Glass blowing is a wonderful hobby that results in some beautiful artwork for your home. My name is Natalie, and I started in glass blowing as a hobbyist, but now I teach classes in this skill. Some people think glass blowing is difficult or dangerous. That's not the case at all. As you build your skill level, you will find that you learn very quickly. In this blog, I will examine the misconceptions about glass blowing and teach you some of the techniques. I will also give you helpful tips about where to find a glass so you can practice this new skill yourself.
Making a decision between having windshield replacement and repair work done can mean a big difference in terms of money. It's also a serious safety concern in a lot of cases. Here's what you need to know when deciding between the two potential options.
Chips and Cracks in the Driver's Line of Sight
By far the biggest worry you should have is when there is a chick or a crack that obstructs your line of sight. Windshield repair materials, while excellent, will not be completely clear. They also will not have the same index of refraction as the pre-existing glass did. That means that objects and people in those spots may be entirely occluded, or the image you see of them may not accurately reflect their locations. When in doubt about the driver's line of sight following a possible fix, it's better to just have a professional perform a windshield replacement.
The Type of Damage
Some kinds of damage are more likely to compromise the integrity of a windshield than others. For example, a bulls-eye crack is one that has rings radiating outward from the point of original impact. This kind of damage is indicative of a serious structural compromise, and a windshield replacement is in order. Spidering cracks aren't necessarily a cause for worry, but you should keep an eye on them just to make sure they're not expanding. If one gets bigger, you're going to need to replace the windshield.
The Size of the Damaged Area
A chip that's three inches or smaller in size should be fine if it's not showing any signs of radiating outward. A simple windshield repair using a curable resin should stabilize the area and prevent spreading. Cracks can actually be surprisingly large before replacement is presumed. According to the National Windshield Repair Association, a crack less than 14 inches long may actually only need to be repaired. Combination breaks, ones that display characteristics of multiple styles of cracks and chips, should not be allowed to get larger than two inches.
Pitting depth is a different issue. Generally, if the pit penetrates less than 1/8 of an inch into a windshield, it should be repairable.
Insurance Rules
Your insurer may have different requirements for the size and style of damage they're willing to cover. When you visit an auto glass business, tell them you need an insurance estimate before you can make a decision.
Share26 March 2019
