H
F
G
E
WORKSHOP
Fig. E: When done sewing, tape the loose ends to each
side of the frames. We used white thread here, just so
you can see it. Fig. F: Make your radial wraps around the
core joint snug and tidy, but be gentle. Neat little wraps,
smoothly aligned, are the ideal. Fig. G: Once the
reverse radial wrap is done, soak the final wrap in glue.
Fig. H: Set the glasses somewhere safe to cure for
24 hours.
6. Sew the break shut.
The tension band is just thread that matches your
glasses wound around the core joint through the
holes you just drilled. It gives the repair strength.
Thread a fine needle with 4'– 6' of thread. Tape
the loose end to one side of the frame so that you
can wrap snugly. Make your wraps snug and tidy. At
the same time, be gentle and don’t stress the joint.
Sew as many wraps of thread as you can. When
the needle won’t fit through anymore, you’re done
— pass the thread across the top and tape it to the
opposite side of the frame (Figure E).
able, but aim to make the overall effect smooth.
Soak the wrap in glue, making sure it penetrates
to the layers below, with no bubbles. Blot lightly and
let cure 10 minutes.
9. Wind and glue the reverse
radial wrap.
Untape the far end and neatly wind the reverse
radial wrap, in the opposite direction. The point is
to make the 2 wraps’ threads cross over each other
to give the repair stiffness and strength.
Tape the loose end down and soak the final wrap
in glue, as before (Figure G). Let it cure 2 minutes
and then trim the ends neatly.
7. Glue the tension band.
Use glue to fill the drilled holes and soak the thread,
making sure there are no air bubbles, then lightly
blot with a swab. Let it cure 15 minutes, and then trim
the ends, being careful not to nick the tension band.
10. Let it cure!
Set the glasses aside to cure for 24 hours (Figure H).
Skimping on cure time will weaken the repair.
Now your glasses are ready to wear. Enjoy!
8. Wind and glue the first
radial wrap.
Tape one end of the thread above a lens, and wrap
it carefully and completely across the bridge of the
glasses (Figure F). Tape the far end down to the
frame, but don’t trim it. Neat little wraps, all smoothly
aligned, are the ideal. A little crisscrossing is unavoid-
Dmitri and Trudia Monk are a father-daughter inventor-author-photographer team. Dmitri started disassembling
his toys at the age of 5. Now he writes software for a Silicon
Valley startup. When Trudia is not attending school or
helping fix things, she enjoys training animals.
140 Make: Volume 20
