Anyone Tried iMac Glass Repair?

[DataMedics]

So I had to replace a messed up hard drive at my local place of worship. Total freebie job. It's one of the late 2012 iMacs with a 27" retina screen which is used as an audio/video station for some of the display monitors in the building. It's the type where the glass is all part of the monitor, and can't be independently replaced.

While running my razor knife around the edge to cut the glue strip a small chip on the side suddenly turned into a nice 3" crack. It's still functional, and certainly not worth the $400 that a replacement screen costs.

I'm just wondering if anyone has ever tried using some sort of automotive glass repair resin to fill such cracks, and how did it work out? Any products you would/wouldn't recommend?

 

[trevm999]

I don't know how the glass is attached to the lcd, so I would be worried about the resin then running down on the back side of the glass.

Also, you run a razor over it to clean up the dried resin, so I don't know if you might scratch the glass there.

And the resin also requires UV light to cure

 

[DataMedics]

I don't know how the glass is attached to the lcd, so I would be worried about the resin then running down on the back side of the glass.

Also, you run a razor over it to clean up the dried resin, so I don't know if you might scratch the glass there.

Yes, these are both things that concerned me. Thus why I'm asking if anyone has tried it before and might have any advice.

 

[Markverhyden]

Nope. Stay away from repair like that.

 

[DataMedics]

Does that freedom extend in both directions, or are you expected to assume liability for the job even though you didn't charge for it?

Actually, it does. They were about to toss the machine and replace it when they couldn't even get it to boot to recovery mode. I offered to clone the drive using my data recovery equipment onto another drive, and that (combined with DiskWarrior) solved the booting issue. My intent was just to conserve contributed funds, after all, I'm sometimes one contributing here.

The crack isn't that bad, and everyone is willing to live with it. It's in the back at the audio console, not out where it's visible to everyone. It's just hooked up to some 55" monitors across the auditorium that it runs. It's really me that's being fussy since I know that I'll be annoyed every time I happen to be there and it catches my eye.

 

[Markverhyden]

ifixit says that it's "bonded" whatever that means. I'm guessing it's an epoxy or super glue kind of thing, not dft.

 

[NJW]

The crack isn't that bad, and everyone is willing to live with it.

A photo would be useful. I've never seen a crack in glass that didn't get bigger over time – thermal stress, poking fingers ... it will happen and eventually there will be two pieces of glass.

I'd talk to your local automotive glass repairer and see what they say. It may not be possible for them to repair a single layer of glass as the repair procedure requires pulling a partial vacuum in the crack, which relies on the integrity of the centre laminate film in a windscreen.

Is there a local regulatory requirement that prohibits broken glass screens in this situation? If so, it may not be your choice.

 

[trevm999]

I'd talk to your local automotive glass repairer and see what they say. It may not be possible for them to repair a single layer of glass as the repair procedure requires pulling a partial vacuum in the crack, which relies on the integrity of the centre laminate film in a windscreen.

The problem is that you have to anchor the crack, otherwise you will never be able to fill the tip of the crack.

If you put some resin on the crack, it will probably seep in, and then you can wipe off the surface and just let the stuff that went in to the crack cure. The crack won't be flush but it might look better, however you unlikely be able to get the tip of the crack, so it is still subject to cracking further.

 

[DataMedics]

Not the greatest picture because when i took it wasn't trying to highlight the crack. (was texting someone to show it was back up)

But, here's what it looks like:

 

[trevm999]

Not the greatest picture because when i took it wasn't trying to highlight the crack. (was texting someone to show it was back up)

But, here's what it looks like:
View attachment 8063

So, if that was a windshield, those cracks would be too long to just put the apparatus on and fill in the chip, you would have to anchor (create a bullseye chip at the end of each crack) the cracks, fill in the chips and the anchors, and run some resin overtop of the crack and try to get it to seep in.

 

[DataMedics]

Pretty much. Though to be honest, I'm not thrilled with the idea of taking an awl and punching a new hole at the end of each crack. Knowing my fortune, it'd destroy the whole thing.

Even if I don't anchor the cracks, I suspect some resin seeping in there might help to slow the crack from going further.

So I take it no one here has actually tried any of this...

 

[trevm999]

I've repaired windshields, but I've only thought about repairing a small solar panel, never did end up trying it.

Yeah, I wouldn't want to try to anchor it, just keep adding resin when the crack gets bigger and eventually you'll be able to fill it all in when the crack reaches the other side

 

[NJW]

if that was a windshield, those cracks would be too long to just put the apparatus on and fill in the chip

Not repairable in Europe, as the crack extends to the edge of the glass.

What about using glass laminating film? At least it would contain the eventual pieces.

I'm not thrilled with the idea of taking an awl and punching a new hole at the end of each crack. Knowing my fortune, it'd destroy the whole thing.

You're probably right.

 

[TECCS]

it looks like it doesn't extend over very much view able part of the scree. Put tape neatly over it to stop it spreading as easily. black electricians tape for instance

 

[trevm999]

Not repairable in Europe, as the crack extends to the edge of the glass.

That's interesting. I had heard that 'they' don't like to repair cracks that reached the edge, but when I took the training there was no regulations against that, it could even vary here by province though.