Results 1 to 16 of 16

Thread: Edging into a Genuine Horn Frame

  1. #1
    Master OptiBoarder
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Oakville
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    823

    Edging into a Genuine Horn Frame

    Good Morning and a Happy New Year to my fellow Optiboarders!

    I have a customer who purchased a genuine horn frame in Europe and would like me to put his prescription into it. I'm wondering if there is any special handling required to edge and insert into such a frame?

    Thank you in advance for your replies.

    Regards,
    Golfnorth

  2. #2
    Master OptiBoarder
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    In Flux
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    1,615
    http://www.design-naturell.net/verglas/verglas_engl.htm.

    Try this web site and also search optiboard as there have been discussions on the techniques for working with horn. Some horn suppliers will send you samples to practise with.

    http://www.glasses-supplier.com/blog...rnEyewear.html

  3. #3
    opti-tipster harry a saake's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2000
    Location
    lake norman, north carolina
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    2,099

    horn

    Quote Originally Posted by idispense View Post
    http://www.design-naturell.net/verglas/verglas_engl.htm.

    Try this web site and also search optiboard as there have been discussions on the techniques for working with horn. Some horn suppliers will send you samples to practise with.

    http://www.glasses-supplier.com/blog...rnEyewear.html
    Better yet, contact our resident expert here on horn frames, jerry huang

  4. #4
    Manuf. Lens Surface Treatments
    Join Date
    Aug 2002
    Location
    in Naples FL for the Winter months
    Occupation
    Other Optical Manufacturer or Vendor
    Posts
    23,240

    Redhot Jumper Natural Horn and genuine Turtle Shell are in the same family......................

    Natural Horn and genuine Turtle Shell are in the same family. They will not stretch when heated and can only be bent very little. The material is brittle and does not soften much under heat.

    Lenses have to have the exact shape and size so they can actually be sprung into the frame without stretching the material. You can heat the frame a bit when doing so, but if the lens is a fraction too large you will stretch and break the frame.

    Try first with some plano or scrap lenses and insert them cold. No big deal if you catch on to it.
    Last edited by Chris Ryser; 01-02-2013 at 12:42 AM.

  5. #5
    Master OptiBoarder OptiBoard Silver Supporter Barry Santini's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2000
    Location
    Seaford, NY USA
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    6,008
    You should:
    1. Know how to critically-size lenses. If you can successfully remove and insert lenses into an ancient plastic frame with many fractures and cracks, you have passed horn insertion 101.
    2. The lens bevel Must be matched exactly to the frame's bevel curve.
    3. Polish the edges of the lenses.
    4. Heat thicker/laminated horn, especially ones with deep bevel grooves, hotter than the blazez of hell.
    5. Use mineral or baby oil along the temples to even out heat peneration when adjusting.
    6. Pray

    Horn is a luxury material. It is really not well suited to a one pair and wear every day for 3 years consumer. Quality does vary.

    FWIW.

    B

  6. #6
    Underemployed Genius Jacqui's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Frostbite Falls, Mn.
    Occupation
    Optical Wholesale Lab (other positions)
    Posts
    7,417
    Quote Originally Posted by Barry Santini View Post
    You should:
    1. Know how to critically-size lenses. If you can successfully remove and insert lenses into an ancient plastic frame with many fractures and cracks, you have passed horn insertion 101.
    2. The lens bevel Must be matched exactly to the frame's bevel curve.
    3. Polish the edges of the lenses.
    4. Heat thicker/laminated horn, especially ones with deep bevel grooves, hotter than the blazez of hell.
    5. Use mineral or baby oil along the temples to even out heat peneration when adjusting.
    6. Pray

    Horn is a luxury material. It is really not well suited to a one pair and wear every day for 3 years consumer. Quality does vary.

    FWIW.

    B
    Ditto I've worked with this and found that it can be cranky, but usable with a bit of patience and knowledge. The old horn frames came from several species of bovines and was not very uniform. The newer frames are from water buffalo raised in Southeast Asia and are very nice to work with.

    Be Careful !!!!

  7. #7
    Bad address email on file
    Join Date
    Jun 2000
    Location
    1/2 China, 1/2 California
    Occupation
    Frame Manufacturer
    Posts
    756
    0.3mm larger than the frame size is ok! You need to soak the horn frame in oil (baby oil) for 5 min and see if there is any crack or bubble first! STOP there if u see any bubble---that is the sign of delamination or cracking! Otherwise, leave the oil on and heat the frame with hot air only. You can easily make adjustment or lens insertion while the horn material is soften by hot air.



    Quote Originally Posted by Golfnorth View Post
    Good Morning and a Happy New Year to my fellow Optiboarders!

    I have a customer who purchased a genuine horn frame in Europe and would like me to put his prescription into it. I'm wondering if there is any special handling required to edge and insert into such a frame?

    Thank you in advance for your replies.

    Regards,
    Golfnorth

  8. #8
    Manuf. Lens Surface Treatments
    Join Date
    Aug 2002
    Location
    in Naples FL for the Winter months
    Occupation
    Other Optical Manufacturer or Vendor
    Posts
    23,240

    Some more information on Horn...........................................

    About Genuine Water Buffalo Horn (Bubalus Bubalis) :
    With the growing awareness for natural biodegradable material buffalo horn is one of best handle material. Buffalo Horn is a rough, hard and fibrous material having bow in several and most places. The skin of the fibrous horn is rough and hard. When flattened over a sand disc or belt sander and polished by soft muslin buff, it gives a distinctive shiny and highly lustrous finish.

