Prevent Cracks - Windshield Chip Repair

Communicating Windshield Repair

Alan — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 21:33:46 -0600

Over the course of the last four weeks or so have I been busy with windshield repair. While some days I’ve gotten a break when the weather has been too bad to work, the phone has rung off the hook. Many choose a day with bad weather to be the time to call and get their windshield repaired. As far as I’m concerned you just can’t do a windshield repair when you have freezing fog or rain going on. It has been refreshing to hear lately from customers that chose to wait until the weather was better to get their windshield repaired.

By waiting though the result has been an extremely heavy phone volume this last week. It started Monday with the phone ringing almost non-stop the first two hours we were open. Leading in the number of calls were those wanting to schedule an appointment; followed by those that had questions about what needed or could be repaired.

One problem I’ve encountered over the last few weeks has been individuals scheduling an appointment several days in advance and not being there for the appointment. At a time when I’ve had to turn away work due to a full schedule this has hurt. Filling these holes in the schedule due to missed appointments has become a priority.

One way to fill the holes has been to use the time to cover my fleet accounts and another has been to post the opening on our Twitter page, Twitter.com/GlassAid. A number have used our Twitter page to get DEALS that have added extra value or discounts to their windshield repair. Others have expressed issues and concerns over this policy.

To begin with Twitter offers us the fastest, easiest most cost effective way to quickly announce and fill holes in our schedule. It enables us to communicate to the point, information with potential customers on a massive scale. Since it is public by using it to answer one person’s question others with the same question can get the information simply by taking a seconds to view our Twitter page; saving them time over calling us. This is particularly true at times such as when weather conditions are bad and I get many phone calls asking if it’s too cold, hot, wet, etc. to perform a windshield repair.

We are not the only company using Twitter. Two of the big names I’ve seen that are using Twitter effectively are Dell Computers and Best Buy. They use it not only to sell items but also to publicly communicate with customers.

For the group that won’t use our Twitter page to get their information they have stated a number of reasons why they won’t so I’m addressing these issues here now.

Using Twitter will cost me money. Twitter is a free service; I have two Twitter accounts myself with one being over a year old and to date have paid nothing, zip, zero, nada.

I won’t use it because I don’t want a Twitter account. You don’t need an account to view Twitter.com/GlassAid, it’s a standard webpage with information written in 140 characters and spaces (text message). So by typing the address into your browser you can view the page. You can also use the RSS feed and subscribe to the page on your favorite feed reader. I use Page Flakes and have it for my home page the result is everything I want to follow is right in front of me. This is a great way to find a deal or being able to get a repair when we are busy by filling a hole in our schedule due to a cancellation. This page and information can be updated instantly so the minute something changes I can update it from anywhere.

I don’t know how to use Twitter and I have no interest in learning. As mentioned above the page can be viewed the same as any webpage.

For those that can’t figure out a domain with a forward slash I’ve purchased the domain GlassAid.net, and pointed it at our Twitter page. So using the shorter more traditional url will take you to our Twitter page.

Finally by not having and using Twitter you are missing out on many things. The other day I knew long before it hit the news that Taiwan had been hit with a 6.4 earthquake. By not having an account you can’t communicate with us on Twitter and must use a phone, limiting when you can get an answer. With an account you can quickly send us a question or comment. Just start the reply or Tweet as it’s known with @glassaid and then your comment.

If you don’t know if something needs to be repaired take a picture of it. I’m sorry but I can’t fulfill requests to drive across town to view windshield damage at no charge. Please use something as a reference like a quarter taped next to it and a piece of white paper placed behind it will help. Downloaded the photo to your online photo album or TwitPic.com and send us a link via Twitter.

Example: @glassaid Please check this out and tell me if it needs to be repaired. http://twitpic.com/x2lc2

The idea behind this is to be able to provide you the information you need 24/7, while making Glass Aid more efficient so prices can be kept low. So check us out on Twitter at Twitter.com/GlassAid or the shortened url GlassAid.net and remember windshield repair saves you money, is safer than replacement, prevents the risk of leaks and is earth friendly.

Driving With A Cracked Windshield Can Get Expensive In Oklahoma

Alan — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 12:04:54 -0600

I’ve known that even before the state inspection was eliminated years ago that driving a car or truck with a cracked windshield was illegal. Those needing to take the driving part of the Oklahoma driver’s license test will do it with a vehicle that doesn’t have a cracked windshield. That’s because the state understands that a cracked windshield is a safety hazard as it is a distraction to the driver and distorts the driver’s vision. Many also don’t know that the windshield helps with roof strength and that many passenger side airbags deploy against the windshield in an accident.

Over the last several years I’ve talked to a number of people that have been either warned or ticketed for driving with a cracked windshield. Not all have been stopped due to the crack being in the driver’s vision. Fines have started at $150 and gone up depending on where the ticket was written. Lately I’ve heard an increase in the numbers being stopped due to them having a cracked windshield. Even the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) has been writing tickets for windshield cracks. I’ve posted this information on Twitter.com/GlassAid in the past.

This last week one of my contacts told me they were replacing a windshield in a car that the owner had gotten “2 Tickets” for driving with a cracked windshield. We both wondered how this could be, but at the same time I suspected that it was due to tickets being written in different towns.

Flash forward a couple days and I performed a windshield repair for a Valley Brook police officer. While performing the windshield repair we talked about the story of the car owner that had gotten 2 tickets for a cracked windshield. He confirmed what I suspected, in Oklahoma you can be ticketed for driving with a cracked windshield in any town, city, county or state highway. There is no limit as to the number of tickets you can get for a cracked windshield.

An example of this as to what can happen in just 1 day. Say you live in Edmond and want to go to the game at O.U. in Norman. With that auto having a cracked windshield you can be stopped and ticketed in Edmond, Oklahoma City, Moore, and Norman. You can also get a ticket from OHP, the sheriff in both Oklahoma and Cleveland County. All told you could end up with fines in the hundreds if not thousands of dollars in just 1 day.

So what can you do? Well if you have a cracked windshield get it replaced quickly. Do yourself a big favor, don’t base your windshield replacement on the cheapest price, you get what you pay for. To help you out I’ve put information about windshield replacements and a quote form that you can down load at GlassAid.tel. Just go to the “Replacement Information” folder at GlassAid.tel.

A better way is to prevent a cracked windshield by repairing small chips before they crack out. Most windshield cracks started with a small chip. Inspect your windshield each time you fill your auto or truck with fuel. Check the windshield from the outside and make sure you check the black edge for damage as that area can’t be seen from the inside. I’ve seen thousands of windshields over the years that were crack and the crack started with a chip near the edge in the black area. While you’re at it check your windshield wiper blades, you don’t want a scratched windshield either.

So be safe and don’t drive your auto or truck with a cracked windshield.

