The Best Glue for Plastic Eyeglass Frames for 2023

If you are currently looking for the best glue for plastic eyeglass frames in the market then you are probably one of the many people who are tired of spending hundreds of dollars on new glasses because these always seem to break on them.

Until such time when manufacturers figure out a way to make glasses that are nigh indestructible, the next best thing is to fix your frames as best as you can. If you are someone whose glasses rarely last a couple of months because they always get broken, then you know just how big of a hit your wallet takes every time you buy a new pair.

Even the cheapest frames will cost you around fifty dollars each or so and they do not last that long. On the other hand, branded frames cost at least $200 each and you know that you would find a way to break it somehow.

You gravely need to find the best glue for glasses frames so you can do the repairs yourself. Even just getting your eyeglass frames professionally repaired will cost quite a lot of money. By getting a good superglue to use on your broken frames, you are saving a lot of money, which you can use on more important things.

Here are some choices if you are looking for such kind of superglue:

6 Best Super Superglue for Plastic Eyeglass Frames Reviews of 2023

1. Gorilla Super Glue Gel

This is one of the most famous superglue brands today. This product offered by the brand is the best glue to fix glasses. It has a gel-like consistency so when you place a bead on one part of the eyeglass frame, it will not run. With that, you can join both broken parts more easily.

The thing that I liked the most about this super glue is that it dries and cures in seconds. There is no need for an activator. You do not also need clamps. The only thing you have to do is to hold both pieces together for around 10 to 30 seconds and it will be completely dried solid.

Another characteristic of this superglue that I love is that it is not hard and brittle like others. It contains rubber particles that give it a bit of flexibility and impact resistance. This means that even if I accidentally drop my glasses on the floor, which usually happens, the glue will be able to absorb the impact and remain intact.

This glue tube also comes with an anti-clogging cap. I appreciate this feature because I do not need to prick the opening with a pin anymore. Every time I need to use it, the glue will flow out easily.

2. Ontel 5-second Fix Liquid Plastic Repair

This is yet another UV light-cured superglue. However, this one is packaged as just one item. It looks like a pen with the glue dispense at one end and the UV light is at the other end. This design makes it easy to apply the glue precisely.

This eyeglass glue just takes five seconds to dry and cure to a permanent bond. Once the glue is applied to the surface, shine the UV light on it for around five seconds, longer if you want to be sure, for it to be completely set. This is great when you need to fix your glasses immediately. It is so fast that you will not even miss a beat.

You can also use this glue as a quick filler compound for cracks or holes in the wall. I just mix the glue with some baking soda and apply it on the surface to be fixed and then shine the light on the area for five seconds. Such steps will completely fix it. The glue can also be sanded down and painted to match the rest of the surface.

Because it can only get cured using the UV light, you can remove or reposition the items to be glued how many times you want. You will only shine the light on the glue once satisfied with the position. This is also a great feature when you accidentally place some glue on your skin.

It is because in that case, you just need to wash the surface with some soap and water and you are fine. It is not like a superglue, which bonds to the skin and takes forever to remove. The problem I have with UV cured glue to repair glasses frames like this one is that you have to make sure that it is fully exposed to the light.

3. GUGUYeah UV Light Glue Kit

This superglue is similarly packaged to some of the other entries on this list but what makes this better is it comes with a pinpoint nozzle. This means that it can get even to hard-to-reach areas.

I love that this glue can handle all kinds of materials. You can use this to join plastics, wood, metal, fabrics, and almost anything that you will need fixing. All you have to do is expose the glue to enough ultraviolet light to cure and dry it properly. For bigger repairs, you will need to shine the light on them much longer than usual.

I was also quite impressed at how fast this superglue dried and cured solid. I discovered that as long as the glue got a lot of UV light, it will only take five to ten seconds to dry. Although it did dry fast, it created a strong bond, unlike other glues that get hard but brittle.

I found that once dried, this glue becomes completely waterproof and heat-resistant. This leads to so many different applications not just repairing broken eyeglass frames. The biggest complaint I have about this product is the UV light, which, I think, is not strong enough.

4. Gorilla 6770002 Micro Precise Super Glue

This contains an improved superglue formula. Now, this product is not more impact-resistant and is stronger than before. I was already impressed with the original formula of Gorilla Glue, which is why this one is my new favorite.

I also liked that this new product comes with a Micro Precise dispenser, making it easier to apply even on small items. This makes it the perfect glue for tasks that require a precise application, like fixing figurines, model-making, and of course, fixing eyeglass frames.

The thing that I liked about this particular brand of superglue is that it takes practically no time at all for it to dry and cure. This product takes no more than 45 seconds to dry completely, making it the best choice when you need to fix something real quick.

