salt pans

[harry a saake]

question, for more years then i want to remember, we have used a salt pan, with actual salt, and a water holder next to it. Now i seem to be working with a new generation of opticians who have found out it is not neccessary to have any water, just let it cool down naturally, or spray it with lens cleaner, have i missed something or is this the new modus operandi:confused:

[chip anderson]

Seem to have gone to the "blow dryer" heater, hold frame over intake, to cool. Gives one more time to impress pt. with dexterity if done in front of patient, gives more time for coffee if not done in front of patient.
Water cooling seems to be reserved for attempt to shrink stretched frames.
Salt replaced with glass beads. Salt corrodes and clumps up overnight in salt pan. Of course if left between frame and lens, it could be dissolved out, as glass beads left in same make for a more embarrising development.

Seriously, plastic frames for a time all but disappeared, now that they are making a comback (probably due to poor quality of Chi-Com metal frames) salt may re-emerge.

Chip:cheers:

[MarcE]

I've never used a salt/glass bead pan. I use water to cool down the frame, though. I've never ruined a frame, or left dimples in one. I have ruined the AR on a lens (OK, maybe 2) once. I'm a new convert to this career field,
MarcE, ABOC

[Specs]

If we're taking a poll, I use the large size silicon beads in the bead pan for most zyl adjustments. They don't get stuck in the frame or wedged between the lens and frame. I think its the easy, fast way to soften the frame for adjustment. On occassion I'll not want to heat a certain area of a frame so we'll use the hot air blower to focus the heat or to avoid metal or stones inset in the frame. Its good to have both.

[HarryChiling]

I use the hot air blower (Some have actually called me a hot air blower:) ) and cool it down under cool running water. If you let it naturally cool then the frame will not hold the adjustment most of the time.

[JA OPTRONIC]

some of the air warmers have a cool down button that will blow ambient temp air over the frame to help cool the frame quicker.

[EyeFitWell]

I use the blower also, for less mess. I do have a salt pan, but I've never found it to be capable of anything my hot air blower can't do. I use running water or lens cleaner when necessary. One trick I learned from a former employer is to put your beads/salt in a bag long enough to line the bottom of the pan, then fold over and fill in the top (so one fold). You can let it heat up then stick the frame between the two layers of the bag to heat it. This keeps the beads/salt from getting everywhere.
DO NOT USE MELTABLE FABRIC. That would be a major mess!