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Soldering eyeglass Frames

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
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/vjp2/vasos.htm
---{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]
 
E

Edwin Pawlowski

Jan 1, 1970
0
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?

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.
 
M

msg

Jan 1, 1970
0
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?

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
 
L

Logan Shaw

Jan 1, 1970
0
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?

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
 
J

JoeSpareBedroom

Jan 1, 1970
0
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?


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

John Beckman

Jan 1, 1970
0
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
 
R

Richard J Kinch

Jan 1, 1970
0
Any tips?

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.
 
M

mc

Jan 1, 1970
0
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?
 
A

Anthony Matonak

Jan 1, 1970
0
mc said:
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?

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

Anthony
 
E

Edwin Pawlowski

Jan 1, 1970
0
Anthony Matonak said:
For the cost of hiring a jeweler to fix the frames, it's quite
likely he could buy a new set of glasses.

Anthony

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.
 
S

Stormin Mormon

Jan 1, 1970
0
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.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..



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

Stormin Mormon

Jan 1, 1970
0
What's a good right wing Republican like you doing with Progressive glasses?
That's just another word for liberal, you know.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..




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.
 
S

Shawn Hirn

Jan 1, 1970
0
Edwin Pawlowski said:
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.

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.
 
P

Pete C.

Jan 1, 1970
0
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
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/vjp2/vasos.htm
---{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]

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.
 
P

Pete C.

Jan 1, 1970
0
Shawn said:
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.

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.
 
E

Edwin Pawlowski

Jan 1, 1970
0
They were sold to my under Hillary's health care plan. I see the world
differently now!
 
D

Doug Miller

Jan 1, 1970
0
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?

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.
 
W

William Sommerwerck

Jan 1, 1970
0
Try www.framesdirect.com. (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).
 
M

Marsha

Jan 1, 1970
0
Pete said:
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.

When my mother's frames broke, the first shop we went to said they
didn't have frames to fit her lenses, but they could do both frames and
lenses. When I said we go someplace else, it was amazing how fast they
found a pair of frames that fit.

Marsha/Ohio
 
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