“Close Cut” or “Full Cut”?

2010-11-11T19:01:00.000-08:00

Some people refer to the “Seal” as a part of the windshield, side glass, quarter glass, vent glass or back glass that prevents leakage. In reality, the “Seal” is called “Urethane”. During the replacement process, a “V-Shaped” bead of urethane is applied to the glass prior to placing it on the body of the vehicle. “Urethane” is the “Sealant” and firmly bonds glass or encapsulated glass to the metal “Pinchweld” (the area where two pieces of metal are joined together in an L-shape to form the glass opening). Urethane not only holds the glass securely in place but also inhibits water from entering the vehicle to prevent leaks. Premium urethane has other features but we will address them in a future blog.

In this blog we wanted to discuss the difference between the “Close Cut” vs. the “Full Cut” Methods of removing the old Urethane from the Pinchweld. So, here we go.

"Full Cut Method"

After cutting out the glass from the body of the vehicle, the old urethane remains on the pinchweld. The “Close Cut” method (Not Recommended!) only partially removes a small amount of this remaining urethane. This is called “Decking”. Decking builds onto that partially removed urethane by filling in that area with a smaller, thinner bead. This acts as an extension to the original bead (just as a deck addition to your home extends it but does not have the same structural integrity). This will cause the auto glass to unnaturally set higher off the pinchweld that could cause stress cracks/leaks and compromise strength. If the auto glass requires a second replacement and another “Close Cut” is performed, this may result in total adhesive failure. Remember, the strength of a link is only as strong as the weakest link.

"V-Cut"

The “Full Cut” method (The Only One To Use), is performed by uniformly trimming down the entire old bead of urethane on the pinchweld to 1 to 3 mm thin. This creates a smooth, flat, clean surface. By placing the “V-Shaped” bead on the glass part then placing it onto a correctly prepped surface, the urethane flattens to the proper height; the part sits accurately in place and securely fits to the body of the vehicle. Remember, this “V-Shaped” bead is the configuration used to apply urethane by all new car manufacturers worldwide for optimum glass placement.

When you choose Able Auto Glass for your auto glass replacement needs, we practice the “Full Cut” method, apply a “V-Shaped” bead and use primer on the pinchweld as a rust preventative measure. For your safety, our NGA certified technician strictly adheres to these procedures and we offer a lifetime warranty against water leakage.

Back Dots Around My Rear-View Mirror

2010-03-12T14:40:00.000-08:00

What are those black dots around my rear-view mirror?

This is our first Blog at Able Auto Glass in Houston, TX so please be patient as we will strive to continue bringing new content as it relates to auto glass repair and replacement.

I would like to talk about the black dots you may see around your rear-view mirror. Most of our customers think this is a an antenna. The terminology used in the auto glass industry is "Third Visor Frit". We all know the purpose of a “Visor” on a baseball cap. It helps block the light so you can see the playing field without all the glare. When you drive toward the sun, you and your passenger probably flipped down your interior “Visors” above your head to see better. Everyone realizes there exists a gap between your interior “Visors” where the sun could still shine into your eyes. So, a “Third Visor” was created on the glass to help block those rays. It is located on the glass behind your rear-view mirror and is a continuation of the “Frit” (black area) around the outer perimeter of the windshield. It looks like rectangular or bullet shaped black dots and dips down in the middle of the glass.

The other part of the name “Third Visor Frit” is the word "Frit". The “Frit” is the black paint applied to the glass and serves (3) main purposes. First (most important), is to help block ultraviolet rays from degrading the urethane (protecting its strength). The urethane is what most people think of as the seal and it holds the auto glass to the body of the vehicle. Second, when the “Frit” feels etched (fused with a glass ceramic particle) the urethane is better able to adhere to the glass. Third, this black opaque area creates added aesthetic value (beautification). It serves as a border to conceal the interior details of the a-pillar, headliner, overhead console, dashboard and electrochromic mirror to hide wires, metal welds, trim, etc.

Next time you call Able Auto Glass in Houston, TX, you can say with confidence this dotted design on your windshield is a “Third Visor Frit”.

Thank you for taking the time to read our blog.....

Blog by Able Auto Glass

“Close Cut” or “Full Cut”?

Back Dots Around My Rear-View Mirror