Windshield Repair In Gasoline Alley

Alan — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 20:57:25 -0600

Today I did a windshield repair for a customer who works in a section of Oklahoma City called “Gasoline Alley”. It’s in a part of downtown OKC where many years ago you went to buy a car from a dealer among other things. This area is being restored and some of the buildings are being put to other uses, such as offices. Today I did a windshield repair on an Acura TL that was parked inside the “Essex Hudson” building. What was once the show room and I think the repair garage have been made into an indoor parking garage. It has a few signs and memorabilia from the past, a couple of the items I took pictures of.

The Essex Motor Company was a part of the Hudson Motor Car Company was formed in 1919 and was dissolved in 1922.

Years later the Hudson Motor Car Company in 1954 merged with Nash Kelvinator Corporation and went on to be known as American Motors.

Same Stuff Different Week

Alan — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 17:18:34 -0600

It’s kind of funny that after years in the windshield repair business some things never change; events are as predictable as night and day. The last 2 weeks has been a case in point. Whenever the weather guys start predicting a winter storm hitting Oklahoma City, I know the party is about to start 2 days before the storm hits.

A week ago last Monday I saw an increase in calls about windshield repairs. With a storm due to hit Oklahoma City on Thursday the phone rang off the hook Tuesday and was incredible on Wednesday. Everybody was trying to get a windshield repair done before the cold front arrived. Never mind that the chip had been on their windshield for days or weeks before in many cases. Quite a few of these windshields could have been repaired the week earlier when work was slower. Even if the person didn’t have the money for the repair we could have billed their insurance company in many instances.

Some calls highlighted before the ice storm arrival include:

The guy that called at 2:30 in the afternoon on Wednesday, his windshield had been chipped several weeks and he didn’t want the cold front to crack his windshield. According to him if the storm hit he wouldn’t drive it anyway as it would be parked in a garage. But yes, the repair had to be done that afternoon.

Another was a call at closing time on Wednesday in which the caller had decided that they ‘had to get’ the chip repaired on their windshield before the storm hit that evening.

The pre-storm event is followed by events that take place during the storm while the ice and snow is falling. The caller who is demanding a crack repair because they can see the crack moving across the windshield as they drive down the road. Then there’s the caller who is in an absolute panic because his windshield has cracked and he doesn’t want it to fall in on him.

Of course the crack calls are just half of the problems during the ice storm. Then I get calls asking for a price on almost any auto glass for their car. That’s because they have gotten creative in finding ways to remove ice; some of these include:

There was the guy that called me for a windshield replacement for his truck because it had a long crack in the windshield. It cracked because the chip ran out when he poured boiling water on the windshield to remove the ice. According to him the chip had been on his windshield for weeks. I could have billed his insurance company for the repair; but since he let it crack out, he would be paying for the windshield since it was going to cost about $200 for a replacement and he had a $500 insurance deductible.

Another story was the guy that had a rubber mallet and he knew that rubber wouldn’t break his windshield when he used it to remove ice. About a dozen huge stars later the ice had been removed and he was in need of a new windshield at a cost of over $600. Hard to believe that a car that is less than a year old needs a windshield replacement due to ice removal.

The back window of a Hyundai Elantra that was destroyed removing ice.

Then there was the lady that called because she needed her back glass repaired. It seems someone had cleaned the ice off for her and now the back window was in a million pieces. I had to explain to her that there was no repair option and why.

The worst call I took was from the lady that called and blasted me for not showing up at her home to put stretch wrap over the back of her auto. It seems somehow she had broken the back glass on her car. She had gotten a hold of a glass shop that had to order the window for her car; they had promised to come out and put stretch wrap over the opening. Since they didn’t show up, it was my fault. Never mind that she had called me in the morning and was told we only do windshield repair, no replacements of any glass. Never mind the address of the glass shop was north Oklahoma City and we are located on the south side. And of course I was told that she would never use my glass shop for a replacement again; something we have never done.

With that, Monday ushered in the post storm activity. There was the usual avalanche of calls concerning windshield replacement quotes and questions about crack repair. Let me tell you at times I was on the phone with one caller while other calls came in and left a voice message. A huge number went to our website and sadly, they just couldn’t take a few seconds to read that we repair windshields and that we don’t do replacements. Then there were some interesting calls; like the person that called for a windshield repair, they wanted a quote to repair their windshield--it seems a pole had gone through their windshield and they didn’t want to replace it.

One of my contacts told me of a guy needing a windshield replacement. He used an ice pick and hammer to remove ice from his windshield. And if that’s not enough, I was told of someone else using a baseball bat to clear the ice from their windshield; I think you can guess what they needed next.

Chopping at the ice with anything can crack a windshield like this.

Then as in the past were those that called us several times because they were using some of the different phone books in the area. A classic case of this situation a couple of months ago happened. A guy called needing to get a price for a repair on the back window of his 96 Mitsubishi Eclipse. When he told me that the window was shattered I told him that there was no repair option and recommended another glass shop. When asked how he found Glass Aid, he replied in the AT&T Real Yellow Pages. Forty minutes later he was back on the phone requesting a repair for the back window on a 96 Eclipse. This time when asked, he responded that he was using Yellow Book. This trend of calls continued throughout the afternoon and by the end of the day he had used the User Friendly Book, the Trans Western phone book, Google, Yahoo and sent me some emails. All were requesting a quote for a back window on a 1996 Eclipse. I wish I had that much spare time.

So what can be learned from all of this? First if you get a chip on your windshield and the weather is dry, take time to get it repaired. In doing windshield repairs since 1989, I’ve never seen a windshield repair itself, but I’ve seen thousands that cracked out. Waiting until a storm is on the way isn’t a wise move. Second spend a couple of bucks to get an ice scraper; I’m sorry but to me it just doesn’t make sense destroying a windshield that costs hundreds to replace due to the lack of a $2 or $5 item. Patience! When you know that an ice storm is coming, plan ahead by giving yourself some extra time to clear your windows. And as I’ve written before, never use anything metal or glass to remove snow and ice. In other words no screw drivers, pocket knives, ice picks, hammers, shovels, pop cans or bottles, among other things I’ve been told people have used.

A windshield that was scratched by using a metal item to remove ice; replacement is the only way to repair this damage.

Finally, know who your insurance company is and what your deductibles are. You would be surprised at how many I talk to that have no clue what their deductible is and believe that their insurance agent is their insurance company.

Glass Aid And The OKC Walk MS 2010

Alan — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 12:24:33 -0600

Hard to believe it has been a year since I set up my first Walk MS Team, which was for the Oklahoma City Walk MS at the OKC Zoo.

With that in mind the Oklahoma City Walk MS is May 1, 2010 and again it’s at the OKC Zoo. I have made some changes in what I’m doing to help find a cure for multiple sclerosis. I started selling orange microfiber cloths with the profits going to the Oklahoma Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. WipeOutMS.com is part of this project. Last year’s team was named Prevent Cracks 4 MS and has been changed to Wipe Out MS. A link to the team page this year is www.WipeOutMS.net.

