RainX Windshield Chip Repair
The Sahara failed state inspection this spring due to an improperly mounted license plate (easily fixed) and too many windshield chips in the driver's viewing area. Before I went on a hunt for a 20 year old windshield that's probably just as bad as mine, I thought I'd try the repair myself. BTW, "Safelight Repair, Safelight Replace" will not fix a windshield with more than 4 dings.
I researched the various kits and the RainX kit looked and operated similar to the profession kit I saw on a YouTube video. It was $20 from Amazon, so even if it didn't work, I didn't have a lot invested.
Here's the kit and tools.
The application was straight forward. The instructions say to apply the resin inside and then move it out into the sun to cure. I can't get the bus inside, so I built a sun shield over the windshield and did it all outside. I taped a small pocket mirror to the inside of the windshield so I could see the chip in the mirror. This helps in positioning the resin chamber correctly and allows you to see if there are any bubbles in the resin as you squeeze it into the ding.
I used a black light to cure the resin. 15 minutes made it hard. It takes 30-45 minutes in sunlight, so the black light shortens the process.
When done, you remove the curing plastic and scrape the resin down with a glass scraper. The initial repair was still visible, so I put a drop of resin on the curing plastic and stuck that to the spot, curing that with the UV light for 15 minutes and scraping off the excess.
For the smallish pit, it just filled the hole but really didn't make it disappear. The bigger chip is only detectable from the inside and only if you know where to look. I tried taking before and after photos, but you really can't see anything in them. Next time I'll take them with the mirror taped to the windshield.
All in all I'm happy with the way this repair kit worked. Be sure to watch the various YouTube videos on the subject, because there is a trick to getting s bubble free result.
I have 2 more chips to do, but I wasted a lot of resin experimenting so I need to get more.
And if it's not good enough to pass inspection, I'm ok driving around with a reject sticker on the MH - LOL
I researched the various kits and the RainX kit looked and operated similar to the profession kit I saw on a YouTube video. It was $20 from Amazon, so even if it didn't work, I didn't have a lot invested.
Here's the kit and tools.
The application was straight forward. The instructions say to apply the resin inside and then move it out into the sun to cure. I can't get the bus inside, so I built a sun shield over the windshield and did it all outside. I taped a small pocket mirror to the inside of the windshield so I could see the chip in the mirror. This helps in positioning the resin chamber correctly and allows you to see if there are any bubbles in the resin as you squeeze it into the ding.
I used a black light to cure the resin. 15 minutes made it hard. It takes 30-45 minutes in sunlight, so the black light shortens the process.
When done, you remove the curing plastic and scrape the resin down with a glass scraper. The initial repair was still visible, so I put a drop of resin on the curing plastic and stuck that to the spot, curing that with the UV light for 15 minutes and scraping off the excess.
For the smallish pit, it just filled the hole but really didn't make it disappear. The bigger chip is only detectable from the inside and only if you know where to look. I tried taking before and after photos, but you really can't see anything in them. Next time I'll take them with the mirror taped to the windshield.
All in all I'm happy with the way this repair kit worked. Be sure to watch the various YouTube videos on the subject, because there is a trick to getting s bubble free result.
I have 2 more chips to do, but I wasted a lot of resin experimenting so I need to get more.
And if it's not good enough to pass inspection, I'm ok driving around with a reject sticker on the MH - LOL
