Soldering eyeglass Frames

[vjp2.at]

I can reasonably solder electronics although I get an occasional cold solder joint. I have this pair of glasses I didn't wear much which cracked near the temple joint. (The temple cracked). The repair shops ask too much, compared to what I paid for the glasses. I tried online to find temples, to no luck. So I'm considering soldering it. My uncle (a retired EE) told me it would never hold. Part of the problem is it cracked very near the screw joint. and so would suffer a lot more torque than if it was further back. Any tips?

- = - Vasos Panagiotopoulos, Columbia'81+, Reagan, Mozart, Pindus, BioStrategist

---{Nothing herein constitutes advice. Everything fully disclaimed.}--- [Homeland Security means private firearms not lazy obstructive guards] [Urb sprawl confounds terror] [Remorse begets zeal] [Windows is for Bimbos]

[Edwin Pawlowski]

Yes, buy a new pair of glasses.

Will it hold? We can't tell you that not knowing what the material is that you are soldering. It may be brass, titanium, zinc, or something else. If they are junk now, you have nothing to lose so give it a try. Worse case scenario is you get a new pair.

[msg]

Consider brazing the joint; you may be able to find a hobbyist minitorch that uses tiny propane and oxygen cylinders -- Radio Shack used to sell these in the States.

FWIW, I have also made repairs on tiny objects using very low currents with a wire-feed welder; build up the repair and grind to final shape.

Michael

[Logan Shaw]

I tend to be skeptical that solder joints hold well. They're meant to provide an electrical connection, not to be a structural component. But then I also pretty well suck at soldering.

Since the glasses are fairly useless as is, why not try soldering them and find out empirically how well it works?

- Logan

[JoeSpareBedroom]

You could try a little JB Weld. It might look awful, but it might also work.

[John Beckman]

Lead and Tin will not work. I learned how to repair eyeglass frames from my Dad working in his office. He was an "old school" Optometrist. Back in the day when Jewelry stores had Optometrists. His office was one of the few places that repaired broken frames. It requires gold solder and an acetylene jewelers torch. Quick and easy if you have the tools. It will discolor the finish some. If you attempt any other method, it will not work for long and they will be rendered un-repairable. See if you can find a good Jewelers.

john

[Richard J Kinch]

Cannibalize dollar store readers for a replacement temple piece.

You can braze with propane or MAPP and air.

A soldered butt joint won't typically hold, but it may work if you splint with a bit of steel or stainless wire there (any old guitar strings around?). You can gammon with fine Nichrome wire sold for ignitors on eBay.

[mc]

How about taking it to a jeweler who can use a harder, stronger kind of solder and is familiar with metals other than the ones we ordinarily work with?

[Anthony Matonak]

For the cost of hiring a jeweler to fix the frames, it's quite likely he could buy a new set of glasses.

Anthony

[Michael Black]

You drill holes on both sides of the break, and "sew" it with fine wire. I suppose strong thread would work too. Then epoxy over it, using heat so it solidifies fast.

Or if you still want to solder, drill the holes, wire it together, and then solder the wire and frame together. The wire holds it together, the solder just adds a level of firmness.

Michael

[Edwin Pawlowski]

Have you priced prescription glasses recently? I wear a progressive lens with anti-glare coating and darkening lenses. Typical price is about $400. $500 at one place I checked. Actual cost is probably $20 in material.

[Stormin Mormon]

JB weld may very well do the job. The other option is to net search Zenni Optical, they are out of Hong Kong. You likely have your prescription, they will cheerfully sell you eye glasses cut to your Rx. You won't believe the prices, and the glasses are light weight, but I was pleased with the optics.

[Stormin Mormon]

What's a good right wing Republican like you doing with Progressive glasses? That's just another word for liberal, you know.

[Walter R.]

I use bifocals and love my frameless glasses from

cost about $ 40 each. There is no point in repairing eyeglasses.

[Shawn Hirn]

True, but the OP could use the original lenses in new frames. There's no law that says a frame and lenses must be sold together.

[Pete C.]

Solder would never hold, those frames are typically brazed. You can certainly re-braze them, though you would potentially also need to re-paint / re-finish them afterwards.

[Pete C.]

They keep changing frame shapes to prevent that (more profits). The lenses may be perfectly fine, but it's very likely you won't find new frames of the same size and shape if it's more than a year or two old.

[Edwin Pawlowski]

They were sold to my under Hillary's health care plan. I see the world differently now!

[Doug Miller]

Your uncle's right. Eyeglasses frames are brazed, not soldered. Last time I had to get frames repaired (about 5 years ago), it cost $25, which is a *lot* cheaper than a new set of frames.

[William Sommerwerck]

Try

(I got my Flexons from them, then had Costco grind and install the lenses.) If the frame is still manufactured, they'll probably be able to find it for you, or a frame that has the same lens shape.

Another possibility is to contact the frame's manufacturer. They might be able to supply an exact-replacement temple (or a compatible one).