Glue for Glass and metal

[Polly]

When we used to glue thousands of post earring backs to crystal jewels, we used our #60-210 24-hour epoxy.

This lasted quite well.  I still have some of the earrings, 15 years later.  However, simple, small post earrings don't receive a lot of abuse.

Are you cleaning the parts thoroughly with alcohol, and then allowing them to dry, before gluing them? If not, perhaps this will fix the problem.
For a good bond, it is important that both surfaces to be joined, be dust-free and oil-free.  Many jewelry findings are stamped out via a slightly oily process,  so the cleaning step can be very important.

Another question I have, is "Where is the bond failing?"
Is the glue coming off the metal part, or the glass part?

--Polly

[Polly]

Kurt (Metalman) knew exactly where I was heading with that last question.
If the glue was separating from the metal, I was going to suggest filing/sanding it a bit.

If the glue was separating from the glass ... I wasn't sure if you wanted to file that, because if there is a reflective or colored foil on the back of the glass jewel, you wouldn't want to damage that foil.

And other thing to take into consideration -- perhaps this was already mentioned in your other posting; I'm sorry I forget -- is the working environment.  Are there any temperature or humidity issues that may affect the glue?  Excessive humidity may affect the glue bond.

Please let us know if thoroughly cleaning the parts with alcohol and cotton swab helps your situation.  Removing dust and oils is an often-overlooked step, that can make a huge difference.

--Polly

[Polly]

We've had the best luck with simple, pure rubbing alcohol and a good-brand cotton swab.

I think the glass cleaner may contain substances, that left behind in trace elements, are affecting the glue.

--Polly

[Javaglass]

The finding I am trying to fix is a cufflink with a small silver disc. This is the bit I am attemping to fix to the glass  jewel. The jewel is 15mm x 20 mm and the disc is about 4mm diam. As it is a cufflink it is exposed to stress and hearin lies the problem. I have tried all types of epoxy resins (slow bond and fast bond) a colleague of mine even used UV set glue especially for glass to metal and that didn't work either! (Part of the problem with the UV glues seems to be that the glass is coloured.
Any suggestions welcome

[Metalman]

Polly's last question regarding the glueing is an important one.  Something that might help to sand or file  the surfaces to 'rough' them up abit.  A little bit of texture will allow the glue to get a 'foot hold' on these non-porous materials.  The 24 hour bond epoxy should also make a difference.  I have heard that you can mend an engine block with our 24hr epoxy.  Keep us posted.

[Javaglass]

The bond is failing from the silver, not the glass, which I found surprising. I have tried abrasing both surfaces and cleaning. My colleague tried again with the UV set glue and although it did appear to hold when pulling on it, the trouble is that if you apply a snapping action the silver just pops off. I only tried cleaning with glass cleaner Should I try something else?

[Metalman]

If you are confident of the 'snapping action' being a concern, you will probably need to design/engineer a mechanical connection that is reinforced by glue

Hi
Hopefully this reply is not to late. I use E6000 to glue glass and metal. If the metal is flexible or will move at all the epoxy does not work because it will not bend with the piece. it is true and correct to clean both surfaces very well (silver and glass) with rubbing alcohol. Than follow the directions on the glue. After years of gluing barrettes,rings,earrings,pendants etc all made out of glass to the metals I have had two mishaps. the roughing up of the surface is good too. usually when I fuse a piece I do it on a rough shelf paper so the rough surface is already there.
Theresa