Best glue for metal in eyeglass frame?

July 2, 2020 12:02 PM

My (plastic-frame, metal hinge mechanism) glasses came apart at the hinge. There's basically a narrow metal pin that goes into a narrow-ish (but not tight enough to hold the pin on its own/with friction) metal slot that I need to get to stay. What's a good glue to use that's easily available in a big city? I'm wary of superglue/things that won't fill up space, but there's also not much extra space.

Is DAP silicone sealant (which I happen to have a tube of) a terrible terrible idea? I plan to replace the glasses eventually (and have an old old pair as backup) so it doesn't need to be beautiful or last forever or allow the hinge to bend, but my other pair is scratched and old so I'd really like to have this one usable. I also wash my glasses approximately 5000 times a day because they get dirty, and it drives me nuts, so a waterproof fix would be preferable.

For context/why the pieces don't fit together tightly: I think what happened is that some mechanism (inside the slot) that functions to allow the hinge to have some spring to it snapped or broke, so the pin isn't tethered to the very bottom of the slot anymore. I don't need to fix this mechanism, though, just get the arm to stay attached to the rest of the frame.

posted by needs more cowbell to Grab Bag (12 answers total)

I can’t speak to DAP, but keep a squeeze bottle of gorilla glue available for small-but-strong glueing. You’ve probably considered this, but have you consulted with the place you purchased the frames? It’s good for them to know about breakage, regardless. If you physically purchased them nearby, they may repair them for you (with relevant COVID-19 protocols).
posted by childofTethys at 12:20 PM on July 2, 2020

I've worn glasses for a few decades and every time I've had a problem like this I've just popped into the nearest optometrist (optician) shop and they've repaired it for me free of charge. It doesn't need to be "my" optometrist.
posted by McNulty at 12:26 PM on July 2, 2020 [1 favorite]

Two-part epoxy is available in most places. It has good water resistance and will fill small spaces very well, and is extremely strong.

No to silicone sealant, except as a short-term fix.

Any yes, if you can take them back to a branch of the place where you bought them, they'll probably fix them for free.
posted by pipeski at 12:28 PM on July 2, 2020 [3 favorites]

they'll probably fix them for free.

They will also do a better job than I am ever able to, and I'm usually the guy saying which glues to use. Also, it will be easier for them to fix it if it's not all gluey.
posted by aubilenon at 12:32 PM on July 2, 2020 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: The private-practice optometrist I bought them from is across the country and it doesn't feel worth it to me to deal with an optician I don't know given the pandemic, so I'm specifically looking for advice about glue to use to fix them myself.
posted by needs more cowbell at 12:33 PM on July 2, 2020

Two-part epoxy is available in most places. It has good water resistance and will fill small spaces very well, and is extremely strong.

I’ve used this before (JB Weld, specifically) to successfully repair a pair of plastic sunglass frames that had snapped in two. They did not break again. It’s the only thing I would consider on a set of frames I actually cared about repairing.
posted by musicinmybrain at 12:37 PM on July 2, 2020

2 part epoxy is the right answer!

silicone doesn't stick to metal unfortunately, but epoxy does. if you buy the 5-minute cure kind it's pretty fast. put equal parts of the 2 kinds and mix them up (if they're in separate tubes, err on the side of extra hardener if you're unsure), mix them together super well and then mix them at LEAST 30 seconds longer after you get tired of mixing!
posted by euphoria066 at 12:38 PM on July 2, 2020 [1 favorite]

I guess I would try two-part epoxy, and set it with them open, so if worst comes to worst and you get glue in the hinge you can at least wear them but be unable to close them (which is better than being able to close them but not able to wear them). To reduce the chances of that I'd first coat any parts you don't want to adhere with a little vaseline (apply using a toothpick or similar).
posted by aubilenon at 12:39 PM on July 2, 2020 [1 favorite]

Epoxy is the right stuff for sure. The “5 minute” descriptor refers to how long it takes to solidify, not how long it takes to develop full strength. Since the contact area is so small, you’ll need to let it cure thoroughly before stressing the joint.

I’d clean the mating surfaces with alcohol, mix and apply glue, assemble, set it down and don’t touch it until the next day.
posted by jon1270 at 2:46 PM on July 2, 2020 [2 favorites]

I'm sure you're right about the internal spring. That seems to be how the slight 'click' into a fully open position is typically arranged.

But that means there's quite a bit of play for the pin inside the slot, so you might need to be careful to glue it in the fully open position so that it will open all the way and not put potentially glue-cracking stress on the join between pin and slot.
posted by jamjam at 3:05 PM on July 2, 2020

"....or allow the hinge to bend, " in that case I'd use Sugru, a moldable silicon rubber glue. You can mold it completely around the hinge, let it set overnight, and it'll stay that way.
I just fixed several of my cheap around-the-house glasses. One was separated at the hinge, as your pictures; one had a crack in the frame at the top allowing the lens to fall out; glue won't hold that one at all but the Sugru will.
posted by winesong at 3:07 PM on July 2, 2020

If you do the two part epoxy, prepare a place for the glasses to sit while they cure where they are supported and held a bit just like how you want them to be in the end. If you just lay them down, there's a chance that gravity will have some time to slightly pull them out of the alignment you want before the epoxy has time to cure enough to prevent that.
posted by zengargoyle at 8:30 PM on July 2, 2020 [2 favorites]