How to Repair Glasses

Repairing your eyeglasses is a lot easier than you might think. With a few simple tools and a touch of ingenuity, you can fix most common problems. Read on to learn how to repair glasses.

Instructions
things you’ll need:
Duct tape
Small piece of metal or wood as a brace
Soldering iron
Solder
Duct tape

Replacing a Missing Screw
1 If a screw pops out, try to screw another one in. This can be a bit tricky, as eyeglass screws are very small. Make sure to have a clean workplace in case you drop the screw.

2 Eyeglasses occasionally get stripped, making it impossible to put in a new screw. If this happens, you can fix the problem with wire, pliers and a wire cutter.

3 Thread a small piece of wire through the pieces to be joined. Use the pliers to twist it as tightly as possible. You will now have a nice, tight join.

4 Cut the end off near the join. Although this will leave a small tail of twisted wire, it will not be very noticeable.

5 Optionally, you can seal up the join with a drop of super glue. This creates a stronger join, but it means that you will not be able to remove the lenses again.

Fixing a Bent Frame
1 If possible, go to an eyeglass shop and have them do it for you. Most places that sell glasses will also repair them free of charge.

2 If you have decided to fix your glasses yourself, start off by looking in a mirror. Notice if the glasses are lopsided, if the earpieces fit snugly, and if there are any other problems that need attention. Try to mentally plan out exactly how far you will have to bend each piece to make the glasses fit properly.

3 Hold the glasses in one pair of pliers immediately adjacent to the point which needs to be bent. Use another pliers to bend them approximately two thirds as far as you think they need.

4 Put the glasses on again and look in the mirror. Double check how much further they need to be bent.

5 Hold the glasses as in step three and attempt to bend them the rest of the way. Use multiple small bends and the mirror to slowly fix the glasses rather than risking bending them too far and having to bend them back. Bending your glasses back and forth too much can fatigue the frames, causing them to break.

Fixing Broken Frames
1 Metal glasses can sometimes be soldered. Use a small piece of metal such as the pocket hook from a pen as a brace immediately behind the break in the frame. This will make the joint more solid.

2 If you don’t mind the geeky look, duct tape will provide you with a good temporary fix. Either wrap enough tape around the break to provide a good solid patch, or use a thin piece of wood and a smaller tape wrapping to create a brace.

3 Super glue can sometimes provide a good temporary fix. If you add duct tape after the glue has set, you will get a stronger joint, less likely to break unexpectedly.

Tips & Warnings
You can find eyeglass repair kits at most dollar stores. These handy little kits include screws, mini screwdrivers, cleaning cloths and extra nose pads.

If you decide to solder, be sure to keep the iron away from the lenses, nose pads, and any other plastic pieces.

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