Custom glass awards are particularly treasured thanks to their sophisticated and beautiful design. Recipients of such awards will proudly display them where others can see and admire their achievements. It is therefore very tragic when they are damaged and repairs are needed.
Most glass items can be difficult to repair, however success tends to vary depending on the location and extent of the damage. Here are a few tips on how to restore damaged glass awards, if at all possible.
Clean Breaks
If the award has been broken without shattering, it may be possible to reattach the broken part with minimal evidence. Some people think that using superglue is a good fix, but it is not. Such home repairs can often come out uneven, with the glue being visible. Such glue will also not be strong enough when you consider how heavy solid glass awards can be. It will likely come undone and cause the broken part to fall off again and possibly become more damaged than before.
Take the broken award to a glass restoration professional to carry out the reattachment. These specialists use a museum-quality adhesive that is much stronger than anything you will get in a store. This adhesive will hold damaged parts much better. The restorer will also likely sand down the surface along the break before reattaching the pieces and creating an imperceptible secure bond.
Keep in mind that this kind of restoration work can be quite expensive so it is advisable to shop around and consider if it may not make better sense to entirely replace the award instead.
Cracks
Cracks can be an unsightly blemish on glass or crystal awards. A good way to fix them is with acrylic glass glue. This glue can be found in most hobby and home improvement stores. You simply need to apply a thin layer of glue along the crack line to fill out the space and bond. If the crack is deep, you should pass over it with another line of glue. Be sure to keep the glue off your hands as it is a strong adhesive. Leave the award to dry. This will allow it to harden and repair the crack.
Replacement
If the part that is broken is too severely damaged, a glass restorer may be able to recreate the part or simply remake the entire award. Keep in mind that there are limitations to what even experts can do and replacing a glass award entirely could be the best solution.