The Wise Crack

Windshield Repair Newsletter

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

July 2009 Issue

Full Version:
www.deltakits.com/wisecrack/

Delta Kits Home:
www.deltakits.com

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What's New on the Windshield Repair Forum

Delta Kits, Helping Customers, One Video at a Time!

Recently on the forum there was a question raised about how much resin to use with a Delta Kits windshield repair system. Afterwards, we posted a video detailing how many drops of resin to use. Delta Kits recommends that technician’s use the glass bottles with our system because the dropper eliminates excess resin from being wasted and it puts the resin right where you need it inside the end-seal.

You can view this and several other videos created to address frequently asked questions that circulate around the windshield repair industry by visiting www.windshield-repair-forum.com or www.deltakits.com.

As many of you know, Delta Kits hosts the world’s largest and most popular windshield repair forum. This is the perfect place to ask questions, and get advice from thousands of windshield repair technicians and business owners all over the world.


Below are some of the hot topics from the month of June:
Scam Repairs
Invoice example
Post your before and after pics here!!!

As of June 30, 2009 the world’s largest windshield repair forum included 35,447 posts on 4534 topics.  

If it’s happening in the windshield repair industry you will find out about it at www.windshield-repair-forum.com.  Membership is free, so join the windshield repair forum today.  You’ll be glad you did.
 

-Korey Gobin

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Delta Kits Certfied Windshield Repair Technicians

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

June 2009 
Troy Collins
Barry Glover
Donald Henkel
Gigi Henkel
Ken Lawrence
James Magnuson
Melvin Oliva
Dean Riley

-Korey Gobin

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Tech Tips

Driver’s Primary Viewing Area (DPVA)
Last month we showed a photo of a windshield being repaired and asked Wise Crack readers to point out what was wrong with the photo, and were very pleased to get a number of immediate responses. Every technician who responded correctly identified at least one thing that was wrong with the photo however numerous technicians incorrectly identified that bridge placement as being in the Driver’s Primary Viewing Area or DPVA. Since there seems to be some confusion as to where the DPVA, is on a windshield, and perhaps more importantly, what the DPVA means to windshield repair technicians we thought this subject might make for an interesting tech tip.
If you are not familiar with the phrase Driver’s Primary Viewing Area, or the acronym DPVA, perhaps the phrase Acute Area rings a bell. The Acute Area of a windshield was originally defined as the area directly above and centered on the steering wheel. Insurance claim forms often showed a rectangular box to indicate where that area is on a windshield, and glass repair technicians were told to hold up a letter size sheet of paper, 8.5” x 11”, above the steering wheel to quickly and accurately identify the Acute Area. When the National Glass association, NGA, and National Windshield Repair Association, NWRA, got together to create a new ANSI standard called the Repair Of Laminated Auto Glass Standard, ROLAGS, for the windshield repair industry, the phrase Acute Area was replaced with DPVA. Is your head reeling form all the acronyms yet? I know mine is.
The ROLAGS committee more clearly defined the DPVA and added what sizes and types of breaks should and should not be repaired in that area. Keep in mind that the ROLAGS is not a law, but a voluntary standard developed in an effort to promote safe practices and consistent quality workmanship throughout the windshield repair industry.  
Well now that I have bored you to tears let’s get to the heart of the matter. The graphic below shows the current DPVA and recommendations for repairing damage in that area as defined by the ROLAGS. As you can see, although the bridge in last months challenge question photo was very close, it was not within the DPVA.     
So if the ROLAGS is voluntary, why should you care about it? Well this is the part where I insert my humble opinion. Millions of windshield repairs have been performed over the past 30 years, and our industry still has an impeccable safety record, so for what it is worth I don’t think we need laws to govern our business. Unfortunately not everyone agrees with me however, so although not here yet, I believe there may come a day when the ROLAGS is the basis for a nationwide law, or at the very least the standard by which insurance companies create provisions for paying windshield repair claims. Therefore I believe that it is in the best interest of windshield repair technicians to adhere to the ROLAGS. Now, that does not mean that you have to agree with everything in the standard, or that the standard cannot be changed. In fact, it almost certainly will be changed as more technicians provide feedback for the ROLAGS committee to consider. 
Those of you who have attended a Delta Kits training and certification course have been trained to the ROLAGS and have received a copy of the ROLAGS document. For those of you who have not yet reviewed this important document we are providing a link to the ROLAGS website at the end of this article. I hope you will familiarize yourself with the ROLAGS document and submit your opinions to the ROLAGS committee for consideration. It’s a good standard, but it can be better with the help of professional windshield repair technicians like you.
Visit http://www.rolags.com/ to download a current copy of the ROLAGS document.

-Brent Deines

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Winner of What's Wrong with this Picture

We're pleased to say that the results far exceeded our expectations.  We want to extend our thanks and congratulations to all participants.  The winner is Brian Kassela.

Brian Kassela is the founder of Chips & Cracks Mobile Windshield Repair, in Chicago Heights, Illinois.  Currently, Brian is only operating his business part time because he is a full time firefighter/paramedic.  In April of 2007, Brian was browsing through several RV magazines and came across an article about the benefits of windshield repairs, so he started to do some internet research, bought tools, got training and the rest, as they say, is history!  

We will continue featuring the stories of "what’s wrong with this picture" in The Wise Crack Newsletter, so stay tuned for more prizes.

-Korey Gobin

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Previous Edition of What's Wrong with this Picture

Missing Hood Protector: A hood protector covers from fender to fender on most vehicles during windshield repair. Protects hood and fenders from glass fragments, resins, urethanes, tools and clothing that can cause damage to painted surfaces.

Missing UV Protection: Blocks the sun’s ultraviolet rays to eliminate premature curing in windshield repair resin.   

Missing Wiper Blade Protection: Wiper Blades should be protected in the event of accidental resin spill.

Tool box should be closed: Windshield repair tools and supplies should not be left in direct sunlight.

 

-Korey Gobin

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Stay Focused!

Stay Focused

Distractions can be defined as one of the following: lack of ability to pay attention; lack of interest in the object of attention; greater interest in something other than the object of attention; or the great intensity, novelty or attractiveness of something other than the object of attention.
Minimize distractions while working on vehicles. This includes small children, pets, friends, spouses, in-laws or others who may distract you from your work. This will go a long ways towards reducing the risk of injury and making a mistake. Many times, the best way to avoid distractions at work is to change your own focus. Try to tune out any distracting background noises, such as a blaring public address system or the noise of machinery. Eventually, you can train your mind to ignore most extraneous sounds. If your job requires attention to detail, work on developing a type of mental tunnel vision. Some work distractions are based on your own curiosity, so try to adapt a 'been there, seen that' attitude to remain on task.
 

-Korey Gobin

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Safety Tip

It is a good idea to wear safety goggles or safety glasses when you are doing windshield repairs and headlight restorations. Do not wear loose clothing or bulky gloves when performing windshield repairs and headlight restorations. Long sleeves will give you a measure of protection from some materials, but can get tangled with items under the hood so there is a tradeoff, keep the sleeves buttoned. Neckties and sandals are a no-no. If you have long hair, I would recommend putting it under a hat, or wear a hair net to keep it away from moving parts.

Minimize distractions while working on vehicles. This includes small children, pets, friends, spouses, in-laws or others who may distract you from your work. This will go a long ways towards reducing the risk of injury and making a mistake. If you're working outdoors and using power tools, make sure the extension cord you're using is rated for outdoor use, that the extension cord and tools are properly grounded, and that the cord has the proper amp rating for the tools you're using.
 

-Korey Gobin

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