This is not just for joining together light materials like plastics. You can also use it to bond things like metal, wood, fabric, paper, cardboard, and more. This is the reason why this glue should be in everyone’s home repair kits.

5. CreativeBond Super Strong Bonding Tool

This is a great glue for people who are into arts and crafts. The precision nozzle allows the user to place the glue exactly where it is needed. This is ideal for glasses repairs because you can accurately place a bead or two on the sides that you need to join together.

Unlike other glues, you can shape and mold it to whatever you want. This is great when your eyeglass frame is shattered and some of the pieces are missing. You can shape this glue to fit into the gaps before exposing it to UV light for drying and curing. To do this, give the glue short bursts of UV-light to make it a bit hard and moldable.

Once you are happy with the final shape, give it a long blast of light. This glue has many different applications. Although this is great for eyeglass repairs, you can also use it for other things. Broken mug handles, shattered figurines, cracked wall or floor tiles, this glue can handle them all.

6. J-B Weld 50133 Plastic Bonder

Although using this product to repair broken eyeglass frames can be a bit tricky because you need to mix it thoroughly before you can apply it. However, once applied and cured, this stuff will not be broken and will not give.

This product is not just an adhesive. You can also use it as a filler material, especially for car body repairs. Because you can mold it into different shapes, you can use it to sculpt missing pieces of different items, like if the ear hook of your glasses got broken off and lost. You can use this product to create a new part that is stronger than the original.

Although it is hard to use for repairs that require a lot of precision, that does not mean that this is extremely difficult to use. You just need to mix equal parts of the adhesive and hardener, which is as simple as pushing the plunger of the tube. You should then mix both components thoroughly until you get a uniform color throughout.

I am thoroughly impressed at how durable and long-lasting this super glue for eyeglasses repair is. This brand has been in the industry for more than 40 years. It is easy to find testimonials from users who attest to the effectiveness of the product. Some even shared some samples of their work that are decades old and still holding on strong.

Pacer Technology ZAP-IT The Light Curing Glue (Outdated)

This glue has a cool feature that I have not seen before in others – that is it gets cured and dried using light. The package contains a small UV flashlight that you can use to dry and cure the glue in an instant.

Because this super glue for glasses cures using ultraviolet light, the glue dries in just a couple of seconds. It is not just dry. The glue is cured and will stay stuck on any surface for a long time.

I am pleased that I can also use this glue to fill and repair cracks. I just need to mix it with some baking soda or fine sawdust and then fill the cracks with the resulting paste and shine the UV light on it. I also use this to fill in drill holes in my walls.

Unlike other superglues, you can sand and paint this over. This makes this superglue a quick and easy alternative to wall putty. Although this is much more expensive, this glue for eyeglasses is best if you just need to fill in a couple of holes and cracks and you need to fix them in a hurry.

Damn Good UV Glue Kit (Outdated)

This kit comes with a true UV flashlight, unlike the others that only have a keychain-sized light that is not nearly bright enough to activate this glue. The nice thing about the included UV light is that you can also use it for other purposes, like checking for counterfeit money and looking for deep-seated stains in your home.

Because it is UV-activated, it allows the user to line up the edges before jumpstarting the curing process. This is unlike when you are using regular a superglue wherein you only have seconds to figure out how the broken pieces should line up.

Another feature of this glue that I like is that it dries almost completely clear. You cannot even tell it is there if you do not take a close look at the bonding point. This feature makes this product especially suitable for plastic-framed glasses.

What is Glue for Glasses Frames

Glues used for repairing the frames of eyeglasses are not the same as the ones used by children for their arts and crafts projects. These products weld the broken pieces back together. Some often call these products superglues. Unlike regular school glue, superglues dry and set completely in seconds.

The glues also work on non-porous materials like plastics, metal, and others. Also, when it comes to the strength of their bonds, superglues are leagues ahead of regular ones. The best glues for eyeglass repair boast of the fact that they can hold hundreds of pounds of dead weight.

How Does the Superglue Work

This is an explanation of how traditional superglues work. The main ingredient in most superglues is a chemical resin called cyanoacrylate. The main characteristic of this resin is that it can dry and cure in a matter of seconds when exposed to air and water.

However, this does not mean that you need to soak in water the parts to be glued together. Cyanoacrylate only needs trace amounts of water to cure so there is already plenty of them. This is also the reason why superglue almost instantly dries when you get some superglue on your fingertips.

Types of Eyeglass Glue for Glasses Frames

Several different types of glues and adhesives can be effectively used for fixing broken eyewear, especially those that use plastic frames.

