel, aluminium and composite board. How successful it would be as a repair method depends on several factors.

[Kevin Wood]

Jelly notwithstanding, I know of several commercial aircraft flying around with various parts repaired in this fashion. It's hypothetically possible that it would work on glass. It works on most sheet materials, including steel, aluminium and composite board. How successful it would be as a repair method depends on several factors.

Yep, very common technique on aircraft.

We use it on plexiglass glider canopies too.

[Omegatoy]

You're suggesting drilling a laminated screen that is already damaged ?

If anyone succeeds at that, I've a jelly that needs nailing to the ceiling .


Seriously, if it's cracked, it needs replacing. If the crack is short, then you could leave it for a while or until it isn't short.
Anything else will just increase the damage so that you will need to replace it straightaway.

better start nailing then!! ive drilled hundreds of screens, when repairing a chip or a crack, need a very fine diamond tipped drill bit, and as someone has said a dremel will do the job,now then you are only drilling the outside layer of glass,below that is the plastic laminate,do not drill any further after you feel the bit go through the top layer!! whole reason you can drill it is because of the glass plastic glass layers, its absolutley no problem but does take a little practice to get it right,shame im not there cos filling of the crack with proper resin is amazing to watch,but does require the technique which only comes with training,
tip, get someoine to hold a mirror on the inside of the screen so you can look down through the window and actually see where the crack ends on the mirror, all to easy to get it wrong, once you have found the end of the crack you need to,go just beyond it, drill hole then flex the screen slightly
(push and release it_) to encourage the crack to expand into your drilled hole, obviously the closer you can get to the end of the crack is better,once you are satisfied it cannot go any further and it hasnt got past your hole,
if you want to?
then you can just run the resin available off ebay down the crack and let it dry, scrape excess off with razor blade and be amazed at the result!!

[zirk]

I had some cracks on my Asphalt Flat Roof earlier this year and drilled a load of holes where the cracks were, didn't stop the cracks from spreading but made it a whole lot easier where to locate the buckets underneath.

[05omegav6]

That would make a tidy 'how to' guide Omegatoy