Where's Your Emergency Hammer Mounted?

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I don't understand! My LC came equiped from Toyota with Window Destruct systems, which have an explosive cord (MDC - Miniature Detonation Cord or FLSC - Flexible Linear Shaped Charge) embedded within the glass! :cheers:
 
I'm not an expert...but from what I understand, the key to breaking the window is hitting it just right at the right point. The tempered glass can take a lot of blunt impact. The goal is to concentrate the force into the smallest area possible, hence a very sharp impact point. With these tools, it's more effective to concentrate on hitting the glass exactly dead on perpendiculor with moderate force, rather than hitting it bluntly with maximum force. That's why its so hard to kick out a window with your foot, but a tiny sharped edged rock just tossed at a window can shatter it.

Since side windows are often curved, it makes it even harder to hit it exactly right. A spring loaded punch is easier to accomplish this, rather than a hammer with the pointed ends, because the nature of swinging the little hammer, will bring the hammer end in contact with the glass at such as an angle that force of impact is both deflected and absorbed. A spring loaded punch is less likely to deflect, even if hit at a slight angle, so it can accomplish what a pointed hammer cannot. If using a pointed hammer, rather than throw all your weight into the glass with the hammer, concentrate on hitting the point end exactly dead on.

Also, the center of the window, where most people think to hit is the strongest part of the window, because the tempered glass allows the entire window to absorb the impact. If you hit the glass at one of the corners, it is weakest there. Think about it like your hand. You are more likely to catch the ball and hold it in the palm of your hand, than with the tip of your fingers.

Once you start to crack the glass, you've started a chain reaction and you're good to go, because the glass can no longer spread out and absorb the impact and it will fall apart very easiliy.

As far as the need for one of these tools, I think anyone that drives off road in the woods where there is any chance that might roll off a trail or logging road down into a creek, should think carefully about their escape options.
 
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