<div dir="auto">You're probably right that they were solvent welded, that's fairly common with acrylic pieces (what I see my wife's clips appear to be).  Maybe buy a couple test clips that appear to be there same material for testing as solvent welding can deform really if not done in just there right way.  </div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Here's there AI scoop on welding the two plastics I see clips are mostly made from:</div><div dir="auto"><div><div style="font-family:"google sans",roboto,arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;margin:0px 0px 20px;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;letter-spacing:normal;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;text-decoration:none;color:rgb(238,240,255)"><div style="font-family:"google sans",roboto,arial,sans-serif" dir="auto">Both cellulose acetate and acrylic can be solvent welded</div>, but they require different solvents to fuse the plastic together. The solvent essentially melts the surfaces of the plastic pieces, which then bond to form a seamless, single piece as the solvent evaporates.<span style="white-space:nowrap;font-family:"google sans",roboto,arial,sans-serif"> <button style="margin:0px 6px 0px 0px;border:medium;border-radius:10px;height:20px;padding:0px;width:28px;outline:0px"><span style="display:inline-block"></span></button></span></div><div style="font-family:"google sans",roboto,arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-style:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;text-decoration:none;color:rgb(238,240,255)"></div><div style="margin:20px 0px 10px;font-family:"google sans",roboto,arial,sans-serif;font-weight:500;font-style:normal;letter-spacing:normal;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;text-decoration:none;color:rgb(238,240,255)">Solvent welding cellulose acetate<span style="white-space:nowrap;font-family:"google sans",roboto,arial,sans-serif"><button style="margin:0px 6px 0px 0px;border:medium;border-radius:10px;height:20px;padding:0px;width:28px;outline:0px"><span style="display:inline-block"></span></button></span></div><ul style="margin:10px 0px 20px;padding:0px;font-family:"google sans",roboto,arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-style:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;text-decoration:none;color:rgb(238,240,255)"><li style="margin:0px 0px 16px;padding:0px;list-style:outside;font-family:"google sans",roboto,arial,sans-serif"><strong style="font-weight:bolder;font-family:"google sans",roboto,arial,sans-serif">Solvents:</strong> The most common and accessible solvent for welding cellulose acetate is pure acetone. Nail polish remover is not recommended as it contains emollients and other additives that interfere with the welding process.</li><li style="margin:0px 0px 16px;padding:0px;list-style:outside;font-family:"google sans",roboto,arial,sans-serif"><strong style="font-weight:bolder;font-family:"google sans",roboto,arial,sans-serif">Method:</strong> A thin coat of acetone is applied to the clean surfaces of the cellulose acetate. The pieces are then pressed together and held firmly while the solvent evaporates.</li><li style="margin:0px 0px 16px;padding:0px;list-style:outside;font-family:"google sans",roboto,arial,sans-serif"><strong style="font-weight:bolder;font-family:"google sans",roboto,arial,sans-serif">Considerations:</strong> The process for welding cellulose acetate can be slow and requires significant pressure for a successful bond.</li><li style="margin:0px 0px 16px;padding:0px;list-style:outside;font-family:"google sans",roboto,arial,sans-serif"><strong style="font-weight:bolder;font-family:"google sans",roboto,arial,sans-serif">Best for:</strong> Eyeglass frames, tool handles, and film materials.<span style="white-space:nowrap;font-family:"google sans",roboto,arial,sans-serif"> <button style="margin:0px 6px 0px 0px;border:medium;border-radius:10px;height:20px;padding:0px;width:28px;outline:0px"><span style="display:inline-block"></span></button></span></li></ul><div style="font-family:"google sans",roboto,arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-style:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;text-decoration:none;color:rgb(238,240,255)"></div><div style="margin:20px 0px 10px;font-family:"google sans",roboto,arial,sans-serif;font-weight:500;font-style:normal;letter-spacing:normal;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;text-decoration:none;color:rgb(238,240,255)">Solvent welding acrylic<span style="white-space:nowrap;font-family:"google sans",roboto,arial,sans-serif"><button style="margin:0px 6px 0px 0px;border:medium;border-radius:10px;height:20px;padding:0px;width:28px;outline:0px"><span style="display:inline-block"></span></button></span></div><ul style="margin:10px 0px 20px;padding:0px;font-family:"google sans",roboto,arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-style:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;text-decoration:none;color:rgb(238,240,255)"><li style="margin:0px 0px 16px;padding:0px;list-style:outside;font-family:"google sans",roboto,arial,sans-serif"><strong style="font-weight:bolder;font-family:"google sans",roboto,arial,sans-serif">Solvents:</strong> Acrylic solvent cements, such as Weld-On #3 and #4, are specifically designed for bonding acrylic. These cements are typically a fast-drying, water-thin liquid based on chemicals like methylene chloride.