Beading Tips & Tricks - How to repair a magnet clasp

Although it doesn't happen often, occasionally the magnet will pop out of a clasp as in the photo above. You can see that the magnet is now stuck to the other half of the clasp and the socket is empty. If you have attached your clasp with jump rings, you can simply put on a new clasp. But, what if you have stitched the clasp directly to the bracelet or you don't want to waste a perfectly good clasp? My husband Jerry came up with the following method for putting the magnet back in the clasp and I've yet to have one come back out after he has repaired it. Below is a tutorial showing how he does it plus at the end is a link to download a PDF file of the tutorial.

SUPPLIES:

• Epoxy (30-minute slow-cure)
• Sharpening stone, file or sand paper
• Sharp knife or razor blade
• Skewer or toothpick
• Wax paper - one sheet for your work surface plus a small square
• Alcohol - for removing excess glue from the clasp and your hands

1. Use a knife or razor blade to scrape the excess dried glue from the magnet.

2. Rough up the side of the magnet that will be glued as well as the sides of the magnet. Do this by rubbing it along a sharpening stone or file. This helps the glue adhere to the magnet better. Wipe off any magnet dust.

3. Put a dab of each part of the epoxy on the wax paper. Both dabs must be exactly the same amount. They should be close to each other but not touching.

4. Mix both parts of the epoxy together by rolling the side of the skewer from one dab over and onto to the other. Roll the skewer back and forth until they are well blended. Doing this prevents bubbles from forming in the glue.

5. Using the flat end of the skewer, scoop up just enough epoxy to rub around the inside edges of the empty magnet socket allowing a little of it to run into the bottom of the socket. You don't want too much glue or it will ooze out.

6. Spread a thin coat of the epoxy on the back and sides of the magnet and insert it into the socket. If the glue does ooze out a bit, wipe it off with a little alcohol.

7. Put the small square of wax paper between the newly glued magnet and the magnet on the other side of the clasp. This prevents the magnets from fusing together should any glue get between them. It also keeps the newly glued magnet from dropping too far into the socket as it dries.

8. Set the bracelet on wax paper or hang it for several hours in a warm place until the glue has dried.

9. Slide the magnets apart (don't pull them) to remove the wax paper. Dry at least another 24 hours before wearing the bracelet.

JERRY'S TIP:
Keep the piece of wax paper with the remaining mixed epoxy. Use this dab of glue as an indicator of when the glue inside the magnet has dried. When the dab of epoxy on the paper has hardened, you'll know that the glue on the magnet has also set.

Click HERE to download a PDF of this tutorial.