Eyeglass frames have earpieces that fold up to close them when they are not in use. The repeated actions of putting glasses on and off causes stress on the frame. Bumping your glasses on things while working, accidentally sitting or stepping on them or leaving them where the family pet finds them can result in broken eyeglass frames.
Instructions
things you’ll need:
Screwdriver for eyeglasses
Small piece of metal wire
2 inches of copper wire
Alligator clips
Vise
Cotton swab
Flux
Soldering iron
1 Disassemble the eyeglass frames by removing the earpieces and the lenses. Some earpieces have small screws to remove in order to separate them.
2 Place a small piece of metal wire on the area of the break in the eyeglass frames on the inside of the frames. This piece of wire will reinforce the broken area. Place alligator clips on each side of the wire to hold it together.
3 Wrap a two-inch piece of copper wire around the junctions to hold the pieces together. Remove the alligator clips.
4 Place the eyeglass frame in a vise and turn the handle to hold the frame steady without over tightening it and bending the frame.
5 Dip a cotton swab into paste flux and apply a generous amount to the repair area including the metal wire and each side of the broken frame.
6 Plug a soldering iron into an electrical outlet and wait for it to heat. This usually takes two to three minutes and most models have a light that illuminates when it is hot. Hold a piece of silver core solder so the tip touches the repair area.
7 Touch the tip of the soldering iron to the solder and squeeze the trigger to melt the solder onto the repair area. Continue this process to cover the metal wire and both sides of the broken frames with solder.
8 Let the frames cool and remove them from the vise. Unwind and remove the copper wire from the frames. Reassemble the lens and earpieces onto the frames.
Tips & Warnings
Flux helps soldered pieces stick together by keeping oxygen from oxidizing the metal.
You can use a micro torch in the place of a soldering iron.