</li><li style="margin:0px 0px 16px;padding:0px;list-style:outside;font-family:"google sans",roboto,arial,sans-serif"><strong style="font-weight:bolder;font-family:"google sans",roboto,arial,sans-serif">Method:</strong> The process relies on capillary action. With the pieces held together, a small amount of the liquid cement is applied along the seam. The solvent is drawn into the joint, melting the two surfaces together.</li><li style="margin:0px 0px 16px;padding:0px;list-style:outside;font-family:"google sans",roboto,arial,sans-serif"><strong style="font-weight:bolder;font-family:"google sans",roboto,arial,sans-serif">Considerations:</strong> It is crucial to have perfectly flat, smooth, and clean edges, as the watery solvent will not fill gaps. Clamping or taping the pieces together beforehand is recommended for precision.</li><li style="margin:0px 0px 16px;padding:0px;list-style:outside;font-family:"google sans",roboto,arial,sans-serif"><strong style="font-weight:bolder;font-family:"google sans",roboto,arial,sans-serif">Best for:</strong> Projects requiring a strong, clear, and seamless joint, such as display cases, signs, and aquariums.<span style="white-space:nowrap;font-family:"google sans",roboto,arial,sans-serif"> <button style="margin:0px 6px 0px 0px;border:medium;border-radius:10px;height:20px;padding:0px;width:28px;outline:0px"><span style="display:inline-block"></span></button></span></li></ul><div style="font-family:"google sans",roboto,arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-style:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;text-decoration:none;color:rgb(238,240,255)"></div><div style="margin:20px 0px 10px;font-family:"google sans",roboto,arial,sans-serif;font-weight:500;font-style:normal;letter-spacing:normal;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;text-decoration:none;color:rgb(238,240,255)">Key differences between the two<span style="white-space:nowrap;font-family:"google sans",roboto,arial,sans-serif"><button style="margin:0px 6px 0px 0px;border:medium;border-radius:10px;height:20px;padding:0px;width:28px;outline:0px"><span style="display:inline-block"></span></button></span></div><div style="font-family:"google sans",roboto,arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-style:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;text-decoration:none;color:rgb(238,240,255)"></div><div style="margin:16px 20px;font-family:"google sans",roboto,arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-style:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;text-decoration:none;color:rgb(238,240,255)"><table style="border:medium;border-collapse:collapse;table-layout:auto;width:696px;font-family:"google sans",roboto,arial,sans-serif"><tbody style="font-family:"google sans",roboto,arial,sans-serif"><tr style="font-family:"google sans",roboto,arial,sans-serif"><th colspan="undefined" style="border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;min-width:4em;vertical-align:top;font-weight:bold;padding:0px 10px 12px 0px;text-align:left;font-size:14px;background:repeat;font-family:"google sans",roboto,arial,sans-serif;border-bottom-color:currentcolor">Feature<span style="white-space:nowrap;font-family:"google sans",roboto,arial,sans-serif"> <button style="margin:0px 6px 0px 0px;border:medium;border-radius:10px;height:20px;padding:0px;width:28px;outline:0px"><span style="display:inline-block"></span></button></span></th><th colspan="undefined" style="border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;min-width:4em;vertical-align:top;font-weight:bold;padding:0px 10px 12px 16px;text-align:left;font-size:14px;font-family:"google sans",roboto,arial,sans-serif;border-bottom-color:currentcolor">Cellulose Acetate</th><th colspan="undefined" style="border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;min-width:4em;vertical-align:top;font-weight:bold;padding:0px 0px 12px 10px;text-align:left;font-size:14px;font-family:"google sans",roboto,arial,sans-serif;border-bottom-color:currentcolor">Acrylic</th></tr><tr style="font-family:"google sans",roboto,arial,sans-serif"><td colspan="undefined" style="border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;min-width:4em;vertical-align:top;font-family:"google sans",arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:18px;padding:12px 10px 12px 0px;font-weight:400;background:repeat;border-bottom-color:currentcolor"><strong style="font-weight:bolder;font-family:"google sans",arial,sans-serif">Common Solvent</strong></td><td colspan="undefined" style="border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;min-width:4em;vertical-align:top;font-family:"google sans",arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:18px;padding:12px 10px;font-weight:400;border-bottom-color:currentcolor">Pure Acetone</td><td colspan="undefined" style="border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;min-width:4em;vertical-align:top;font-family:"google sans",arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:18px;padding:12px 0px 12px 10px;font-weight:400;border-bottom-color:currentcolor">Specialized acrylic cements (e.g., Weld-On #3)</td></tr><tr style="font-family:"google sans",roboto,arial,sans-serif"><td