Airlock?

**drk** · 02-12-2010, 04:06 PM

OK, I know Marchon is the devil.

Having said that, do any (non-independent/non-Luxottica) opticians have any experience with their newer Airlocks that have the thick, colorful temples?

They look nice, are expensive, but feel way too cheap to me. Am I wrong?

**pezfaerie** · 02-12-2010, 04:50 PM

So far we have had good response from our patients. They do seem a little cheap feeling but they've held up well so far for us. No breakages or complaints.

**Mr. Finney** · 02-12-2010, 05:03 PM

Are you talking about the 800 series or the 820 series? We've done very well with the 800's, and I think the 820's will do just as well. The 810(?) series was a flop though.

**drk** · 02-12-2010, 05:04 PM

Airlock 2 800 series.

**Mr. Finney** · 02-12-2010, 05:08 PM

Yeah we've had good success with them.

**Johns** · 02-13-2010, 08:44 AM

Originally Posted by drk

OK, I know Marchon is the devil.

Having said that, do any (non-independent/non-Luxottica) opticians have any experience with their newer Airlocks that have the thick, colorful temples?

They look nice, are expensive, but feel way too cheap to me. Am I wrong?

They are NOT the devil!:finger:

(they just sleep w/him)

**Uilleann** · 02-13-2010, 10:06 AM

The airlock single compression mounting system is quite possibly the *WORST* we've ever seen. Dropped the line because of all the mount issues we continued to have. Can't speak to their 'new styles', but unless they've wised up and gone with a new twin point mount, we're not interested here. There's just too much out there in drills that are far better made. :(

**BMH** · 02-13-2010, 10:24 AM

Uilleann,

I dropped them for the same reason. The hole with the notch continues to give labs a problem regardless of the manufacturer. We would all agree that in theory it is simple to make them correctly but a vast majority of the time I would receive them with the hole to close to the edge of the lens and the pin barely making contact with the notch. I had this issue from multiple labs, the worst of which was VSP Ohio lab with Altiar/Tommy Bahama rimless (thier own frames of course).

So for me, It's not a Marchon is the devil thing.

It's more of a, the devil is in the details thing. Two prong compression mount systems will give you more consistant results!!

**optical24/7** · 02-13-2010, 10:40 AM

Originally Posted by uilleann

the airlock single compression mounting system is quite possibly the *worst* we've ever seen. Dropped the line because of all the mount issues we continued to have. Can't speak to their 'new styles', but unless they've wised up and gone with a new twin point mount, we're not interested here. there's just too much out there in drills that are far better made. :(

+1

**Uilleann** · 02-13-2010, 12:27 PM

Agreed. Nothing against Marchon. I find their Nike and Flexon frames as a general rule to be just fine. But their Airlock rimless - pfft. Forget it. Did their designers ever get it wrong on THAT line!

**ronnie daniels** · 02-13-2010, 11:51 PM

haha ya kno i ordered one of the 620/1 out of my 2008 marchon catolouges since marchon decides to send me a cat. once every 13 years lol. Being in the biz about 2 1/2 years i got the airlock frame in and was amazed by the design!!!!! Loved it even convinced my grandfather that has 55+ years experience it was the new holy grail of opticianary! Gosh is this garbage, ok lets make a notch thats paper thin....okkkkkk??? If this is the future of Marchon OMG guess this is what happens when you lose the patent to Flexon (bad patent management)

**Audiyoda** · 02-13-2010, 11:56 PM

Originally Posted by BMH

Uilleann,

I dropped them for the same reason. The hole with the notch continues to give labs a problem regardless of the manufacturer. We would all agree that in theory it is simple to make them correctly but a vast majority of the time I would receive them with the hole to close to the edge of the lens and the pin barely making contact with the notch. I had this issue from multiple labs, the worst of which was VSP Ohio lab with Altiar/Tommy Bahama rimless (thier own frames of course).

So for me, It's not a Marchon is the devil thing.

It's more of a, the devil is in the details thing. Two prong compression mount systems will give you more consistant results!!

Then maybe you should consider finding a new lab? Of the hundreds of Airlocks I've had done since I've worked with them I've never had the problem you've described.