Super Glue – This is the first type of glue that people think of when it comes to eyeglass repairs. This type of adhesive is the most popular because it is the fastest and easiest to use. There is no additional equipment needed and mixing involved.

However, that does not mean that this is the perfect solution for every broken eyeglass frame. The biggest issue is that it sometimes dries too fast. There are times when you need more time to perfectly line up the pieces to be glued together.

You don’t have that much time when you are using superglue. It is almost impossible to redo your mistakes without making a mess.

UV-activated Superglue – These products create a bond that is similar to regular superglue. However, unlike regular superglue that begins to dry and set once exposed to air and water, UV-activated glues will not start drying unless they are exposed to intense ultraviolet light.

Because you need to expose the glue to UV light before it will start to dry, UV-activated glues are the most forgiving of all the ones used for eyeglass repair. You have the option to reposition the objects as many times as needed and then use the UV light to start the drying process once you are satisfied with the placement.

Ultraviolet activate glues come packaged with their compact UV flashlight so you do not have to buy one separately. However, most professionals advise that you get a branded ultraviolet flashlight as the ones that come free with the package are not strong enough to reach the glue when sticking together thick items.

Resin Epoxies – These adhesives are by far the most durable and strongest of all the ones used for repairing glasses. These resin epoxies come in a package containing two tubes – one is the adhesive and the other one is the hardener. These two components must first be mixed before it can start drying and set.

Although epoxy resin is strong, it can be hard to work with, especially when you are doing precision repair work. It can get a bit messy working with epoxy, which is why you will need to sand the joint down after the adhesive has completely dried and cured to even out the rough surface.

Why Do You Need a Glue for Plastic Eyeglass Frames

If you have to wear eyeglasses then you most likely know how bothersome it is to deal with a broken pair of spectacles. Most of the time, the repairs that you have to do are quite simple, like tightening or replacing a couple of screws. However, what will you do when you have to deal with broken plastic temples or cracked rims?

These are the situations that necessitate the use of superglue. Why do you need super glue? It is because these products can make quick and easy work of broken eyeglass frames. You just need to apply the superglue on the parts that need to be reattached and then push them back together.

In a couple of seconds, the glue will dry and completely bond the broken pieces together. Aside from being quick and easy to use, using superglue is a lot neater and a whole lot stronger than the alternative, which has been traditional strips of tape. Sticky tape is not just tacky. It is also not that strong.

Another reason why you should stock up on at least one tube of superglue is that you can use it on many other things other than just fix your safety glasses. You can use it to repair many things, including broken china, figurines and various knick-knacks, toys, and many other things.

It is also useful for your hobbies, like for scale model building, scrapbooking, fixing musical instruments, and more.

Buying Guide

There are hundreds, if not thousands of different brands of superglue in the market today, but not all of them work as well as the others. You can even find some that do not work at all. To help you find which ones are worth your time and money, here are some of the more important factors that you need to take into consideration.

Bond Strength – This means how much weight the bond can carry before it begins to fail. Some glues claim that they can carry thousands of pounds of weight easily and that is what you need to consider getting. Ideally, the glue, when dried, should be stronger than the material it is holding together.

The glue that you need to get should have the bond strength to carry at least a hundred pounds. If you can find something a whole lot stronger, then go for it.

Durability – This pertains to the length of time before the bond starts to weaken and deteriorate. Some poorly-made adhesives start losing their strength after a couple of years. What you should be looking for is something that lasts a whole lot longer, preferably forever.

You do not want to use a glue that deteriorates and gives up after less than a year. You would want to get something that can last for a lifetime.

Drying and Curing Time – Most superglues will only take seconds to dry and partially cure. This means that if you were to repair your safety eyeglasses, you can use it again in just minutes.

Superglues, at least the traditional ones, will start to dry the moment it leaves the tube. However, the glue should not be too fast-drying because you need some time to prepare and position the parts properly.

If you are the type of person who has shaky hands and you need more time to position the pieces properly, get a UV-activated superglue. These products have the same strength as regular superglue but you have the luxury of time.

You can apply the glue first, position the pieces properly then hit them with the UV light to start the curing process.

Ease of Use – Some superglues are very easy to use. Just take off the cap and place a couple of beads on the surfaces to be joined together. Others require combining two compounds and afterward, applying the resulting adhesive onto the items you need to join.

If you are looking for something that you can use for simple eyeglass repairs, like snapped temples, or permanently opening the glasses because the hinges are already too far gone for repairs, using regular superglue will be just fine. However, if you are thinking of sculpting or filling in for a missing fragment, the best material is epoxy resin.

