Don’t you hate it when you’re heading off to a favourite destination – or simply conducting your daily commute – and a rock the size of Jupiter flicks up and smashes into your windscreen? Okay, so it might not actually be that big – but it can feel that way when it’s happening. Other times, you don’t see the stone – but you certainly hear it strike and it doesn’t take long to find the chip.
In the old days, a decent thwack by a rock would turn a windscreen into crazy paving. These days, lamination and improved materials means that the damage may not be so immediate. But many chips will still initiate a crack that can soon expand across your windscreen, impeding your forward vision and making your vehicle un-roadworthy. What roadside repair options you have available will depend on the extent of the damage and what you have in the vehicle with you. So you might try to fill the crack with a clear acrylic nail polish – or use the epoxy glue in your toolbox. But you know these are only temporary fixes that won’t survive the effects of wind, frost, rain and the sun’s deteriorating UV rays.
Happily, there’s a simple and long-lasting solution for ‘do-it-yourself’ windscreen repairs. The UFIXIT – Do it yourself – Windscreen repair kit can repair stars, bullseyes, chips and cracks. The product is good for small round damage no larger than a 30mm in diameter (more than an inch in the old tongue) and cracks no longer that 100mm in length (think of the size of a decent fishing lure).
At just $35, the kit is excellent value as it includes enough product to carry out eight or so repairs from the same pack. Unused resin lasts in the container up to five years after opening.
For the last two years, we’ve been using UFIXIT to repair the occasional chip in the windscreen on the Hilux in the back shed. The instructions are clear and easy to follow, and the job generally takes under an hour to complete. Once applied, we’ve not had a single instance of the product failing. It’s prevented chips from spreading – including during periods of frost and rapid temperature variations that place the most pressure on windscreen weak-points. While it’s obviously best to apply UFIXIT as soon as the damage occurs, we’ve applied it up to a week from the point of impact and still achieved excellent results. The key is to ensure that the surface is clean and dry before you start.
The full product test appeared in Caravan World #563. Subscribe today for the latest caravan reviews and news every month!