**ronnie daniels** · 02-14-2010, 12:24 AM

man i kno the bill payer is gonna argue this buttttt Im stickin with Charmant drill mounts. 14 months never a readjust never a tighten, never a "replace bushings" Ima stick with them ROnnie optical drilling lol i could tell you my trick for drilling and i bet 100 u call me a liar

**ronnie daniels** · 02-14-2010, 12:27 AM

hint ( drill them rediculously loose but still tight or just rediculiously tight) lol im actually gonna upload a video of me drilling and mounting (grnadpa says im guiness fast) drilled a Chanrmant XL2000 and mounted in 7 minutes flat! Thats how i drill em and no problems

**Happylady** · 02-14-2010, 12:50 PM

Originally Posted by Mr. Finney

The 810(?) series was a flop though.

I have a pair of these and really like them. They are very light and comfortable and I have gotten several compliments on them. The ones with the thicker plastic temples are very heavy compared with these.

I HATE the ones without hinges. They break about very easily after a year or so.

**jmchapman** · 02-14-2010, 01:02 PM

I had about 5 styles of the newer AirLocks in my store, I sold about 2 of them. I'm having more luck with Jonathan Cates rimless line with the thicker Silhouette type temples. Plus they're less expensive.

**jefe** · 02-14-2010, 08:15 PM

I'm wearing an Airlock frame right now. I believe it's an intelligent design: one big post on which the bushing is fit and a smaller, but still beefy, post which prevents the lens from rotating. I haven't had problems with breakage which I would consider excessive.

**KStraker** · 02-15-2010, 08:49 AM

My lab has absolutely no trouble creating the notch for the airlock mount. I find the single bushing design easier to put together than the smaller 2 point design. It does not fail any more frequently than the 2 point design in my experience.

**D.J. Roff, ABOM** · 02-15-2010, 09:14 AM

Originally Posted by Audiyoda

Then maybe you should consider finding a new lab? Of the hundreds of Airlocks I've had done since I've worked with them I've never had the problem you've described.

I use the Essilor labs a lot, and in about 8 years of working with the drill-and-notch Airlocks, I never had mis-drilling issues. Sounds like a new lab is in order for sure!

I also never had the bushings get loose, on one of the Airlocks, like I frequently do with the two-hole mounts. The single mounting pin on the Airlock is heavier, and the mounting is pretty robust. And when done correctly, the pin in the notch provides great stability. Find a good lab!

**Mr. Finney** · 02-15-2010, 02:15 PM

Originally Posted by bmh

uilleann,

i dropped them for the same reason. The hole with the notch continues to give labs a problem regardless of the manufacturer. We would all agree that in theory it is simple to make them correctly but a vast majority of the time i would receive them with the hole to close to the edge of the lens and the pin barely making contact with the notch. I had this issue from multiple labs, the worst of which was vsp ohio lab with altiar/tommy bahama rimless (thier own frames of course).

So for me, it's not a marchon is the devil thing.

It's more of a, the devil is in the details thing. Two prong compression mount systems will give you more consistant results!!

Originally Posted by audiyoda

then maybe you should consider finding a new lab? Of the hundreds of airlocks i've had done since i've worked with them i've never had the problem you've described.

Originally Posted by jefe

i'm wearing an airlock frame right now. I believe it's an intelligent design: One big post on which the bushing is fit and a smaller, but still beefy, post which prevents the lens from rotating. I haven't had problems with breakage which i would consider excessive.

Originally Posted by kstraker

my lab has absolutely no trouble creating the notch for the airlock mount. I find the single bushing design easier to put together than the smaller 2 point design. It does not fail any more frequently than the 2 point design in my experience.

Originally Posted by d.j. Roff, abom

i use the essilor labs a lot, and in about 8 years of working with the drill-and-notch airlocks, i never had mis-drilling issues. Sounds like a new lab is in order for sure!

I also never had the bushings get loose, on one of the airlocks, like i frequently do with the two-hole mounts. The single mounting pin on the airlock is heavier, and the mounting is pretty robust. And when done correctly, the pin in the notch provides great stability. Find a good lab!

+1

**Uilleann** · 02-16-2010, 05:22 PM

So it seems the consensus is: USE AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Some seem to like them - other's can't wait to get rid of them. Your mileage may vary.

Best either way!

:cheers::cheers::cheers: