Field repair techniques for shattered windows

[Ryan McGinnis]

Thought I'd start a thread on this, as I was kinda wondering. I've had a crushed front windscreen before, but for the most part, that didn't require field repair as it was safety glass. However, I realized today that I've never really planned for having the rear or the side windows go out in big hail -- which, being non-safety glass, would likely be completely gone.

What's the best way to temporarily patch up a rear or side window blown out by hail? Duct tape and Saran Wrap? I'm more concerned about rain getting into the car and ruining electronics and the like than anything. What kinds of supplies do you keep on hand in case you lose some windows?

 

[Rob Wadsworth]

Well, side windows are safety glass too. When glass breaks up into a cubic form - it is evidence of being safety glass. Nuff said.
Fixing cracked glass that hasn't been separated from its shape can be temp fixed with super glue - believe it or not. As long as a State Trooper can see the crack however - he will pull you over and give you an equipment violation unless you can prove that you are on your way to the repair shop. A side window gone? Duct tape and cardboard may be a temp fix; but if it is in the way of your vision to drive - forget about it...

Fiberglass-reinforced packing tape can be a temp fix on a windshield (extreme upper an lower portion only)- provided that this particular tape does not directly affect your field of vision in that given car. Clear cellophane tape from the inside can keep your vision intact and keep crumbling shards of glass from being blown into your eyes. As long as that cracked windshield can flex - it has the potential to give off glass shards. The more it can flex - the more shards are chipped off. Putting a layer on the outside as well as the inside can ensure some additional strength to the structural integrity - but I wouldn't push one's luck at this point. Vehicle speed/vibration plus whatever wind vector is climatically present and opposing car direction can exert more force on the glass that it may be able to withstand - extreme caution/care must be paid.

 

[Brandon Ivey]

I have only lost two windshields due to hail and they have just done the spider web thing, so it wasn't an issue with rain getting into the vehicle.

I did loose my back window in Hurricane Rita. I had duct tape and that plastic sheet material that you lay down in your home while painting. Yeah, that did not work well. The main issue was the wind obviously. The duct tape held good but the plastic blew around a lot and it was terribly noisy. I opted to just let the back get wet while I continued to film the storm. Only thing of any importance back there were the radio speakers and they survived. I drove all the way from Beaumont back to Wichita without the back window so that helped it dry out a little.

Maybe some type of Plexiglas type set up would work. Just have a few pieces pre-cut in your trunk that fit the shape of your window. If you could find some type of caulking that would set up within minutes, you could get a pretty good seal. The only bad thing with Plexiglas it that is scratches easily. If you had it in your truck for a month or two, who knows how scratched up it would be by the time you actually needed to use it.

I am sure there are some other solutions. If your worried about equipment, maybe try and take something to protect that instead. Your car will dry out but some type of plastic covers for the laptop, camera, camcorder, and other electronics may come in handy if heavy rain was getting into your vehicle before you could find a dry location.

 

[Steve Miller TX]

Use sheets of heavy plastic...the type painters use. You can find it in WalMart. In a pinch, you can quickly cut an oversize piece and close the door on it to secure it in place. Then, when the rain lets up or you find dry shelter, duct tape it into place to better secure it. Don't even bother with saran wrap If the window is "doorless" and it is still poruing, perhaps duct taping from the inside could be an option. Make the sheet long enough to drain the water away from the window. Otherwise like Brandon menitoned, just cover up the equipment with the plastic.

Now for some redneck engineering from ol' Cooter...... ;-)

However, once you get above 20mph, it starts fluttering and making alot of noise...and almost deafening up to 50mph. Soon afterwards, your sanity and patience is quickly drained. A solution is cutting out a piece of cardboard box to fit on the outside. Then, use copious amounts of duct tape and layer it over the cardboard in horizontal strips (from bottom up like shingles) thus securing it firmly and decisively on the body's exterior.

Lastly, repeat the layering process on the vertical ends (left/right) to secure the tag ends from the previous step...making sure the "forward" section is layerd to prevent the wind from working on it to left it up and peel it back as you drive down the road. I found this technique to work well for well over 200 miles and was very quiet.

I am speaking from experience.

So, a list of supplies....

1) Heavy sheet plastic.
2) 2 rolls of duct tape...or one "bubba size".
3) Sharp cutting tool.
4) Band-aids and butterfly stitches with antibiotic ointment for #3 above. A tourniquet if you are really accident prone.
5) A few flat cardboard pieces. If you don't have room, most dumpsters behind retail establishments or grocery stores will usually have some. An understanding convenience store clerk may have some as well in smaller towns. Alsup's is a chaser's friend.

 

[David Drummond]

An illustration of the technique Steve so eloquently outlined as performed after we were out of the damage path of Hurricane Gustav. That repair got us all the way across the State of Texas, as there wasn't a glass show available within 300 miles of the LA border after Gustav.

I consider heavy plastic and duct tape essential chase equipment. Have needed it many times and it's always been handy. Plus it's always nice to help out another chaser with it that you run in to that was a little less fortunate than you that day.

 

[Jason Boggs]

Yep, I have duct tape and heavy clear plastic in my vehicle at all times when chasing. I've never needed it (thank God), but it's there just in case.

 

[Steve Miller TX]

Heck, I was proud of our repair effort. If there were PhD's in redneck engineering, we'd have one. LOL!! I think that was strong enough to stand up to baseball hail. ;-)

David brought up a good point about glass shops. Unless it's a major metropolis, you might find that replacing a side window or even a rear window impossible for a few days until they can get it in. There are just too many models out there with so many variations to keep a full inventory for everything. So, you may have to make it last for a few days.

 

[cdcollura]

Good day,

Me, Doug K, and newbie Brandon J were chasing the Quinter day in KS on May 23, 2008 and my driver's side window was taken out by rocks kicked up by the wedge / RFD.

The fix ... Brandon's Army jacket and duct tape!