Spring hinge--busted!

[Quince]

We have a small bin of used temples I have collected over the years and I use those as replacements. I'll have to pick up some shrink tube, that sounds a lot quicker than digging through my bin of temples.

We do both methods in my office. The shrink tube is quicker but less effective as a repair.

[Uncle Fester]

We've all seen these. You know, the metal in the box breaks off, and the temple comes off with only a nubbin left.

What are any temporary fixes?

I've even tried pushing in that smelly putty that turns into metal (didn't work).

I usually use fabric tape for the ultimate nerd effect.

Go to the Dollar Tree store and buy a bunch of frames with similar hinges.

File down the tip of a 1.0 or smaller nose pad screw. Put a safety pin through the replacement temple and hinge barrels- flex open the temple and line up the filed down screw. At an angle slide the tip into the hinge gap to let the holes line up without using 1.2 tan-n-snaps and viola.

Works more often than not.

Clariti has a decent inexpensive ophthalmic metal line that uses this hinge design as well.

[Alex Camblor]

We have a small bin of used temples I have collected over the years and I use those as replacements. I'll have to pick up some shrink tube, that sounds a lot quicker than digging through my bin of temples.

[CME4SPECS]

Den, would you please provide a video of that repair, we all would sure appreciate it.

[Den]

You just drill out the old one and insert a new one:bounce:

[Tallboy]

Did I understand right- none of you can fix/replace spring hinges?

Give me the tools and I can I will, but america wants it all and doesn't want to pay for performance.

[Robert Martellaro]

Did I understand right- none of you can fix/replace spring hinges?

I think most of us can, at one time or another, braze or weld, I believe that in most instances it's in neither of our interests (optician/client) to do so. I recommend taking the cost of repair and applying it towards a new pair, or a barebones temporary pair, if their spare pair is marginal and/or if there's a long wait to see an ophtho or optom.

Best regards,

Robert Martellaro

[Quince]

Hmm, sounds like a good side business but not something I am interested in adding to the day to day flow. I'll have to check out what the startup cost comes to. Most people are happy enough with shrink tube, but I like having another option.

[CME4SPECS]

Can you please recommend where we can order soldering tools? We have been outsourcing to Hilco, and its getting so expensive. The shipping, and cost of soldering its very high.

Hilco has everything that you will need. Torch, solder, flux, a third hand.

[Quince]

Did I understand right- none of you can fix/replace spring hinges?

Sounds like you have something to share with the class? Looking forward to it!

[Den]

Did I understand right- none of you can fix/replace spring hinges?

[optician2601]

I solder them quite often. Sometimes using a staking press you can "pinch" the box enough, that it will grab the nubbin, and hold very temporarily. Shrink tubing with a little metal for support can be used also.

Can you please recommend where we can order soldering tools? We have been outsourcing to Hilco, and its getting so expensive. The shipping, and cost of soldering its very high.

[Quince]

I wrap a piece of scotch tape around the area to hold it secure while the shrink wrap shrinks.

I've also used electrical tape in this scenario either for its flexibility and thickness.

Here's an extra hack- you know the stick-on nose pads that come on the little squares? Save the squares and you can trim the left behind sticky outline to fit the outer side of a temple hinge on a temple that bends out too far (usually when the spring hinge is not quite broken but going to be very soon- or when an accent piece falls off the edge of the temple that meets the frame front [or you can drill a tiny hole here and screw in a nose pad screw for the same effect.])

[Caroline]

Shrink tube! My fave temporary fix for this situation if I don't have a spare junk temple.

Spending time on a simple repair, that won't cost you anything, can turn a person in need into a customer for life.

I wrap a piece of scotch tape around the area to hold it secure while the shrink wrap shrinks.

[jefe]

... you could drill the nub and pin it...

That's what I do.