February 25, 2002
A few weeks ago my rear-view mirror fell off the windshield. I went out and bought the three-dollar repair kit (basically a two-part glue) and read the directions. Must be at least 50°F. OK.
Then we went on a four-week-long cold snap. I know some of you reading this are saying, "Gee, that's odd for winter." You may all get bent and stay there -- I'm telling a story here.
Finally, weather.com tells me that it's 53 degrees. I take my rear-view mirror off the coffee table ('cause that's where they go when they fall off), grabbed the glue and headed outside.
I squeeze the tube containing part one. This is supposed to break a vial inside the outer tube and wet a cotton swab with the stuff. In actuality, both the tubes break, getting some glue-stuff on my fingers. On the upside, I don't have cancer yet and I can dyo;; drr/
The rest of the application goes off OK; I add part two to the back of the "button" and hold it in place for a little more than a minute. Then I have to wait 15 minutes for everything to set.
I sit in the car for a couple minutes, because it's a nice day out, then go inside to collect my laundry and read my e-mail. I debated writing this story then but decided against it because with my luck it'd turn out to be my own little version of "Dewey defeats Truman" -- turns out I was right.
After the 15 minutes are up I go back out and put the mirror in place over the button, and screw it down tight, so it won't wobble around. I notice that it's out of alignment and grab the thing to adjust it. And it comes off in my hand.
So, one of four things is true:
- The bit of part one that leaked out was enough to make the bond less than secure.
- I didn't actually wait 15 minutes and therefore the glue wasn't set all the way.
- The fact that a little piece of windshield came off with the button might mean that not enough of the surface had glue on it.
- God hates me.
I don't really want to know which one it is.
