The Wise Crack

Windshield Repair Newsletter

The Wise Crack, published bi-monthly, is the most widely circulated windshield repair newsletter available! It includes windshield repair tips, news, & marketing advice.

November-December 2007 Issue

Full Version:
www.deltakits.com/windshield-repair-kits/newsletter/

Delta Kits Home:
www.deltakits.com

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Happy Holidays!

Today is a sunny, reasonably warm day in late October, so it seems strange to be wishing all of our loyal friends and customers a Happy Holidays, but by the time by the time we send out our next newsletter three major holidays will have come and gone.

Delta Kits had another record year thanks to God and all of the wonderful customers He sent our way this year. I believe the future is bright for windshield repair, and I’m very excited to be a part of this ever changing business.

So here’s wishing all of you a happy Thanksgiving, a Merry Christmas, and a very prosperous New Year. May God keep you and your families safe and bless you with health, happiness and good cheer!

--Brent Deines

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Plastic Coated R.V. Windshields Part II

In the September/October edition of The Wise Crack I wrote about a film being used by some RV manufacturers during the transport of new luxury coaches, but had not been able to find any information about films being applied as a permanent protection.

Immediately after the newsletter was sent out I heard from Ted Kovarik of Solano Windshield Repair. Ted alerted me to the fact that there is a company producing a film that is being applied to RVs to help protect the glass, and it is apparently intended to be permanent. I then did a Google search and came up with the following article: http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2006/12/18/031787.html It should be noted that this is an after market product, not a factory applied coating that glass manufacturers have produced. Thanks Ted!

I have not obtained a sample of this product yet, but it has been a recent topic of discussion on www.windshield-repair-forum.com, and at least one technician is currently testing the product for durability, etc. I suppose I should wait until the verdict is in, but if the world’s largest glass manufacturers and automobile makers were unable to produce an optically correct film durable enough for the interior of a windshield, I think there is a pretty slim chance that this product will hold up well on the exterior of a windshield. There are some pretty good plastics on the market these days, such as the ones used for high end motorcycle windshields and aircraft canopies, but so far I have not seen any that do not scratch when subjected to daily abuse from the combination of windshield wipers, dirt, sand, ice, salt, detergents, snow scrapers, etc.

I expect this product will be short lived, but who knows? In any case, it is currently being marketed in some areas, and you may very well run across it from time to time, so I suggest that you be very careful about your decision to repair or not to repair a windshield that has a film applied to the outside surface of the windshield.

It’s not that the resin will likely damage a film that is meant to hold up to the elements, but I think it may be very difficult if not impossible to scrape off the excess resin without damaging the film. I would also caution against the use of heat guns, torches, or even moisture evaporators. It might be a good idea to update your current waiver of responsibility, or create a new one that specifies what your guarantee will be for a windshield repair performed on such a windshield.

It may be that depending on the location of the break a customer will still want their plastic coated windshield repaired, so it will be very important to set realistic expectations. It may be that a small section of the coating can be removed prior to the repair, and then replaced with a new film over the break, but no matter how good you are at applying films, this new element to the job will have an effect on the cosmetics of a finished repair. My guess is that most of us will never see such a windshield, but it’s always best to be prepared just in case.

--Brent Deines

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Mobile Tech Expo

Where can you go to learn about windshield repair, detailing, interior repair, paintless dent repair, gold plating, headlight restoration, pin striping, and window tinting, all in one place? Funny you should ask. Every January, we here at Delta Kits, attend a very special event down in Florida called the Mobile Tech Expo. This year, January 17th through the 19th, in Clearwater, you can join us and technicians from all over the world for a few days of education, competition, and fun. Then, on the 20th we will be topping off the week with our acclaimed Delta Kits Windshield Repair Boot Camp. Subliminal note: Mark these dates on your calendar.

The Mobile Tech Expo gives you the chance to learn more about your business, or find out more about possible add on profit centers. There are educational seminars on everything from detailing to window tinting. There are vendors giving demonstrations of their new products and showing off the latest techniques. To me, the most exciting educational opportunity at the expo is getting to meet other technicians from all over the world. If you are looking to start or grow a business, what better way to get an education than to talk to business owners that have been doing it for years? Many of the most successful technicians in the mobile tech industry make a point of attending every year. Successful business owners know that there is always more to learn.

After you attend the expo, you can head to the Delta Kits Windshield Repair Boot Camp on the 20th, also being held in Clearwater. Our Boot Camp is designed specifically for those interested in starting or growing their windshield repair business and consists of a full day of hands on windshield repair training, as well as marketing and insurance billing advice. It is also a great opportunity to meet other business owners and find out their secrets to success.

