Had Diamon-Fusion process done on windshield

[IdahoDoug]

**UPDATE**Had Diamon-Fusion process done on windshield

I'll put the update right here at the top to save you guys some scrolling. We were able to do the shooting tests earlier this week. I bought an air rifle and a standard BB gun. Several engineers felt the cheap standard type BB gun would be more consistent as they rely on a large spring. Apparently, air rifles vary quite a bit simply because BBs are poorly shaped and widely vary in how much air leakage they allow while firing.

Bottom line was the coating did not provide any discernable difference whatsoever in providing protection and the guys watching who wanted me to sell the product agreed. At the same distance, both coated and uncoated areas were damaged equally. In fact, we could not find a distance at which the coated area would suffer no damage while damaging the uncoated area.

Then this morning, I subjected it to a final test. Took the windshield to a sand blaster and had him hit it from about 7 feet with coarse sand. It uniformely hazed the windshield so it looked like it had about 100,000 miles on it (2-3 tiny pits per square inch). Absolutely no pattern emerged between the treated and untreated areas. So, a total bust. Needless to say I will not be carrying this product. Too bad, as I was really looking forward to it based upon the claims.

Anectdotally, the pellet gun at 15 pumps was able to easily drive a BB completely through the windshield. It was a devastating hit and this was at 100 feet - blasted right through. Yowza. Guess junior won't be getting one of those until he's, oh......35.

Regards,

DougM



3/30/05:I've been thinking about carrying this product, so I had it done today on the 97 since it got a new windshield (won't work on old w/s). It's purported to make the windshield chip proof and up to 10 times stronger. As a bonus, it also permanently makes water build up on it even more than Rain-X. As a diehard Rain-X fan that is cool as well.

The going rate will be over $300 with a 5 year unlimited mile warranty against any windshield damage.

We are having quite a bit of rain here, and its water shedding is truly the best I've ever seen - kinda wild. When the rain lets up, we've got a new windshield that's coated only in sections so I can test it by shooting with an air rifle.

Anyone have any experience or knowledge of it in their markets?? I gather it's a process from the East Coast.

DougM

 

[reffug]

When the rain lets up, we've got a new windshield that's coated only in sections so I can test it by shooting with an air rifle.

Anyone have any experience or knowledge of it in their markets?? I gather it's a process from the East Coast.

DougM

Are you really gonna shhot at it with an air rifle.

No I have never even heard of it but will definately be interested in your results. I have always been a big fan of rain-x, my only complaint is that is doesn't last long enough and constant reapplication is necessary to often.

 

[alia176]

Does the rain-X windshield res fluid do any good?

 

[firetruck41]

I have heard of something like that before, and have been curious how it holds up long term. I guess you're the guinea pig.

 

[stayalert]

Unless things have changed while I was napping...In MA comprehensive auto insurance include full glass coverage w/o deductable. Its been awhuile since I've needed to replace a windshield but if your market has similar scenarios it would be a deterent to Preventative windshield treatments....Just a thought...
Rob M
Concord, MA

 

[Josh83]

Shoot it with a .357. If it will turn that, sign me up. Otherwise, my insurance covers windshields with 0 deductable.

 

[mot]

Are you really gonna shhot at it with an air rifle.

YES, HE IS!!!

This is Doug we are talking about. Just ask him about the rescue hammer test and stuff.

 

[ryanjl]

Does it effect the "shatterproof" qualities of glass in collisions?

In other words, will there be glass daggers flying around if the windshield gets busted in a crash?

 

[TX_TLC]

It sounds like it would enhance the shatterproof qualities in a collision. Windshields are tough to break through even after completly shattered. While and EMT I got to cut through several w/s on crash sites to extract the patients. Once we cut through it, you roll it out of the way...yes roll the glass. Most people wouldn't believe the strength of the backing on the w/s.

I am interested if nothing more for the water conditions. I am an avid RainX user and just also purchased the RainX for the washer fluid...I will let y'all know how well it works to "maintain".

 

[IdahoDoug]

Yeah, the insurance issue is something I'm concerned about from a value perspective. The company's (Diamon-Fusion) business model requires that each treatment include a $169 insurance policy for the 5 year warranty. Of course they are the insurer and get the $169..... To me, this makes the product too expensive for much volume considering most are covered for windshields as noted above. So, I'm going to complete the testing and business analysis because I started it, even though I found this out last night and it changes everything.

It won't change any of the safety glass behavior of the windshield, actually. It makes the outer layer of the glass (w/s's have 3 layers) much tougher, however. And just to clarify, the w/s we're shooting is not in the 80 (heh). The 80 has a new and coated w/s as well.

DougM

 

[NorCalDoug]

Does the rain-X windshield res fluid do any good?