For those that use a smart phone the mobile website is WipeOutMS.mobi and it has been expanded with more events highlighted besides more information in general.

For those that don’t know what multiple sclerosis (MS) is, it’s an autoimmune disease where for an unknown reason the immune system attacks the myelin coating that surrounds the optic nerves and nerves in both the spine and brain. Each person with MS is unique in that some will show little signs of the disease while others can be devastated. There is no cure; however there are some medications that can slow the progression and help manage the disease.

In 2009 as a result of funded research several advances were made. They included the first oral medication which is now in use in Oklahoma, advances in gene research, and another interferon beta drug was released for use.

Looking at 2010 advances already have been made this year and it looks like more advances will take place.

In closing this post I’ll leave with a video I found on You Tube that shows how MS can destroy a life and why a cure needs to be found. Please make a donation or join my walk team.

I Can’t Tell If I Need A Windshield Repair.

Alan — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 21:16:37 -0600

Surprisingly I get calls from potential customers asking if the damage on their windshield needs to be repaired or if it is repairable. Some have even looked at our website pictures and still couldn’t tell if the chip needed to be repaired. I can remember one guy calling to say he couldn’t tell if his windshield was chipped or had any cracks. He knew something had hit his windshield, but he couldn’t see what I later found was a star nearly the size of a quarter in diameter, with 9 cracks extending from a central point.

Then there was the guy who claimed that kids had thrown stones in his apartment complex parking lot at his windshield chipping it. Usually that scenario involves drawing attention to a chip that was already there, not something that was caused by kids throwing stones. Well when I got out there I was shown the stones which ranged in size from softball size to the size of a brick. And the chips that the customer claimed could be covered with a quarter? Two stars one about 8” and one that was 10” in diameter. Both had broken not only the outside layer of glass, but the inside as well; totally not repairable. This was one reason I instituted, a $20 service call fee when the service call results in a waste of time.

Add to this all the calls about windshield pits or impact points, damage that only scuffs the windshield’s surface.

Twitpic.com and Yfrog.com offer a means to help customers out and get others answers as well about what is repairable. Both of these websites provide a means to load photos on Twitter. So what’s the deal? Well when someone has a question about a windshield chip they can take a picture of it and post it on Twitpic or Yfrog. Then direct reply a link to the image to us @GlassAid on Twitter.

When you take the picture use a coin (dime, quarter, etc.) for a reference size of the chip.

Now I’ll admit I’m not familiar with Yfrog but here is how you would do this with Twitpic. Naturally go to Twitpic.com, log in with your Twitter log in user name and password. Then down load your photo, once you’ve done that click on the link “View Photo”. When your photo appears copy the url in the address in your browser window. You can then log out from Twitpic.

Next log into Twitter and send us a direct message starting the message or tweet with @GlassAid. Ask your question and paste the photo’s url in the message or Tweet. We’ll view it and send an answer back on Twitter.

Here’s an example using the above photo to show what I’m talking about and the direct reply format. @GlassAid Do I need to repair this chip on my windshield? Can it be repaired? http://twitpic.com/u1r24

By doing this you will save time and money if you have any questions. Likewise it saves us time so we can provide our service to those that need us while allowing us to keep prices low.

Christmas 2009

Alan — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 12:46:59 -0600

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

I would like to take the time to thank all my Glass Aid customers and wish all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. As many know I work with those at the Oklahoma Chapter of the National MS Society and I would like to share with you this Christmas video.

For those that helped me by donating to either or both the Oklahoma City and Edmond Walk MS teams; Thank You, again. Your donation helped make 2009 better for those with multiple sclerosis.

A number of events took place in 2009 dealing with MS that are noteworthy.

The first oral medication was released and now is being used in Oklahoma. Thanks to past money used for research.

The first medication to treat the progressive form of MS came about because of funded research.

Extavia another interferon beta drug was release to manage multiple sclerosis.

In a show of how far we’ve come in treating MS Lori Schneider became the first person with MS to climb to the top of the world, the summit of Mount Everest. She was challenged by Wendy Booker who fell short only due to the weather.

May brought the first World MS Day, a day in which groups from around the globe came together to find a cure for MS.

For 2010 I look to improved service in the windshield repair business. Watch and follow my Twitter page twitter.com/GlassAid.

I recently went to Chesapeake Energy to see their light display. The news reported that the display is made up of 2.6 million lights.

To see more images I created a photo able and put them on my Wipe Out MS blog. You can view them by clicking on the album link. Christmas 2009 Photo Album

Here’s wishing you and your family the best for 2010.

Time To Winterize Your Windshield

Alan — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:31:29 -0500

With it now being fall in Oklahoma it's time to start thinking about winter and getting your car or truck ready for the cold. While most know they need to service the coolant and check the tires, not as many know they need to winterize their windshield. The best part is the cost to winterize your windshield is usually much less than other auto services. Here is a list of things you should do to get your windshield and auto glass ready for ice and snow.

Check The Windshield For Chips. Most cracked windshields started with a small chip (star). Turning on the defroster in the cold with a chipped windshield can cause a crack to quickly run across your windshield. Here are some examples of windshield damage that needs to be repaired.

Check Your Windshield Wiper Blades. Wiper blades that have gone through the heat of summer can be damaged. Inspect each wiper blade for cracks, tears or bent and broken frames. Don't forget to check the rear wiper blade if your vehicle is so equipped. If they appear in good condition check the wiper performance by turning them on and using the windshield washer. If they don't sweep the glass clean after a couple of sweeps or are damaged replace them. Most auto repair shops or auto part stores can help with this job. Naturally if your windshield washers don't work you should also get them repaired.

Treat Your Windshield. A dry fall day is a great time to treat your windshield. Products like Aquapel or RainX can help when your windshield has ice stuck to it. Likewise it can improve visibility in bad weather.

STOP: Never treat a windshield that has a chip. If the treatment gets into the chip, the damage may no longer be able to be repaired.

Fill Your Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. If over summer you added water to the reservoir you should empty the reservoir before adding new fluid. If you can't easily remove the reservoir to dump the old fluid try siphoning it out. CAUTION: Never let washer fluid get in your mouth or swallow any it is a deadly poison. Use a washer fluid that won't freeze, many of these products will show the freeze point.

We don't like washer fluid that has a windshield treatment mixed with it. The reason is that if you get a chip and use the windshield washers to clean your windshield, the fluid with the treatment can get into the chip and render it unrepairable.

Finally make sure you have an ice scraper. We always get tons of calls about repairing windshields or auto glass that is badly scratched from using something besides an ice scraper to remove ice. Never use anything metal or glass to remove ice. Another words shovels, knives and screw drivers are a no-nos to remove ice. And never use hot water to remove ice.

Team Glass Aid And The Edmond Walk MS

Alan — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 16:40:49 -0500

Exciting news! I said earlier this year that if there was an Edmond Walk MS I'd be there. Well guess what, October 11, 2009 is the date for the Edmond Walk MS. I signed up Glass Aid and surprisingly it appears we are the first team on board.

