I hate using glue, but a customer brought in a pair of earrings to be repaired. The base is brass, and one of the charms came off - obviously glued on originally. These are old: possibly from the 80’s, and I don’t know what the charm’s metal is or the glue was. It appears to be “pot metal,” and I really don’t want to apply heat to it. I would appreciate a recommendation on a good metal glue that at least dries clear.
Thank you in advance, Judi
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Any two part epoxy will do, like Araldite or UHU. 5 minute is good for really small jobs that only take a dot or blob, but you’ve only got less than that amount of time to get it done, so clean up and layout the pieces before mixing the glue. 1 or 24 hour is better for larger jobs, to give you more time to get it done and adjust/align things. Allocate an area for the work that won’t be bumped or knocked until the glue sets.
Don’t mix parts A and B until ready, and don’t use the same tool to get glue from both tubes.
Don’t allow the glue from one to containate the other. Keep lids separate and don’t mix them up, or you’ll never get them back off again!
You only need a very small amount so don’t squirt out great puddles of glue to mix, you’ll only waste it. Less is more.
I use a needle to apply glue for really small jobs, like pearl holes on pegs.
I use a fine pointed toothpick for larger jobs.
Don’t get it on your fingers, or you’ll transfer it to everything you touch. If you do accidentally, wipe it off with a tissue immediately.
Keep your glue working tools clean, by wiping them down before the glue on them sets hard.
Finally, consider that it’s the glue between job surfaces that does the holding work, not the excess that oozes around the edges, so concentrate on applying it only where needed and using only the absolute minimum required. Excess visible when done is a sign of an amateur, so try and be a professional.
TIP: No glue lasts forever, so don’t give lifetime guarantees for your work. Reglue every 10 yrs max.
Best of luck!
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This is a great reply! Very educational. I don’t like gluing things, though I do have epoxy experience. I use a 2part JB Weld epoxy for gluing magnets into needle-minders, but it dries black. Those are hidden, though, and I use it to keep the magnet in place. I do use a 2-part epoxy for half-drilled pearls, but wasn’t sure if that would work for metal-to-metal. Thank you!
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Hello-
I’ve glued many stone-to-Sterling Silver post earrings with E6000. There is a clear version. This is single part glue that is slow settin and stays flexible
Sand both surfaces to increase surface area & improve holding. Clean both surfaces. put enough E6000 on the ear pad so the bead will surround the pad when its placed on the back of a stone.
Glue in a room temperature or warmer area. Allow to sit overnight.
someone tried to tear-off an ear pad & post.glued with E6000 clear. They worked and worked and pulled the post out of the pad. The ear pad remained on the stone.
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