Versatility – Just because you are looking for a superglue for plastic eyeglass frame repairs, which is oddly specific, that does not instantly mean that the one that you get should be able to bond other materials as well.

Your glasses will surely not be the only thing in your home that will require repairs, especially if there are young children around. Get a superglue that, aside from being great at bonding plastics, can also stick together ceramics, wood, paper products, and even metal.

You need to get all bases covered as you can’t tell what item you own will need repairing next.

Price – This does not mean that you should get the cheapest one you can find, as you might end up with a product that is only slightly better than school glue. It also does not mean that you should buy the most expensive of the bunch. This kind of belief is what led people into serious debt.

What I meant about considering the price is to get a product that is worth it, or more so. Get one that works as well as the products that are much more expensive. You can find several products in the middle of the price range that works better than the costlier ones.

The reason they are not as expensive is that they do not have the same brand recognition. With that said, look beyond the brand when shopping for a superglue.

Customer Reviews – You cannot just walk into a store, grab a pack of superglue, and then ask the cashier if they won’t mind if you try the product out before you decide whether you want to buy it or not. Things don’t work that way. You should also take all the promises that the glue brand made in the infomercials with a grain of salt.

You can rarely recreate the same effects at home. The way that you can somehow learn which super glue brands are any good is by doing your research and reading previous customer reviews. If a product has hundreds of reviews and most of them are positive then it is a pretty safe bet that it is pretty good.

Be wary, though, when you find a product with just a few reviews. Even if most of the reviews are negative, that is not a good reason to dismiss it right away. There are times when people who do not know how to use the product properly will leave a bad review just out of frustration.

Care and Maintenance

A good tube of superglue may not be that expensive, but that does not mean that you can just waste it. Your aim should be to get as many uses out of that single tube as you possibly can. You should not waste even a single drop if you can help it. To make sure that you will not be wasting any superglue, here are some tips.

Always replace the cap when you are not using the tube. Superglue will start hardening the moment it gets exposed to air and the water particles that are always hanging in it. This is why you need to replace the cap after every use.

Wipe the nozzle clean before replacing the cap. Before you start fixing your eyeglass frame or whatever it is that you need to repair, always make sure that you have a clean rag handy. Before you replace the cap on the nozzle, you need to wipe it clean. This will prevent the cap from getting accidentally bonded to its cap.

Always make it a habit to use rubber gloves when using superglue. Superglue, when it was first invented, was meant to be a fast way for soldiers on the field to close minor wounds to prevent getting an infection. That is why it is very hard to get your fingers unstuck when you accidentally spill some.

Wearing surgical rubber gloves provides you with ample protection against the effects of superglue while not affecting the dexterity of your hands. Also, remember that a little goes a long way. When using superglue, remember that you do not have to smear a lot of it on the surfaces to be joined.

For instance, if you will be joining two pieces of plastic together, just place a drop on one side then press the pieces together. A good superglue will only require one drop per square inch of material.

Store in a cool dry place. When you are storing the tube of glue, make sure that the cap is put on tightly and then place the tube somewhere that is cool and dry. You should never leave superglue in a humid place.

The moisture in the air will cause it to start curing. You can place it in your workshop desk drawer or toolbox. Just make sure that no heavy tools are pressing down on the tube.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most popular brands of glue for glasses frames?

There are thousands of different brands of superglue that come from all over the world. This means that choosing one particular brand to use can be very hard.

However, if you see the following brands, you can be assured that you will be getting your money’s worth – Gorilla Super Glue Gel, Pacer Technology, Ontel, GUGUYeah, Damn Good, CreativeBond, and J-B Weld.

Many people can attest to the effectiveness of these brands of superglue, so you can place your faith in them as well.

How long will a glued frame last?

It depends on the type of adhesive you use and if you were able to do it correctly.

To give you a general idea, both resin epoxy and super glue are recommended for plastics but the former is structurally stronger. Using super glue for fixing glasses is advisable as it can last for up to a year or two.

Assuming that the resin epoxy is applied correctly, you can expect it to last much longer than super glue.

Can heat damage my eyeglasses?

Yes, extreme heat can ruin the lenses in various ways. For one, high temperatures can warp lenses and plastic frames. It can also damage the special coatings.

Hence, experts do not recommend leaving your eyeglasses in a car as it can get very hot inside during high noon. At the same time, some types of glue for broken glasses frames are not heat-resistant.

Can epoxy or super glue hold my glasses together or should I just buy a new one?

There is a limit to using super glue for glasses repair. For a quick and temporary fix, it can work to get you through a busy day or week until you find the time to go to the eyeglasses shop.