With this news the PreventCracks4MS.mobi and the dot com websites have been updated. You will also see the image in the left column that you can click on and be taken to our new team page. Earlier I also installed some buttons on the left column that will take you to videos about Multiple Sclerosis.

While no cure exists for MS, I understand the first oral medication is being tried on MS patients to help manage the disease here in Oklahoma. This is just one way donations are helping with research. I hope this works as it most likely is an improvement over regular shots.

I found another video on You Tube to help explain a little about MS please check it out.

Feel free to join the Glass Aid team you can sign up on our team page and if you can join me on October 11 please make a small donation to help those with Multiple Sclerosis.

Ann’s 39 LaSalle

Alan — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 09:09:34 -0500

One thing I like about windshield repair is meeting with customers and learning from them. I also get a chance at times to see some very interesting things. As an example the other day I was at a fleet account performing a windshield repair; one of their drivers that I’ve known for several years had driven to work as Ann described it, “her baby”. That baby is a custom 39 LaSalle.

For those that don’t know what a LaSalle is let me give a brief history. Back in the 1920’s shortly before the market crash and depression GM management made a decision that their current car companies should produce another make of car to help with marketing. At that time the GM line up was Chevrolet, Oakland, Oldsmobile, Buick and Cadillac. As a result the following cars were made.

LaSalle – was a companion of Cadillac. Harley Earl was involved with the project and one of the first LaSalle patents carries his name.

Marquette – was Buicks entry and was only produced for 1 year.

Viking – Oldsmobile’s entry lasted only 3 years and sold 7,224 cars according to Wikipedia.

Pontiac – the only survivor of the expansion plan and was produced by Oakland.

This custom 39 LaSalle is very sharp and features a modern 406 V8. As you can see by the photos it has all the bells and whistles, including tilt steering. I put together a photo album of pictures I took. Click on the link to view the album. 39 Custom LaSalle Photos

Don’t Get Taken For A Ride On Your Windshield Repair

Alan — Sun, 31 May 2009 16:37:55 -0500

I can remember years ago when many didn’t know about windshield repair. The attitude in many instances was nuts I got a chip on my windshield. I’ll see about getting it repaired when I’ve got some extra money like at the end of the month or my next pay day.

Now I get many calls from individuals within minutes or hours of them getting a chip on their auto’s windshield. That’s a good thing, however many of those don’t understand what a windshield repair actually is. That a repair is actually filling the chip, not just putting a drop of chemical on the impact point and calling it repaired. Unfortunately because many don’t know what a good repair is they get taken advantage of and it is almost epidemic the number of bad repairs that are out there. Below are a couple of the bad repairs I’ve seen lately.

This doesn’t look like it was repaired, does it? But somebody paid money for a drop of pit filler to be placed over it. Will it prevent the windshield from cracking? No Way. I was able to remove most of the resin someone else had put in this chip and save the windshield with a professional repair.

Here’s another one of these quick repairs. The center was pretty well filled, however nothing was done to fill any of the radiating cracks. The result is that the repair most likely will fail. There was no way short of drilling into each crack to fill them. By doing this the repair would look terrible and there would be no guarantee that it would hold.

To give just an idea of how bad it is in terms of people being taken advantage of, I can remember meeting with a guy to repair his windshield. He had a large star on his windshield and he questioned why it would take 30 to 45 minutes to perform a repair; after all he had a number of repairs performed by another company that had gone out of business. That company had been able to perform repairs in 5 minutes according to the customer. The repairs didn’t look any different afterwards but hey he didn’t have a cracked windshield. He was amazed when I pulled out my tools to go to work. The other guy simply pulled out a bottle of stuff, place a drop over the chip along with a piece of plastic. Minutes later he pulled off the plastic and scraped the area with a razor blade. The repair was complete and the repair guy was paid $35 for his 5 minutes of work.

I’ve talked to people over the years that have told me that “windshield repair doesn’t work”. While I usually will see a couple of my repairs fail during the year; many of the failed windshield repairs performed by the fast repair guys that have convinced those that windshield repair doesn’t work are 5 minute repairs. On several occasions when I’ve had the opportunity to view the failed repairs I’ve found a chip in which only the center has resin in it. The bulk of the windshield chip has no sign of resin in it.

So how can you find a windshield repair company that will perform a good repair? First realize in most states and that includes Oklahoma, there are no licenses or regulations to certify a windshield repair tech knows what they are doing. In fact in Oklahoma, there is more regulation for someone that cuts your hair than repair or replaces your windshield. Consider these thoughts when getting a windshield repair.

a) Price – If the price is excessively low look for another shop.

b) Time – To do a proper repair figure a ½ hour. If the shop says the repair can be done in 5 minutes, find another shop.

c) Guarantee – Find a shop that guarantees their work and doesn’t just credit the money you paid for the repair towards a new windshield.

d) Track Record - Look for a shop that has been in business awhile. If they’ve been in business a long time they must be doing something right.

Finally watch out for glass replacement shops. While there are some that perform excellent windshield repairs, many don’t. Low prices, advertised quick 5 minute repairs, and guarantees that if you aren’t happy or if the chip repair fails they will credit your money towards a new windshield are something to stay away from.

Remember a windshield repair is an investment and a bad repair will cost you more money just like a bad investment.

It Was A Beautiful Day - The First World MS Day

Alan — Thu, 28 May 2009 23:10:52 -0500

As anyone that knows me or has viewed this blog, besides repairing windshields I put a lot of effort in supporting a cure for Multiple Sclerosis (MS). I have personal reasons for this and am committed to do what I can to help find a cure. With that in mind May 27, 2009 was truly a "Beautiful Day" as the world for the first time came together in a united cause to find a cure. From this point on the last Wednesday in May will be World MS Day.

Around the world 54 MS Societies united, 160 events took place like:

MS Society of Palestine opened its first office.

In Belgium, Canada, France and Luxembourg, "Roll for MS" cycling and motorcycling events were held.

In Ireland, eight people climbed six mountains in 72 hours.

In Mumbai and Delhi, India, human chains were formed.

In Norway, a research conference took place.

In Greece and Cyprus, concerts were offered.

It all started the Saturday before, when Lori Schneider who has MS planted on top of Mount Everest; the tallest mountain in the world, a World MS Day banner. Both Lori and Wendy Booker with separate teams and both with MS started the quest, eventually Lori became the first person with MS to reach the summit of Everest; at 29,035 feet above sea level.

I found a video about Lori that is shown below:

I have also found a slide show of Lori's climb from 26,000 to the top and you can see the video below.

The day was capped off with a video about MS and featuring the song "Beautiful Day" by U2. This is one of my favorite songs and groups. I've linked the video also so I hope you enjoy it. Thank You, U2.