    The buffalo horn comes in a variety of colors, mostly available in black, black with some natural white streaks, brown, light and light white with few natural black spots. Buffalo Horn can also be dyed in various colors but the color penetration is not in whole.
    Indian water buffalo horn has a scientific/latin name Bubalus Bubalis Domesticus

    Availability Water Buffalo Horn :


    see all of it -----------------> http://www.hornresources.com/product.htm

  9. #9
    Bad address email on file
    Join Date
    Jun 2000
    Location
    1/2 China, 1/2 California
    Occupation
    Frame Manufacturer
    Posts
    756
    all feedbacks above are true! It depends on the species. The density of fiber of Indian buffalo (black and white streak lines) is higher than others. THerefore, it is very hard and very strong. African buffalo horn have beautiful opaque white color, however, its fiber density is quite low and so is the Yak Horn from CHina. Human perspiration seems to permeate earily to low density horn fiber and causing horn material break down. I would also educate consumers to rub lots of oil on the horn frame on weekly basis to maintain moisture of the horn glasses. There are two ways to prevent horn material from being biodegrade breaking down: 1. Replace the moisture inside of horn by "inject" light weight acylic or PU---actually it is done by vaccum process. 2. Simply spray a clear coat over the horn material to seal the surface. SO far, most manufacturers use the nature of polishing wax to tempoary seal the core which doesn't last very long! .....so rub your horn frames with baby oil or mineral oil if u don't the baby oil smell...lol!

  10. #10
    Bad address email on file
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    GA
    Occupation
    Other Optical Manufacturer or Vendor
    Posts
    31
    Agree with all of Jerry's tips! I used to sell water buffalo horn pieces customized from Europe (Cutler and Gross) They may also be able to give you more info but definitely be CAREFUL. These are very touchy and quite costly and time consuming if there is a breakage. Helps if you have a great edger that can be very precise and you can control bevel placement exactly. Let us know how it turns out!

  11. #11
    Master OptiBoarder
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Oakville
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    823
    Quote Originally Posted by JERRY HUANG View Post
    0.3mm larger than the frame size is ok! You need to soak the horn frame in oil (baby oil) for 5 min and see if there is any crack or bubble first! STOP there if u see any bubble---that is the sign of delamination or cracking! Otherwise, leave the oil on and heat the frame with hot air only. You can easily make adjustment or lens insertion while the horn material is soften by hot air.
    Jerry;

    As a matter of clarification, would you still soak the frame in baby oil if it has been purchased brand new and never worn?

    Regards,
    Golfnorth

  12. #12
    Master OptiBoarder OptiBoard Silver Supporter Barry Santini's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2000
    Location
    Seaford, NY USA
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    6,008
    Quote Originally Posted by Golfnorth View Post
    Jerry;

    As a matter of clarification, would you still soak the frame in baby oil if it has been purchased brand new and never worn?

    Regards,
    Golfnorth
    For a major temple adjustment, yes!

    B

  13. #13
    Bad address email on file
    Join Date
    Jun 2000
    Location
    1/2 China, 1/2 California
    Occupation
    Frame Manufacturer
    Posts
    756
    Quote Originally Posted by Barry Santini View Post
    For a major temple adjustment, yes!

    B

    Yes, heat up the horn frame with hot air only. Always keep it oily wet during heating. After lens pop in and temple adjustment, wipe oil off with dry clothes. Do not ultrasonic clean
    any horn frame neither wood frame because we don't want water to penetrate. I would charge additional $50 to apply a layer of heavy weight bee wax (you can find it from furniture store or shoe polish). Coat bee wax and rub with dry cloth and let it sits for a few hours to get the smell away! Bee wax will block out water or swat for a loooooooooooooong time!

  14. #14
    Bad address email on file
    Join Date
    Jun 2000
    Location
    1/2 China, 1/2 California
    Occupation
    Frame Manufacturer
    Posts
    756
    You might want to wear cotton gloves for horn frame adjustment to avoid your fingers getting fried! Never try to bend down the ear tips only bend in to fit head shape like librarian temples.

  15. #15
    Bad address email on file
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Florida
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    2,175
    Use mineral oil as a first choice and you must use oil when you heat the frame. It requires patience, heat and oil.
    The mineral oil is what we saw them using in a German horn factory.

  16. #16
    Master OptiBoarder
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Seattle WA
    Occupation
    Optical Wholesale Lab (other positions)
    Posts
    3,137
    Quote Originally Posted by Craig View Post
    The mineral oil is what we saw them using in a German horn factory.
    I don't know why Craig, but that just sounds funny! Is it similar to a French Horn Factory?

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Milling/Routing bits/cutters - edging frame, temples and nose piece
    By mrk_webber in forum General Optics and Eyecare Discussion Forum
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 07-02-2012, 12:15 PM
  2. Cracked horn frame
    By Mactire in forum General Optics and Eyecare Discussion Forum
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 01-23-2012, 04:09 AM
  3. Buffalo Horn
    By Henchos in forum General Optics and Eyecare Discussion Forum
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 03-25-2009, 11:54 AM
  4. Genuine Turtle Shell Frames..................
    By Chris Ryser in forum General Optics and Eyecare Discussion Forum
    Replies: 16
    Last Post: 02-20-2008, 02:49 AM
  5. Looking hinge and spring hinge for eyeglass frame made of horn.
    By kimsonvu in forum General Optics and Eyecare Discussion Forum
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 10-12-2007, 11:47 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •