Repairing a Snow Globe – Glass Broken

Did your favorite snow globe fall and break?

Most snow globes can be repaired relatively easily with a little crafting skill and the right accessories.

The most important part is finding the correct replacement glass. This is where most mistakes happen! So, please be careful. Replacement glasses are usually listed by their globe diameter. However, since the glass is broken—and only snow globe collectors know the diameters of their various globes offhand—it is crucial to pull the rubber stopper out of the broken glass remains and measure it. Replacement glasses typically specify the diameter of the rubber seal. This is the measurement you must follow.

Next, clean the inner model from the globe under running water. Briefly rinse the replacement globe as well to ensure no dust gets inside. Then, fill the globe with distilled water, a drop of dish soap, water clarifier, and snow/glitter. Alternatively, you can use the ready-made snow globe mixture from Snowglobe-for-you and top it up with distilled water.

Bit by bit, press the old rubber stopper into the new glass. Shake it and let it sit for a while. Remove any potential air bubbles with a syringe. In the meantime, clear the base of any old glass fragments. Once there are no more air bubbles, glue the globe back into the base. The video tutorial shows how to proceed.

 

What to do if you can't find the exact replacement glass and rubber stopper?

If you cannot find the exact matching replacement glass—sometimes even a one-millimeter difference in the sealing rubber is enough to prevent a proper seal—you must cut the object off the old rubber and glue it onto the new rubber (using superglue). Let it cure for a bit, then proceed exactly as described above.