If you’re thinking long-term, you need to determine how broken your frames are before making any decision. Some minor problems can easily be resolved. Loose hinges can be tightened. Likewise, snapped stems can be glued back.

For many people, the price of the designer frames that they broke discourages them from getting a new one. In this case, looking for ways to repair will make more sense.

However, certain damages are simply impossible to repair. If the frames and glasses were smashed into pieces, for instance, you will have no choice but to get a new one. That said, check what the product warranty says and see if it can save you money!

How to use the superglue?

There are several types of superglues that you can use for repairing eyeglasses. The first one is the regular superglue. This product is the easiest to use and also the quickest. You just need to unscrew the cap, gently squeeze the tube, and place a dollop of the stuff on one side of the objects that will be joined together.

Generally, one drop per square inch area of material is enough to create a strong bond. Tip: you should not completely dry the surfaces that you need to bond. They can be a bit wet with water. This will help the glue to cure much faster.

Next comes the UV-activated superglue. This product is still simple to use but it does have some extra steps. First, unscrew the cap of the superglue tube and then apply it as needed. At this point, you can take your time properly positioning the objects to be glued. The glue will still be wet.

Once you are satisfied with the placement, take the included UV flashlight from the package and shine the light directly onto the glue. The UV-light will jumpstart the drying and curing process. After ten to fifteen seconds, the glue would have dried enough that you can release the pressure on the objects.

Lastly, there are epoxy resin adhesives. These are a bit more difficult to use but they do provide the strongest bond. You can also use them for filling large cracks and gaps. There are two tubes included in the package. Get the mixing palate and the small spatula (also included in the package) and proceed to mix equal parts of the tubes.

Continue mixing until you get a uniform color throughout the compound. Apply as much of the epoxy as needed and press or clamp the objects together for a couple of minutes.

How does the superglue work?

The superglue’s main ingredient is a substance called cyanoacrylate. The neat thing about this substance is that when kept inside a vacuum, it will remain as a liquid. However, once it is exposed to air and water, the superglue will start to rapidly dry and cure.

It does not take much water to kick-start the drying process. Even the trace amount that is present in the atmosphere is enough to trigger it.

What materials can superglues bond?

Superglues are very versatile. This means they can pretty much bond almost all kinds of materials. They can bond together the most common materials like wood, paper, plastic, and even metals. However, some superglues specialize in a certain material. For instance, those that are made specifically for plastics are quite common.

What are the weaknesses of superglues?

Superglues are usually used to attach small pieces, like broken eyeglass frames, scale model parts, and fix broken ceramics, broken dentures, and the like. You will have a hard time sticking items with larger surface areas together using superglue because there is not much air in the middle part to facilitate the curing process.

This means you cannot use most brands when you want to stick two blocks of wood together. This is especially true when you are using UV-activated superglue because the UV-light cannot reach that deep.

What is the warranty?

You will find that most brands of superglue do not have any sort of guarantee to back up their claims of effectiveness. Although some of these superglue brands might work well, it can be hard to figure out which of them you should trust.

It is best to buy a brand of superglue that promises to deliver on its claims and reimburse you if you are not 100% satisfied with the product. Many brands have a lot of pride in their product that they are willing to give full refunds to people who are not unhappy with their super glue. You just need to take your time finding them.

Where to buy a superglue?

You can find several brands of superglue and other adhesives that you can use to fix eyeglass frames in your local hardware store. It is even so popular that you might even find one or two brands in 24-hour convenience stores. Purchasing superglue from a hardware store comes with some distinct advantages

One is that you can get advice from the staff on how to use it effectively. However, if you want more choices then you need to go online shopping for them. Many different online retail sites are available for you to visit where you can find lots of different brands of superglue.

The neat thing about online shopping is that you can easily compare prices from different sellers. You can also check out the reviews that the previous customers have left behind. If the reviews are exceedingly positive then you can go ahead and purchase the product with confidence.

Conclusion

If you have to wear glasses to compensate for your poor eyesight then you know how difficult it is when your frames get accidentally broken. You need to fix your eyeglass frames as soon as you can and the best way to do so is by using super glue.

However, not all superglue brands are equally effective. Some are better than others, and you need to make sure that what you get is part of the latter, which can be a hard task if you do not know what to look for.

However, with the help of the buying guide and recommendations mentioned above, your chances of getting the best glue for plastic eyeglass frames will greatly increase.

Andrew Carnegie

Having worked in the field of personal protective equipment for over two decades, Andrew Carnegie is a specialist in the field.

At EDC, he strives to improve performance efficiency and promote workplace safety for EDC’s readers and customers. He also researches the most up-to-date equipment that has earned relevant accreditation for use in a wide range of industries and specialties.