How to Weld Eyeglass Frames: 7 Expert Steps to Repair

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How to Weld Eyeglass Frames

This article is for those who are interested in learning how to weld eyeglass frames. Welding eyeglasses frames can be tricky, but it’s not impossible with the right tools and knowledge. Here are 7 steps that will help you become an expert at welding frames!

Can You Weld Glasses Back Together?

Yes, you can weld glasses together. You can also weld plastic frames and metal frames, but it may be not such a good idea. It’s actually pretty easy to do whether you’re using an electric welder or doing the old-fashioned flame welding method with oxy-acetylene torch equipment.

How to Weld Eyeglass Frames

Step 1: Prepare the Frame

Firstly, clean your frames with a mild soap and water solution to remove any dirt or debris from them before you continue on to welding up those loose joints. Be sure that they are dry completely after washing off all of this grime because moisture can interfere with how well everything sets up during welding.

Step 2: Get Ready for Welding

The next thing to do is take a look at the frame for any broken pieces that you will need to fix before welding. You should also keep in mind how well all of your joints fit together during this step as well.

If there are some areas where things don’t connect up really well, then you might want to try replacing them with new trim or maybe even just resoldering everything instead if it’s a small area and not too much work.

Step 3: Prepare Your Welding Surface

You’ll have an easier time keeping those parts connected properly if they’re being welded onto something sturdy but still easy to cut through so be sure your surface fits this description before continuing on.

A floor works fine as long as the plywood is in good condition and it’s thick enough for you to cut through with a sturdy hand saw. Just be sure that the surface beneath your welding area isn’t too hard because this will make things difficult when trying to drill into them or even break glass away from them which can cause problems later down the line during sanding and polishing work.

Step 4: Weld Your Frames Together

Now you should have everything prepared so take out your welder, hooks, putty flux (if necessary), solder wire (again if needed), and any other supplies that might help get these joints connected well together again before use. You’ll also need whatever type of filler metal your specific machine requires, whether it’s steel rod or copper brazing wire.

Step 5: Weld Your Frame Seams

Now it’s time to get your welder out and start welding up those frame seams. You can either place the metal rod directly on top of these joints using a C-clamp or even just hold them near each other with pliers if that is easier for you until they connect all by themselves through surface tension within seconds flat.

You can separate again only after the joint is complete so always keep an eye on things when working this way because mistakes are common during this step in particular due to distractions from nearby household noise, pets, etc.

Step 6: Clean Up & Polish Everything Down Afterwards

Once everything has cooled down completely after being welded clean off any excess solder filler metal and other materials that might be left on your frames using a steel wool pad until all of the joints are nice, smooth, and uniform in an appearance before moving onto polishing work.

Be sure to take this time to clean up any leftover debris from welding as well by giving everything another wipe down with soap and water or even rubbing alcohol if you have some available which is best for cleaning glass surfaces without leaving them wet afterward.

You can also use a dry cotton rag instead but make sure it’s free of lint too because these tiny fragments will stick out like a sore thumb after being smoothed over during sanding later on!

Now that things are looking good again move on to finishing touches such as adding color tinting into newly welded areas by using a small brush or even just spray painting everything in between for temporary work.

This is best done with an airbrush if you have one available and it’s also really easy to use so keep that in mind while shopping around before making any decisions because this will help speed up color matching efforts later down the line once sanding has been completed during polishing!

Step 7: Sand Everything Down Smooth After Painting & Welding Is Complete

Now comes time to start smoothing things over again, but only after both paint and welding are completely finished underway first by using progressively finer grits of sandpaper starting from 100 all the way up to at least 800 (preferably higher) depending on how much texture was left behind through each step along the way before moving on to the next one.

Be sure to use wet-dry sandpaper if you can find it because this type is especially useful for smoothing glass surfaces without leaving lint particles behind. Still, plain old dry paper works just fine, too, so don’t worry about not being able to track some down at your local hardware store or wherever else you might be located around town. Just make sure that whatever kind of speckled texture was left over after welding has been completely gone before continuing onward during polishing work later on!

The Worst Ways To Fic Eyeglass Frames

Here are some of the worst ways to fix eyeglass frames. Do not do these things!

They might be the easy way out of fixing your glasses, but you certainly don’t want to:

Use a candle

A hot enough flame will melt the plastic just long enough to bond them together, but it’s not going to hold for very long at all. You’ll be back in your optometrist office before you know it!

Tape it

Gaffer’s tape, masking tape, nothing sticky enough will hold for very long either. Plus you’ll leave behind all kinds of residue that has to be cleaned off before the glasses are usable again!

Soak them in superglue or crazy glue

It might work, but what happens when the person wearing these breaks out? That stuff is hard if not impossible to get rid of once dried inside your eyewear and even worse on clothing and hair! The fumes alone can irritate both optics and skin too! Not good at all. Weld with a lighter or candle flame. It sounds quick, easy, and cheap, but it doesn’t last more than one use (if that), and it certainly doesn’t look professional.

Welding eyeglass frames can be a great idea for fixing them in less time and with better results when done correctly. Just follow the seven steps outlined above to do it right! If you are having a problem with welding, talk with a professional.

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