Super Easy Glasses Repair

Step 3 Mark and Drill the Old Lenses

With a fine tip sharpie and/or very sharp awl, use the lenses from the dollar store glasses as a template to mark your old lenses.  Most likely your lenses won't be exactly the same width, but you can get a good general idea of where (and how far from the edges) to place the holes.

Carefully drill the holes.  If you've got a good sharp awl it will really help you to avoid the drill bit "walking" on the lens, which could really do some damage.  Also, drill a test hole in the cheap lens to get a feel for what you're doing!

Comments

[PyRex]

If you are using a dremel you may be going to fast. A slow speed is better for these types of themoplastics. To properly drill you should practice a few holes with a HSS drill bit, starting with about 350 rpm and playing with how much pressure you apply until you get long spiral chips. Once you can get these chips to form regularly you should be ready to drill you lenses without them fowling up the drill bit. I hope this helps!

[depotdevoid]

Interesting, I didn't realize slow was the way to go. My prior experience with drilling hard plastics has always lead me to believe that going slow tends to be bad, but I'll take your word for it. Next time I have to do this, I'll try it slow!

[DanYHKim]

I have had trouble drilling into polycarbonate lenses.  Your advice to use an awl to make a starting point is very good.  My drill tended to melt the plastic, rather than cutting it.  This made for an awkward hole, and the drill bit was coated with hardened plastic.

I wonder if the drilling could be done under water to keep things cool?

[depotdevoid]

Good point about the melting plastic--I didn't have a problem with the drilling, but my drill was covered in very hard polycarbonate afterward.  I'd be wary of doing it underwater though, I don't want to accidentally get water up in my dremel.