Crazing Repair?

Geico266 · #1 08-24-2011, 07:21 AM

Is there anything that can be done for windshield crazing? I have a spot on my -10 windscreen about the size of a silver dollar with light crazing. It has been there since the plane was built in 06 and has not gotten worse.

What about the process where they repair cracks with resin under pressure? Is that compatable with our windscreens?

If someone has an old windscreen I would like to get it and do some testing.

scootwoot · #2 08-24-2011, 03:58 PM

I'd try this from Vans
http://vansaircraft.com/cgi-bin/cata...ct=scratch-off

Regards
Bill

Rick_A · #3 08-24-2011, 05:32 PM

Probably very similar to the product Vans sells but ACS carries Micromesh which is designed to remove crazing.

I watched a Micromesh video not long ago - after the first pass it looks like the windshield had been ruined - because your are "sanding" the plexi with a fine (or not so fine depending on how bad the crazing is to start) sandpaper. However, when they finished, the windshield was perfectly clear and all the crazing had been removed.

aerhed · #4 08-24-2011, 07:17 PM

I go with Rick on the micromesh. It can't always get deep old crazing, but it will often get rid of or at least minimize it. I think the regular plexi kits go to 6000 grit, but I got a full set from 1800-12,000 (Malaysian) on ebay for like ten bucks. Works fine & the higher grits make it mo' clear. Downside is you might wind up chasing little scratches all over your 10.

Geico266 · #5 08-24-2011, 08:50 PM

Thanks for the input. I really appreciate it. Although sanding my wind screen seems like a bad idea.

Other than distractions from glints of sunlight is there any danger to the wind screen? There seems to have been no progression of the crazing since I have had the plane, but cracks are never a good thing.

Has anyone had to replace the wind screen in an RV-10?

schristo@mac.com · #6 08-24-2011, 09:56 PM

i have the kit that vans sells and the two foam pads and the backing pad for your drill are very nice... it is a progressive system with 4 grades of abrasive. the two most aggressive are used with the yellow pad and the final two go with the white one. in no time you can take the sanded spot right back to perfectly clear. the deeper the scratch the more sanding needs to be done before you start the buffing process but is is no big deal for small scratches on the outside of the canopy.

as an alternate to going through the 4 grades of abrasive i have found this stuff to be amazing. it is a diminishing abrasive and gets finer and finer as you buff... a bit of water sprayed and it gets finer still.

jdeas · #7 08-25-2011, 08:03 AM

In AP class I have buffed out a few scratches etc. While it can be done I would suggest scratching then buffing out a test piece before getting anywhere near your windscreen with these products. It takes time and a bit of practice. First time I tried this I ended up buffing a much larger area than needed due to the 'learning process'. My anxiety would have been off the scale if that first attempt had been on my canopy!

Geico266 · #8 08-25-2011, 08:19 AM

Anyone have any thoughts about the liquid resin fix? It seems to me the crazing is deeper than scratches, or is that just an optical illusion?

Putting the area in a vacuum then flooding it with resin makes sense. This works on glass repairs, just not sure about plastic.

I guess I could call the companies that do and and see. Does anyone havhave a broken or scrap wind screen to practice on?

TroyW · #9 08-25-2011, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geico266

Anyone have any thoughts about the liquid resin fix? It seems to me the crazing is deeper than scratches, or is that just an optical illusion?

Putting the area in a vacuum then flooding it with resin makes sense. This works on glass repairs, just not sure about plastic.

I guess I could call the companies that do and and see. Does anyone havhave a broken or scrap wind screen to practice on?

It might be worth talking to these guys, since that's what they do!

http://www.glasstechnics.co.uk/aircraft.html

N9331v · #10 08-25-2011, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geico266

Anyone have any thoughts about the liquid resin fix? It seems to me the crazing is deeper than scratches, or is that just an optical illusion?

Putting the area in a vacuum then flooding it with resin makes sense. This works on glass repairs, just not sure about plastic.

I guess I could call the companies that do and and see. Does anyone havhave a broken or scrap wind screen to practice on?

For years I polished GA windows out for a living, out of the hundreds of windows I sanded and polished I never ran across a plexiglas window I could not repair. Most crazing always creates a optical illusion. A great kit for the first timer would be the micro mesh kit.

Good luck

Ed