june2023 - 17

2b. Make the replacement
As mentioned earlier, there are instances when
a windshield cannot be repaired and must be
replaced. There are different ways a technician can
go about removing a windshield or other panels
of glass. Cutting it out with a knife is arguably the
most common.
There are also specialized
tools a glass technician could
use. Equalizer is one manufacturer
that offers these types of
tools. Equalizer's product offering
includes tools designed to
help separate lower corners
of windshields when a knife
won't work, battery-powered
bladed tools to enhance the
cutting-out process, and cordand-wire
devices.
Patterson said many in the
auto glass repair industry have
reverted back to an old-school
methodology-but with a little
twist, literally.
" When I started out in this
industry more than 40 years
ago, we used piano wire, "
Patterson said. " Now we're
using what is essentially a
braided cloth string. The technician
feeds it through and
uses a ratcheting-type device
to cut out the glass.
" We like this method for
several reasons, " Patterson
continued. " Many of today's
vehicles have aluminum
and/or really thin pieces of
metal. Traditional tools have
a decent chance of damaging
those types of materials. You
have to treat the replacement
differently than when working
with steel. "
A glass technician could
also use an induction heating
device to help remove
windshields and other
panels of glass. The Inductor
Glass Blaster from Induction
Innovations is one example.
" The science behind this
tool is pretty simple, " said
Cliff Lu, sales and marketing
specialist for Induction
Innovations. " The technician
uses the Glass Blaster to heat
up the pinch weld while applying
constant outward pressure
with an I-wedge. That allows
the technician to release the
urethane line at
its lowest
possible temperature, helping
to avoid any collateral damage
to the vehicle. "
According to Lu, using the
Glass Blaster is straightforward
for a skilled technician.
June 2023 | FleetMaintenance.com
17
Removing a windshield involves a five-step
process that generally takes around 15 to 30
minutes on a large vehicle like a semi-truck. That's
a considerable time saving over the traditional
method of using knives or wires, which Lu said
can sometimes take a couple of hours.
As Patterson also pointed out earlier, protecting
the area around the repair is an important
consideration for a glass technician. That's why
one of the five steps of the Glass Blaster process
includes spraying cool water around the window
to protect the paint from overheating and to guard
against damaging any rubber. Lu said a technician
could also use another product from Induction
Innovations, Inductor Cold Shield Thermal Spray
Gel, for an added degree of protection.

http://www.texausa.com

june2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of june2023

Hitched Up: Navigating the messy middle
Shop Operations: The hidden value of optimized PM scheduling
In the Bay: Crackproof glass repair gameplan
Equipment: Charging ahead? CEV Progress Report
Trailer: Tractor-trailer air lines: Contamination keep away
Safety: The astronomical importance of shop ergonomics
Management: Why employee feedback is a gift
Guest Editorial: How IoT reshapes maintenance
Fleet Parts & Components
Tools & Equipment
Product Spotlight: Battery testing equipment
june2023 - 1
june2023 - 2
june2023 - 3
june2023 - 4
june2023 - 5
june2023 - Hitched Up: Navigating the messy middle
june2023 - 7
june2023 - Shop Operations: The hidden value of optimized PM scheduling
june2023 - 9
june2023 - 10
june2023 - 11
june2023 - 12
june2023 - 13
june2023 - In the Bay: Crackproof glass repair gameplan
june2023 - 15
june2023 - 16
june2023 - 17
june2023 - 18
june2023 - 19
june2023 - Equipment: Charging ahead? CEV Progress Report
june2023 - 21
june2023 - 22
june2023 - 23
june2023 - 24
june2023 - 25
june2023 - Trailer: Tractor-trailer air lines: Contamination keep away
june2023 - 27
june2023 - Safety: The astronomical importance of shop ergonomics
june2023 - 29
june2023 - 30
june2023 - 31
june2023 - Management: Why employee feedback is a gift
june2023 - 33
june2023 - Guest Editorial: How IoT reshapes maintenance
june2023 - 35
june2023 - Fleet Parts & Components
june2023 - 37
june2023 - 38
june2023 - Tools & Equipment
june2023 - 40
june2023 - 41
june2023 - Product Spotlight: Battery testing equipment
june2023 - 43
june2023 - 44
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