For those that don't know what Multiple Sclerosis is it's an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. For an unknown reason the body's immune system, the same one that protects a person from infection and colds, suddenly attacks the myelin coating around the nerves in the spinal cord and brain. Each person with MS has unique symptoms, however the results, as the disease progresses, can include loss of the ability to walk, loss of feeling or use of a hand, blurred vision, or blindness.

It is the Number 1 disabling disease of young adults.

Protecting Chips Works

Alan — Mon, 25 May 2009 15:53:02 -0500

It still surprises me the number of people that call when it’s raining and expect to have their windshield repaired. Yes, some actually don’t see a problem with me standing in a driving rain to accomplish the repair. Over the years I’ve seen many a failed repair due to water contamination. Pulling a car in out of the rain means very little to me because I’ve found in most instances you can’t get a chip full of water 100% dry.

Many don’t apply logic in that if you repair a chip that is full of water, it most likely will fail. While waiting to repair the damage until it dries may result in a cracked windshield, by taking some precautions and waiting for better weather can result in a successful repair.

A case in point, I have a customer that saw the rain coming and covered 2 chips by placing clear packing tape over them on the outside of the windshield. They didn’t have a covered area to work, and twice I tried to perform a repair only to be rained out.

After approximately 2 weeks, the sun came out; I pulled the tape off to reveal a set of dry, clean chips that repaired perfectly. By covering a chip that is dry with clear packing tape, the vehicle can be pulled into a covered area during rain or snow and repaired.

Just remember to be careful when using your defroster, and avoid vibrations like slamming doors, etc. when you have a chip on your windshield.

Another Reason To Repair Your Windshield

Alan — Mon, 11 May 2009 09:19:41 -0500

Over the years I’ve seen and given reasons why you should repair your windshield instead of replacing it. The reasons have run from, it saves money to preventing leaks and even to prevent having your car damaged when your windshield is replaced.

Now add another reason, the glass shop leaves a mess behind that includes both pieces and splinters of glass along with the old urethane.

I was shown this Ford SUV that a major glass company had replaced the windshield. Virtually all of the lighter colored spots are bits of glass. The dark colored strip in the center is one of the pieces of old adhesive that was left behind. While it’s not shown, even the dash had pieces of glass on it.

A number of questions came to mind when I saw this mess. Was the windshield replaced properly? Did the tech that performed the replacement take the time to remove all of the old adhesive? Did they perform corrosion control on any rust they found on the pinch weld? Was primer applied to the pinch weld so the SUV wouldn’t rust out before it’s time? What about anything that went down the defrost ducts?

Part of the problem is, some glass companies pay a commission for each windshield installed. With no one checking the work when the windshield replacement is performed on-site, a problem can exist. After all the more windshields installed, the more money made, no matter if the windshield is installed properly or not.

So why doesn’t the insurance company care? It’s all about saving money. Only one insurance company has any requirement about a windshield being replaced, and there is no way to perform quality control. There is also no punishment for jobs being done improperly. So you think the insurance company guarantees the work -- only to the point that they can hold up paying the shop for the windshield replacement. When you consider that only 2 out of 100 people complain when they have a problem or take advantage of a guarantee, there is nothing stopping this situation of sloppy or low quality work.

Your best bet is to repair your windshield whenever possible and avoid replacement. Likewise if you need to replace your windshield, find the glass shop yourself. And before you call your insurance company, find out what it will cost to replace your windshield. There is no point of calling your insurance company and alerting them that you are replacing your windshield when you have, let’s say a $500 deductible and the replacement cost is less, maybe $2-300. By notifying your insurance company, you are risking a rate increase even if they pay nothing.

Before having a windshield repaired or replaced, doing your homework to find the right shop is a wise investment, along with preventing a lot of headaches. Generally a low price or a low price guarantee means you get what you pay for.

A Refreshed Look For Glass Aid

Alan — Thu, 07 May 2009 10:38:29 -0500

Well I did it I’ve been making some changes and decided to change the look of my van. I contacted Shawn at 247 Graphx Studios in the Del City, Oklahoma City area. I’ve used Shawn’s company before so not surprising the work was first class.

The image of money for the background was a good idea as the top reason people choose windshield repair is to save money vs. replacement. After all by repairing that little chip on your windshield a savings of $160 or more is routine. We had one of our fleet customers tell us they had saved almost $65,000.00 during their fiscal year. Not to mention eliminating the risk of a leaky replacement and that it’s safer to repair a windshield then replace it since the factory seal isn’t broken.

Here’s a close up of the van so you can see more detail. Besides the great look from the outside; from inside the van you can see out through the image.

Chips On The Edge Of A Windshield

Alan — Mon, 04 May 2009 17:29:48 -0500

With today’s vehicle getting a chip on the edge of the windshield it can many times be seen. This is due to the new design of autos and trucks not having any trim around the windshield. This damage can’t be seen from inside the auto or truck as the chip is in the black area (frit) around the edge of the windshield and can only seen from outside.

While Glass Aid can and has repaired many windshield chips in the black area (frit) damage on the edge a lot of times can’t be repaired. In the case of the windshield damage on this Toyota Highlander shown below a crack extended some distance both towards the top and bottom. The damage couldn’t be seen from inside.

While this particular windshield couldn’t be repaired, many a cracked windshield could have been saved had the auto or truck owner taken the time to check their windshield, and gotten a repair on a chip that was in the black area of the windshield.

Getting fuel is a great time to inspect your windshield for chips and small cracks. Make it a habit of doing this like checking your oil, along with taking a look under the hood.

A Better Way - Windshield Repair

Alan — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 21:37:36 -0500

After reading the article "Windshield Repairman Won't Return Calls Couple Experiences Faulty Repairs " KCRA by Lynsey Paulo, that actual repair is a better choice vs. replacement and this story is about cheap windshield replacements. The article is another classic example of what happens when you place the ultimate goal of getting the cheapest price above quality and everything else.

Checking your windshield each time you fuel is a good idea. Then repairing any small damage (chips as small cracks or stars) that are found. By doing the repair you eliminate the risk of an unsafe, leaky replacement while saving money.

As in many cases which includes both windshield repair and replacement you get what you pay for.

Even though Glass Aid does not replace windshields, a shopping check list is available that can be printed, along with information about what to look for when getting a windshield replacement. You can take a short cut to the information by going to www.Windshield411.com.

If you would like to read the article here's the link: http://www.kcra.com/station/19317268/detail.html

Glass Aid And The 2009 Walk MS OKC

Alan — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 14:50:14 -0500

Wow! Yesterday was the big day for team Glass Aid at the Oklahoma City Zoo. Anyone that knows me knows I've committed to working with the MS Society and besides repairing windshields I've been taking donations for the OKC walk. Those that didn't attend missed out on a lot of fun.

Walking towards a cure for multiple sclerosis; an estimated 1,700 plus walkers turned out to participate in the 2009 Walk MS Oklahoma City, at the OKC Zoo. We all have one goal, a world free of MS.