colspan="undefined" style="border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;min-width:4em;vertical-align:top;font-family:"google sans",arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:18px;padding:12px 10px 12px 0px;font-weight:400;background:repeat;border-bottom-color:currentcolor"><strong style="font-weight:bolder;font-family:"google sans",arial,sans-serif">Bond Speed</strong></td><td colspan="undefined" style="border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;min-width:4em;vertical-align:top;font-family:"google sans",arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:18px;padding:12px 10px;font-weight:400;border-bottom-color:currentcolor">Slow, requiring hours and pressure to cure</td><td colspan="undefined" style="border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;min-width:4em;vertical-align:top;font-family:"google sans",arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:18px;padding:12px 0px 12px 10px;font-weight:400;border-bottom-color:currentcolor">Very fast, with an initial set in minutes and a full cure in 24–48 hours</td></tr><tr style="font-family:"google sans",roboto,arial,sans-serif"><td colspan="undefined" style="border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;min-width:4em;vertical-align:top;font-family:"google sans",arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:18px;padding:12px 10px 12px 0px;font-weight:400;background:repeat;border-bottom-color:currentcolor"><strong style="font-weight:bolder;font-family:"google sans",arial,sans-serif">Bond Clarity</strong></td><td colspan="undefined" style="border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;min-width:4em;vertical-align:top;font-family:"google sans",arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:18px;padding:12px 10px;font-weight:400;border-bottom-color:currentcolor">Can be clear, but is prone to blemishes if not done carefully.</td><td colspan="undefined" style="border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;min-width:4em;vertical-align:top;font-family:"google sans",arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:18px;padding:12px 0px 12px 10px;font-weight:400;border-bottom-color:currentcolor">Excellent, capable of producing very clear, seamless, and bubble-free joints.</td></tr><tr style="font-family:"google sans",roboto,arial,sans-serif"><td colspan="undefined" style="border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;min-width:4em;vertical-align:top;font-family:"google sans",arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:18px;padding:12px 10px 12px 0px;font-weight:400;background:repeat;border-bottom-color:currentcolor"><strong style="font-weight:bolder;font-family:"google sans",arial,sans-serif">Application</strong></td><td colspan="undefined" style="border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;min-width:4em;vertical-align:top;font-family:"google sans",arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:18px;padding:12px 10px;font-weight:400;border-bottom-color:currentcolor">Acetone can be brushed or sprayed on, but careful application is needed to avoid damaging the finish.</td><td colspan="undefined" style="border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;min-width:4em;vertical-align:top;font-family:"google sans",arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:18px;padding:12px 0px 12px 10px;font-weight:400;border-bottom-color:currentcolor">Typically applied with a needle-nosed applicator to let capillary action draw the cement into the joint.</td></tr></tbody></table></div></div><br></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">If you just want to try glue....From my experience I would rule out super glue (cyanoacrylate) as it is better for static adhesion, like a figurine, not loads.  Polyurethane glues like Gorilla glue are tougher (absorb stress by flexing a little more).  I'd definitely rough up the surfaces and ideally if you could drill holes for small pins to couple them like dowels, you'd get the strongest combination with mechanical and chemical bonding.  </div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Best</div><div dir="auto">Ian</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div><br><div class="gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Sun, Oct 5, 2025 at 6:43 PM Jim Stone <<a href="mailto:1789alpine@gmail.com">1789alpine@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left-width:1px;border-left-style:solid;padding-left:1ex;border-left-color:rgb(204,204,204)">My granddaughter asked me to fix her favorite hair clip and I’d like to keep my reputation as Grandpa Fixit intact.  The part that came off will be under stress when the clip is used.  The plastic didn’t break; the larger, decorative part of the clip came loose from the spring clip.  It looks to me like it was originally solvent welded, not glued.  <br>
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I have never had tremendous luck gluing plastic but never tried solvent welding. Does anyone here have a recommendations for either a strong enough plastic glue or a readily available solvent that I could use to bond the two pieces and keep my reputation intact?<br>
<br>
Thanks,<br>
<br>
PaG, aka Jim_______________________________________________<br>
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