How to Weld an Eyeglass Nose Piece

Metal glasses need to be welded for the strongest bond.

Everyone who has owned a pair of eyeglasses knows how easy it is to break them. Instead of looking like the classic nerd and taping your glasses, use a stronger and more practical method to repair your glasses. If your glasses are made of metal, you can weld the metal base of the nose piece back on the frames of your glasses. While there are various welding methods, metal inert gas welding, or MIG welding, is the best for thin metals because of its minimal weld splatter.

Things You'll Need

• MIG welder
• CO2 tank
• Precision screwdriver
• Long-nosed pliers
• Clay
• Protective clothing, goggles, mask and gloves

Instructions

1. Unscrew the lenses and temples, the legs of the glasses, from the frame. Use a precision screwdriver. Remove the temples and lenses and place them in a safe place away from the welding area.

2. Wrap the rubber or plastic piece on the nose piece with a quarter-inch of clay. The clay provides a protective layer, so the non-metallic portion of the nose piece does not melt. Clay is also easy to remove in the future.

3. Turn the dials on MIG welder to the lowest settings for both the wire speed and thickness options.

4. Turn on the MIG welder. Open the valve on the CO2 tank and turn on the ventilation.

5. Squeeze the clay-covered part of the nose piece with long-nosed pliers. Touch the metal end of the nose piece to the frame.

6. Weld the metal of the nose piece to the metal of the frame. Turn off the welder, CO2 tank and ventilation system in that order.

7. Let the nose pieces and glasses cool for one hour. Remove the clay from the soft portion of the nose pieces. Your eye glasses are as good as new.

References

• University of Idaho; MIG Welding; Jared McCombs