See More Photos From The Walk In Our Album

Sitting here writing this post, there is a lot for me to say. I don't want anyone to feel not important if they aren't listed first. So here are my thoughts:

THANK YOU! To everyone that donated to the team, family, friends, and customers, we surpassed our goal with a total of $568. A special note of thanks to Norman, who was the top customer donor with a $50 donation. If you want the best home theater system, see the guys at Contemporary Sounds on NW 149th in Oklahoma City.

To Brandi, Lucy, Blaine, all the other MS Society personnel, all those that volunteered to put this together from working at the registration desk to manning the water stops and everything else, FANTASTIC JOB! Even though many more showed up then planned, everything went smooth. I might add that those with Multiple Sclerosis have strong allies in the fight against MS with Brandi, Lucy and Blaine.

To those that I saw that did the walk with MS, particularly those that needed help with a cane, walker, or wheelchair, you have my deepest respect leading the fight by example under difficult terms.

Okay, so what's next you ask, is it over for a year? No Way! The authorization form will still be available on-line at PreventCracks.biz. I will continue to offer this windshield chip repair program. I understand that an Edmond Walk MS is in the works; and when that happens, team Glass Aid will strap on the walking shoes.

This fall a bike ride from Tulsa to Oklahoma City will take place and I may volunteer to help. Keep watching this blog or check in periodically to either PreventCracks4MS.com or .mobi.

Finally the PreventCracks4MS.mobi site now has been updated with information on walks in Enid and Muskogee, Oklahoma. If you're going to be in these cities during the time of the walk, do it -- trust me you'll have a blast, besides being a hero to those with MS. Once again, thanks for everyone's help.

Glass Aid is building a world free of MS one windshield chip repair at a time.

In Your Face Windshield Repair

Alan — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 21:19:04 -0500

Over the years I've seen a cycle of questions at times, another words over the course of several weeks I'll get asked by a number of people the same question. Then I may go several months or even year until that question reappears.

Here lately I've taken a number of calls asking if a windshield chip can be repaired if it's in front of the driver? Or if there is any place on a windshield that can't be repaired?

Okay, here in Oklahoma there are no laws that restrict any windshield repair. There is no required training or license to either repair or replace a windshield in Oklahoma. The fact is there are more requirements to cut some ones hair than repair a windshield.

ROLAGS (ANSI/NGA R1.1-2007), the national safety standard recommends not repairing windshield damage over an inch in diameter or if the finished pit (impact point) exceeds 3/16" in diameter in the area in front of the driver's vision known as the "Driver’s Primary Viewing Area" . The Driver’s Primary Viewing Area, is defined as an area that is 12 inches wide centered in front of the driver that extends between the top and bottom of the driver's windshield wiper sweep.

Other considerations by this standard include not performing a repair within 4 inches of another repair and "if, in the technician's judgment, the repair will affect the proper operation of the vehicle".

Generally I'll make a repair on a windshield in front of the driver if I feel it's safe. As examples I'll repair a 1/2" star with 3 legs or cracks in front of the driver. I won't repair a combination break (chip) that's say 1 " in diameter that looks so bad that because the glass is mash up to the point that the damage looks like a white spot. There is a liability in doing windshield repair. Let's face it we're in a time when spilling a hot cup of coffee in your lap is worth $500K because the person wasn't told the fresh coffee was hot.

Due to the liability issue one of my large fleet accounts has a policy of "no windshield repairs in front of the driver", regardless of the chip size.

So there you have it, just use a little common sense when getting your windshield repaired and remember with any windshield repair there may be a distortion. Also remember that while replacing a windshield is expensive, the cost of being in an auto accident probably will be a lot more.

Two Weeks Till The Walk MS Olahoma City (April 25, 2009)

Alan — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 23:25:57 -0500

Wow, time has gone by and just 2 weeks till my first Walk MS. My team is close to goal, but even with what I've taken in the team hasn't made it yet. This project has become very important to me for a number of reasons.

Being in the windshield repair business I get the the opportunity to meet many people with many different backgrounds. I'm equally surprised at how diverse the Oklahoma City population is. I've met and performed windshield repairs for people from Scotland, England, Canada, Germany, Saudi, Iraq, Iran, India, Pakistan, Vietnam, China, South Korea, Japan, Australia, and Mexico, to name some of the countries. With that I've learned that while we may look different and have different ideas we have common ground, that includes both values as well as problems.

With the above in mind, I've met the daughter that is about my oldest son's age, whose mother was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis about a year ago and is having a tough time. Lets not forget the African American grandpa that has a young grandchild with MS. Nor should we leave out the uncle of a Native American nephew diagnosed at 25 and in a wheel chair at 26. These are just a few of the Okies that fight and struggle with MS everyday; some people you may meet, you would never guess that they have a problem.

So while many of us enjoy Easter this weekend and get together with family, I ask you to take a minute to think of what it would be like if suddenly you couldn't walk or see. What if it happened to your son or daughter, mother or father; and remember MS is the number one disabling disease of young adults. Then take a minute and make a donation to either the Oklahoma MS Society or if you like, to my team. The links are on the top of the left column.

I'll close this post with a very good You Tube video that I found about a 25 year old mother with Multiple Sclerosis and would like to share it with my readers. Mankind has beaten Polio and Small Pox, the cure for MS is in reach.

An Easy Way To Get Windshield Repairs - GlassAid.tel

Alan — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 19:09:05 -0500

Anybody that knows me knows that I usually love new technology and will usually look at it to see if Glass Aid can use it. It's been several years ago when I set up my first blog. I thought it would be a great way to keep customers and potential customers informed about windshield repair. I remember how some thought the whole idea was crazy, not just a blog on windshield repair, but a company having a blog. Now a company having a blog is becoming very common and while I don't have a large readership, I've received some positive comments when talking with people.

Then about 2 years ago the mobile Internet became a reality. It's been amazing and very cool watching the development of what can be done with a cell phone. Speaking of which, the GlassAid.mobi site has had some additions, like the guarantee can be viewed on your cell phone. The answer too many commonly asked questions has been put on the mobile site as well. No the mobile site will probably never have as much as the dot com site, but for those that want to help themselves and are on the go, it will work in many cases.

As time has progressed other ideas have taken place like a Merchant Circle page, My Space, Facebook and instant messaging. Add to this having e-mail addresses, fax numbers and the list goes on. It's enough to make your head explode. Just how to give a customer an easy way to get information and contact you, yet provide them the option of being able to choose the way they prefer.

Well I got the answer for my customers GlassAid.tel. Telnic the creator of the dot Tel domain has just recently released the dot tel domain out of sunrise. Now all of my websites are still available and working, just now you only need to remember one domain for everything including phone numbers. Even better the dot tel will pull up on any Internet device. So no matter what you bookmark GlassAid.tel on, you'll have the information you need.

The dot tel domain is being marketed for both business and individual. Even though it's very corny I've embedded the ad from You Tube so you can get an idea of what I've done.