If you need another reason to attend…did I mention it is in Clearwater Florida? Maybe it’s just me, but a beautiful, sunny January on the beach sounds pretty good. Visit www.mobiletechexpo.com for more information. If you would like to sign up or learn more about our Windshield Repair Boot Camp, give us a call.

--Matt Larson

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Delta Kits Upcoming Event Schedule

Delta Kits Upcoming Trade Show and Convention Schedule

November 1-3, 2007 Combined Event: NACE/NWRA/AGRSS/IGA at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, NV. See www.naceexpo.com or www.glassexpos.com for more information.

January 18-20, 2008 Mobile Tech Expo at the Harborview Center in Clearwater FL. See www.mobiletechexpo.com for more information.

February 9-12, 2008 NADA at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, CA. See www.nada.org/TrainingEvents/Convention for more information.

February 11-13, 2008 National Auto Glass Conference at the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort in Tucson, AZ. See www.glass.org for more information. No trade Show at this event.

April 7-10, 2008 Car Care World Expo at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. See www.carcarecentral.com for more information.


Delta Kits Training and Certification Course Schedule

November 16th Delta Kits Training and Certification (Eugene, OR) Free

December 14th Delta Kits Training and Certification (Eugene, OR) Free

January 20th Delta Kits Training and Certification (Clearwater, FL) $300

February 22nd Delta Kits Training and Certification (Eugene, OR) Free

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Delta Kits Certified Windshield Repair Technicians!

Congratulations to all of the new Delta Kits Certified Windshield Repair Technicians!

September 2007

Steve Barnhill
Marsha Barnhill
Beau Crose
Ben Armstrong

October 2007

Alan Sharp
Tom Murray
Vladimir Gret
Ivan Litovich
Ed Quirk
Ann Isner
Oleg Senyuk
Brian Templin
Susan Templin

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Closeout Specials!

77-3 Stainless Steel Screw Type Injector for under $100!
Sale Price: $96.80

This item has been replaced by the new I-100S that retails for $165.00, giving you the opportunity to pick up this time tested, rock solid, Delta Kits injector at a below wholesale price. You get a full lifetime warranty on this super injector and your satisfaction is guaranteed. Hurry, these won’t last long at this price! Limited to stock on hand.

 

 

 

 

 

12-7 120V Single Speed Dremel Drill – 55% off!
Sale Price: $39.35

If you don’t need a cordless drill, this is the workhorse of the Dremel line. A no load single speed of 30,000 RPM makes this drill powerful enough for a variety of workshop tasks. Limited to stock on hand.

 

 

 

 

 

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On Special!

144-7G Inspection Mirror with Magnification

EZK-2 Bridge Assembly with Clear Acrylic Bas

 

Full 360º rotation, 4” suction cup, and a highly polished clear acrylic base have made the EZK-2 an industry favorite for over 20 years. Now includes a state of the art I-100 injector for even better performance.

Sale price: $185.00 Price good through December 31, 2007.

Part # EZK-2 – Bridge Assembly with Clear Acrylic Base

 

 

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What's New On The Windshield Repair Forum?

As many of you know, Delta Kits hosts the most popular windshield repair forum in the world. It is the perfect place to ask questions, and get advice from other windshield repair business owners and techs. Here is a quick look at what has been going on lately.

There are threads debating resins, headlight restoration, tent locations, selling cash jobs, franchises… and that’s just on the first page. There are nearly 27,000 posts for you to browse and that number is growing every day. In fact, there have been about 1500 new posts in the past two months alone.

If you want to keep up with your industry, it’s easy. Just go to www.windshieldrepairforum.com and see what is going on today.

--Matt Larson

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Tech Tip - Air Bubbles

If you have been a Delta Kits customer for very long, you probably know that we recommend drilling only as a last resort. For the very best cosmetic results, only drill when you are unable to get the resin to flow into the break any other way. That said; we have plenty of customers that do drill, so here are a couple of things to think about.

First, your drill hole itself is going to be quite visible, so drill as shallow as possible (or not at all). Second, remember that when you drill, resin will often drain from that drill hole and leave a small, shiny, or black air bubble. Pit resin is just too thick to flow down into the bottom of your drill hole, so that air is just trapped there as the pit resin is applied. Air bubbles can also be incorporated into the drill hole from trapped air in the tip of the pit resin bottle or from applying a curing tab improperly.

Solution:

Storing your pit resin bottle upside down for at least five minutes prior to starting the repair will eliminate any chance of air bubbles in the pit resin itself. Make a habit of doing this for every repair, and keep the bottle upside down as you remove the cap and apply the resin. If the bottle is turned upright at any time air bubbles may be trapped in the tip and squeezed out with the resin.