No. Think of Rain-x as a wax of sorts for the windshield. You apply it, wait for it to dry to a hazy finish, then you wipe it off. I would think adding it to the winshield washer res fluid would do as much good as adding a liquid car wax to the bucket of water you'd use when washing the rig -- i.e. no good at all.

Back to the thread topic...
My insurance policy has a zero deductible for chip repairs, but a $100 deductible for windshield repair. I hate the hassle of windshield replacement and the potential for problems after the fact if/when the windshield-monkey screws up the installation...

I'm curious about the test results.

What is this product? Is it something that's rolled out and placed on top of the glass then fused on? Or is it some sort of liquid that's applied and fused?

 

[Cruisin'Carolina]

Interesting stuff.....maybe cost prohibitive for some depending on coverage, but that is an excellent point concerning the hassles and faulty re-installs (read leaks) that so many on here have suffered through.....

Keep the info coming, I am a rain-x addict as well.

 

[IdahoDoug]

It's actually put on with a vapor deposition process. What this means is it goes on as a vapor using a special little airtight box that also has nitrogen pumped into it to help create the molecular bond. The box is run back and forth on the glass and has rubber lips so it can cover all the way to the edges of an installed w/s. RainX uses a physical bond like paint which can wear off. This stuff becomes part of the glass permanently. A good analogy would be it's liquid glass that makes the surface of the glass perfectly smooth vs comprised of a rough surface (on a micro level, of course - looks smooth to the naked eye).

I suspect some of the high end buyers will want it for the reasons Doug mentions - they don't want someone pulling the w/s out of their $80,000 BMW and slapping in an aftermarket one, nor do they want the hassle in terms of time.

DougM

 

[NorCalDoug]

Is this done with the glass installed on the vehicle or pre-installation?

Pretty interesting.

 

[IdahoDoug]

Installed. Has to be a new car or new w/s however. Even a slightly pitted one (1000 miles) is no longer a candidate as the surface imperfections are too large to be filled into a smooth surface.

You can look it up by googling Diamon-Fusion.

DougM

 

[NorCalDoug]

You can look it up by googling Diamon-Fusion.

DougM

Very interesting stuff/process.
Lots of different applications too. I don't know how much it would be to have this stuff applied to our shower enclosure, but I know the wife would love it.

 

[ryanjl]

No. Think of Rain-x as a wax of sorts for the windshield. You apply it, wait for it to dry to a hazy finish, then you wipe it off. I would think adding it to the winshield washer res fluid would do as much good as adding a liquid car wax to the bucket of water you'd use when washing the rig -- i.e. no good at all.

I think he is talking about the Rain-x brand washer fluid. I have some because it is contains a de-icing formula (spray it on your windshield in the winter to de-ice it if there's any there), but it's also supposed to have some silicone or something in it that will stick to the windshield and help it bead water.

To answer your question alia, if it does make a difference, it's not really noticeable.



This Diamond Fusion kinda sounds similar to stuff they can put on eyeglasses to keep them from getting scratched or pitted.

 

[FirstToy]

Installed. Has to be a new car or new w/s however. Even a slightly pitted one (1000 miles) is no longer a candidate as the surface imperfections are too large to be filled into a smooth surface.

You can look it up by googling Diamon-Fusion.

DougM

I would be very interested in D-F but I guess the requirements cancel me out. It sounds like it would be better to market directly to car dealerships?

Because of the many irregularities of windshield installation, I really want to save my original one.

Can they polish the current w/s and treat it ?

 

[NorCalDoug]

I would be very interested in D-F but I guess the requirements cancel me out...Because of the many irregularities of windshield installation, I really want to save my original one...

Hopefully it never happens to you, but I've had to replace mine in the past (previous rig). My current one has a few chips repaired...fairly well, but I don't expect it to live forever. This is something that I'd consider after the next replacement.

I really don't look forward to getting the glass-monkey to replace the windshield per FSM specs...

 

[Beowulf]

Does the rain-X windshield res fluid do any good?

I think he is talking about the Rain-x brand washer fluid. I have some because it is contains a de-icing formula (spray it on your windshield in the winter to de-ice it if there's any there), but it's also supposed to have some silicone or something in it that will stick to the windshield and help it bead water.

To answer your question alia, if it does make a difference, it's not really noticeable.

Alia,

I bought a gallon and used it over about a year. (Remember, we don't get much rain here so it takes a loooong time to use a gallon.)

I think it did a decent job of keeping the w/s Rain-X'd. The down side was that it started clogging up in the resevoir strainer. I don't remember it clogging when I first used it but, with age, the liquid appears to separate. I was worried that it would clog the hoses and nozzles but that didn't happen. The effectiveness also deterioriated with time.

I will not use the Rain-X washer fluid again, but I *love* the Rain-X product.

-B-