Windshield stone chips can happen at any time you're out on the road. By bookmarking GlassAid.tel on your cell phone, computer or your favorite social bookmark website like, Delicious, Google, Magnolia, My Yahoo, etc., you'll be ready to schedule your windshield repair. Also know what needs to be repaired and what doesn't.

Prevent Cracks 4 MS Mobi

Alan — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 12:10:52 -0500

After I finished the page and link on the Prevent Cracks dot com for information about Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and what Glass Aid is doing I decided to create a mobile website. PreventCracks4MS.mobi is fully mobi compliant, it scores a 5 out of 5 when I tested it. What that means is that beside being able to view it on a computer, it can be seen on most cell phones.

I put what could be called a coupon for windshield chip repair on it. I also am putting up a page for each Walk MS here in Oklahoma. You can get driving directions on each page and contact information. From a computer you can get to a windshield repair authorization as well. Lets not forget the Glass Aid Walk MS team that is also linked to this site.

Speaking of the team page we are closing in on our goal for the Oklahoma City Walk MS. Please take a minute to go to our team page and make a donation, every little bit helps. You can click on the link in the left column, I work with a lot of young adults and MS is the number one disabling disease for that age group. Recently I met someone that had a relative with MS. Sadly, approximately one year since being diagnosed with MS they are in a wheel chair and only in their mid twenties.

So check out the new mobile website and send me your feedback off of it as to your thoughts. Finally remember at Glass Aid we are "Building A World FREE Of MS One Windshield Chip Repair At A Time".

An Expensive Way To Remove Ice From A Windshield.

Alan — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 22:40:03 -0600

It amazes me how creative auto owners get when it comes to removing ice and snow from the windshield or for that matter any glass on their car. Last year's favorite I came across was the guy that used a mallet to break up the ice on his Kia windshield. It worked great on the ice but had one draw back, the windshield had huge stars all over it. At $650 to replace the windshield and it having to be ordered was an expensive lesson on what not to do.

Over the years I've taken calls about repairing scratched windshields. I've heard of just about every possible way to remove ice and snow. Just as I say that I'm sure I'll get called and told of another inspired genius with yet a new way. Mind you I've read several articles in the last few months from other glass companies on what not to do.

Anyway yesterday I came across a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu with yes a badly scratched windshield caused by removing ice with something other than an ice scraper.

Looks pretty bad from a distance but the below close up really shows how bad it was.

This Malibu windshield had some very deep scratches and with replacement being $700 I hope the guy had deep pockets to pay for it.

Okay on closing here's a list of items that I've been told were used to clean off ice from a windshield with the results being scratched glass.

Awl

Chisel

De-Icer Can

Ice Pick

Key

Knife (pocket, kitchen, putty, utility)

Metal Kitchen Spatula

Pop Bottle (glass)

Pop Can

Sheet Metal

Shovel

Tire Iron

Of course hot water and hammers don't scratch they break glass.

Prevent Cracks 4 MS - The Glass Aid Walk MS Team

Alan — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 14:01:57 -0600

I've been busy lately with a couple of projects, add to this is that with the improved weather it has become a great time to repair a windshield, many have taken advantage of it.

That said one of my projects has been working with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. I'm putting together a walk team for MS here in Oklahoma City. A donation will be made from profits in windshield chip repair to this cause.

For those that don't know much about Multiple Sclerosis here is a brief description. Multiple Sclerosis, (MS) is an autoimmune disease, meaning for some unknown reason a body's defense system that protects you from infection suddenly attacks the body itself. In the case of MS it attacks and destroys the myelin coating around the nerves in the spine and brain. During this process nerves that provide the sense of feel, besides controlling muscles along with other body functions can be damaged.

Each person with MS is different but some of the common problems with Multiple Sclerosis include:

Loss of the ability to walk.

Blurred vision or blindness.

Loss of memory.

The rate of progression also varies case by case.

Sadly at this point there is No Cure, however great advances in managing MS have taken place. A cure appears to be in reach.

By supporting the Glass Aid, Walk MS Team you'll be helping the Oklahoma Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. I understand much of the money stays here in Oklahoma and does much more than funding research. They also provide:

Support to those with MS and their family. This is important as some insurance companies won't pay for treatment and if a person has insurance from their employer but can no longer work due to the MS or loses a job due to these economic times they will need help. The basic cost to manage the disease can be $2000 a month. This doesn't include an MRI that might be needed that will cost several thousand dollars, blood tests or other medications that may be needed.

A Dream Doesn't Die, just because mom or dad has Multiple Sclerosis, the dream of sending a son or daughter to college doesn't end. The Multiple Sclerosis Society has a scholarship program.

Health professionals that treat MS also get support from the society as well.

With all that said we invite all to donate to the cause or even better join our team. For more information you can visit a page on the Glass Aid windshield repair website; PreventCracks4MS.com. I've made it easy to get to our team page by pointing the domain PreventCracks.org at it. You can also click on the links in the left column for more information.

Below is a video I found on You Tube that gives more information but also shows just how devastating this disease is.

The Oklahoma City Walk MS is April 25, 2009 at the OKC Zoo. I challenge other auto glass shops and windshield repair companies to match or beat our donation amount and set up a team.

New At Glass Aid

Alan — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 22:04:09 -0600

It has been a while since I last posted an article here, but I've been busy. To start with if you haven't been on the Prevent Cracks main website it has a new look. A few pages were added along with material.

1) Look on the home page of PreventCracks.com or in the right column of this blog for updates made on my Twitter account. These will be short updates but I can make them from my cell phone or computer. I set this up because at times the call volume is incredible. Not knocking it as I appreciate all the calls, however like this last Tuesday or the Thursday before when it was freezing mist, fog and rain, I took many calls asking can you perform a windshield repair? As I've said before when it's wet outside repairing a windshield isn't a good idea. Likewise I've been asked many times, is it too cold to repair a windshield? Many of these calls are from individuals that are on the website and either can't find or won't take a few minutes to find the answer.

Another problem has been at times not being able to schedule all the requests. It's very disappointing having to turn away work only to find that windshield repairs that were scheduled are found to be a pit or impact point that doesn't need to be repaired. Like shown below.

Or the damage is much larger than what can be covered with a quarter. I've lost track of the number of times I've gotten to a location only to find the star is 6, 8 10 or more inches in diameter. Then there was the guy who said the damage could be covered by a quarter, when I got out there I found out the damage that was much larger and had been caused by someone throwing a brick at it.

With Twitter, when I suddenly find myself ahead of schedule I will post the availability. Anyone who reads it and calls will be scheduled in to fill the void. So if you need a repair and want Glass Aid to perform the repair and we have said we were booked up watch the site. Also if there are questions about doing a repair during bad weather again please check the Twitter feed.

2) Now then due to the number of calls that we find when we get to the location the damage is larger then what can be covered with a quarter or is for a pit, there is now a $20 service charge. That charge is waived when we repair your windshield. Another words when we repair your windshield you pay the standard fee. When we make a dry run due to damage that is beyond repair or is a pit, there is a $20 charge to cover our expenses.