Don't drill unless you can't get the resin in any other way. If you have to drill, make sure you never go deeper than 2/3 through the outer lite and try to angle your drill hole toward the bottom of the windshield so the resin is less apt to flow out. Place the lower edge of a curing tab below the drill hole being careful to hold the tab away from the hole until the pit resin is applied. Apply a drop of pit resin at the point where the tab meets the glass, and allow the tab to slowly cover the hole. This procedure uses the pit resin to push any thin resin that has seeped from the hole back into the hole before the pit resin covers it, minimizing the chance of trapping an air bubble.

Following these simple steps will greatly minimize the chance of trapping air in a drill hole, but if you have followed these directions and still have a small air bubble under your pit resin, lift the top edge of the tab just enough to access the drill hole, apply another drop of pit resin directly on top of the drill hole, and use a sewing needle to work the bubble out of the hole, then allow the tab to gently fold back over the hole as the needle is slowly removed. The key here is to use the curing tab to create a small pool of pit resin on top of the hole so when the bubble is removed it is immediately replaced by pit resin. Voila, no more bubble in the drill hole.

The above method is the Delta Kits preferred technique and works well in almost every instance, but another option that some technicians prefer goes like this. Fill a blunt needle syringe with a few drops of thin resin and place the tip of the needle in the bottom of the drill hole. Slowly begin forcing resin into the bottom of the hole while slowly raising the needle up out of the hole. Doing so washes out any air bubbles previously trapped in the drill hold. Keep in mind you will still need to have your curing tab in place with a drop of pit resin ready to fold over the hole as soon as the needle is removed.

The first time you try either of these methods it may seem like you need three hands, but with a little practice it will become second nature and eliminate the air bubble in the drill hole problem.

--Matt Larson

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Certification, Who needs it?

"Should I get certified?" I hear this question a lot from technicians that are just starting in the industry. It is actually a difficult question to answer. There are many successful windshield repair technicians with thriving companies that have absolutely no certification or hands on factory training. In the past, with equipment manufacturers charging hundreds of dollars for training, and the inconvenience and cost of taking the National Glass Association Certification Exam, many technicians have chosen to ignore the process. But times are definitely changing.

Now that the first US windshield repair standard, the Repair of Laminated Automotive Glass Standard (ROLAGS), is complete, both the National Glass Association (NGA) and the National Windshield Repair Association (NWRA) are developing online certification programs. Both are scheduled to be available very soon. Using the Internet to educate technicians and to administer the certification process is a very welcome change for our industry. I would encourage any technician to take a look at the new programs. Taking away a few of the hurdles to become a well educated windshield repair technician will hopefully result in better repairs being performed and a better image for our industry.

Speaking of removing hurdles, did I mention that the Delta Kits Factory Certification course is now FREE? The one thing that both the NGA and NWRA certifications are missing is hands on training. Knowing about the new standard, professionalism, and safety concerns is very important, but to me the most critical part of building a successful repair business is being able to perform great windshield repairs. Once a month, here in Eugene, we offer a full day of hands on repair training that will give you a great foundation of skills to build your business on. Just give us a call to sign up.

--Matt Larson

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Tech Tip - Curing Large Breaks

Large star and combination breaks present a number of challenges, but with a little extra care show the most dramatic cosmetic improvement upon completion.

One thing that is often overlooked is the fact that cracks may extend beyond the edges of a standard curing tab, which can cause a repair to fail. The problem is that even if the cracks are properly filled, they will not be properly cured if not completely covered prior to curing.

Obviously the solution is quite simple. Use multiple curing tabs, or strips of curing film to make sure every crack is completely covered. Run a little thin resin along the surface of filled cracks to help curing tabs stick and properly seal the surface of the crack. One drop every couple of inches is plenty if properly spread with an eye dropper or syringe.

The surface resin may cure in seconds, but it is important to cure for a full 5 minutes to ensure that the resin is cured all the way through. Remember, most windshield are made from a glass that blocks a percentage of the UV rays used to cure the resin, so reducing cure time may cause repair failure.

If the damage is wider or longer than the area covered by your UV light, be sure to move your light as many times as necessary to get a complete cure on every part of the break, curing for 5 minutes each time the light is moved. Long crack lights, dual bulb lights, or multiple lights may be used to reduce the number of necessary light moves.

-Brent Deines

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Auto glass repair kits by Delta Kits offer great opportunities for entrepeneurs looking to get started in the windshield repair business.