3) We receive many calls about windshield pits. The page concerning this on PreventCracks.com has more material to help you sort it out. Also a Repair Guide has been added that is in a pdf format that you can print and take to your car for reference. A direct link (short cut) has been put in place; to get to the page about pits go to windshieldpit.com.

Don't forget on your cell phone you can get info on the go at PreventCracks.mobi.

4) Many calls we take are for windshield replacements and many want us to provide them with a shop to call. At this time I'm not referring to any shop. Windshield411.com has been set up to provide those needing a replacement windshield a lot of information about what you should know. There are videos, a "quote sheet" in pdf that you can print and use to compare shops along with links to get price quotes on line.

So there is the latest changes, I hope to have one other program that I've been working in place sometime around the first of the year.

Pay For Your Windshield Repair With Pay Pal

Alan — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 09:08:00 -0500

I've had a couple of requests about paying for a windshield repair with Pay Pal. One customer told me, "I love Pay Pal and use it to pay for everything".

After reviewing their website I can see why some favor it for making payments. To begin with by using Pay Pal, your charge or debit card numbers are hidden from the party receiving payment. You can also pay with an electronic check from your checking account. Unlike a check your account and routing number aren't exposed, thus eliminating the risk of someone making checks to pull money from your checking account or going on line to perform money transfers.

Making it easy to use because you can either go to their mobile website from your cell phone or on line from a computer to pay a bill. So now we are offering a new method to make paying for your windshield chip repair easy. Of course we still accept most debit and all major charge cards, besides checks and cash.

Using it is easy, once we get to your location and start your windshield chip repair, we will give you an email address. Simply go on line with your cell phone or computer and log in. Then send the payment to our email box.

So now you can pay with your Pal Pal account and if you don't have an account you can set up a free Pay Pal account by just going to their website. It will take only a few minutes, then you can use it to pay for your windshield chip repair.

WARNING: No Nail Polish Please

Alan — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 10:07:49 -0500

On occasion I've had someone ask about using nail polish either to repair a windshield or to seal it off until a permanent repair can be made.

Aggravating this misconception is highlighted in the latest National Windshield Repair Association, news letter that reports Family Circle Magazine has published an ad by The National Pork Board that indicates nail polish can be used to repair a windshield. Or in a quote from the ad that compares nail polish to duct tape, "fix just about everything - a run in my stockings, a chip in my windshield".

Wrong! To begin with nail polish isn't an adhesive. When I've seen it used in a windshield it yellows badly. It apparently doesn't have any uv stabilizers in it. Secondly by putting nail polish on a windshield chip you aren't hydraulically injecting it into the chip and as such the chip wouldn't be completely filled. So besides using a product not designed for windshield repair you would also have a chip that wasn't completely filled; even if the proper resin was used, you would have an increase risk of failure.

Finally by using nail polish on a windshield chip you make it where the chip can't be properly filled with resin. Simply put by using nail polish you will be replacing your windshield.

1972 Restored Beetle

Alan — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 17:08:28 -0500

The other day I took a call from Michael, he had recently finished restoring a 1972 Beetle, a birthday gift for his girl friend and while he was out on the road the windshield caught a rock. When I got out there the windshield had a small bullseye chip on it.

As you can see by the above photo this is a very clean bug. It has already 2 first place car show wins and will be going for a third win in Tulsa this weekend. This should be a good test of the quality my windshield repair.

Michael both restores and modifies cars as a hobby, besides racing them. To date he has worked on a dozen or more Mustangs. His work also includes a Camaro and a 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass. This was his first time working on a Volkswagen and I think he did a fantastic job, particularly when you consider this car was wrecked when he started. Anyway here are a few more pictures.

Right & Front View

Interior Of The 1972 Volkswagen Beetle

The Engine Of The 1972 Volkswagen Beetle

How Long Can I Go Before I've Got To Repair My Windshield?

Alan — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 11:59:24 -0500

Frequently I'll get a call asking about how much it costs to repair a windshield. That is followed by how long can I go before I've got to repair my windshield or it cracks out. The answer is unknown as there are too many variables; but waiting just increases the risk of having a cracked windshield. Likewise waiting lets more contamination get into the chip which can affect the strength and the appearance.

Now you don't need to be like the guy who called to tell me had just gotten a chip on his windshield and "had been lucky that it hadn't cracked out as he eased it off the side of I-40 near a street called Sooner". He expected us out their right away as if he couldn't move the vehicle like a blown tire.

On the other hand you don't want to be like the individual that called during one of the last rain storms to inform me that he needed his windshield repaired ASAP. It seems he had gotten a chip on his windshield 3 to 4 weeks earlier about the size of a quarter. In their words it had already grown 2 inches more and they could actually see it moving. As I've stated many times before, rain or snow and windshield repairs don't mix.

So what can cause a windshield chip to crack out.

Invisible Flaws - Which has been found to be a reason for the chips to begin with, could lead to cracking at anytime.

Stress - That can happen when the windshield is installed or while the auto is being driven.

Driving - Where you drive, how rough the roads are ( train tracks, potholes, wash board surfaces, etc.), and even the way you drive ( hard acceleration, hard braking, fast through the curves, etc.).

Vibrations - From either the road or slamming doors, hoods and trunk lids.

Weather - Extreme high or low temperatures, fluctuating temperatures; water that can penetrate the chip and then freezes.

These are just a few of the situations that can lead to a chip cracking your windshield. Your best bet is to have the windshield repaired within a few days when time and conditions permit it.

No Windshield Chips, No Cracks Or No Driving Test

Alan — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:05:24 -0500

I guess it's been a couple of years since I began hearing that if you need to take a driving test for an Oklahoma driving license that the auto you use better not have a cracked windshield. A while back I had called The Oklahoma Department Of Public Safety, and asked about this policy. It seems if the driving tester deems the vehicle being used unsafe they can and will reject the test until the person being tested provides a safe vehicle. A car with a windshield crack is consider unsafe by the state.

Not a big surprise as under the old Oklahoma State, vehicle inspection program any auto or truck with a cracked windshield was a cause for it to fail the inspection. Current law on the books can cause a driver caught driving a vehicle with a cracked windshield to be ticketed.

It appears things have changed and become more strict as I did a windshield repair on a customer's auto because their daughter had been rejected from their driving test due to a chip. Now we aren't talking big chip or one in the direct driver's vision. The star on the windshield had just 3 legs and could be covered with a nickel. Location wise it was just below the center of the windshield (top to bottom) and under the driver's side of the rear view mirror.

Most likely the reason for rejecting the auto was that a chip on the windshield can crack out at anytime. While having the car rejected is an inconvenience it can take an unsafe vehicle off the road by making the owner fix the problem. In the case of a windshield chip it forces the owner to repair the windshield; saving them money over replacement and eliminating the risk of an unsafe windshield replacement.