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Thread: Wood

  1. #1
    OptiWizard
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    Wood

    hi guys I'm interested in finding out about wood based glasses. What kind of material in normally used in making of the wood based glassed or sunglasses ? Ive had some experience in wood working but I don't have access to the product that's used to make a complete set, if anyone has experience in this please let me know where I can find the hinges and type of wood used for the glasses.


    Cheers

  2. #2
    Underemployed Genius Jacqui's Avatar
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    First the hinges, etc are the normal ones you find at Hilco.

    The cutest way of making them that I have seen is the way a Chinese manufacturer is doing it. He laminates thin wood strips in a shaped clamp kind of like a luthier does when making the sides for a violin or guitar. He uses most hardwoods plus bamboo and it looks kinda neat when done.

    This is his FB page, dig through the old posts to see more about how he does it. http://www.facebook.com/wood.eyewear

  3. #3
    OptiWizard
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    Awesome ! Thanks jacqui!!!

  4. #4
    OptiWizard
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    any idea what kinda wood is required? Or is it usually a mix of wood and a certain product?

  5. #5
    Underemployed Genius Jacqui's Avatar
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    Seems to be a mix. Also seems to be any hardwood.

    Check Fleabay for woods, they sometimes have it mixed in with the hobby supplies.

  6. #6
    Master OptiBoarder
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    Frame parts:

    https://shop.b-s.de/shop_html?language=EN&ansicht:default=start


    Woods:

    Many exotic wood manufacturers and knife making supply joints may have it.

    http://www.exoticwoodsusa.com/

    http://staburl.com/

  7. #7
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    Depends on what customer wants for wood. Generally harder the wood, the more expensive the product. Also the harder the wood the more difficult it is to make it conform to whatever shape you want. Ebony generally makes the best frames but it's expensive and really hard to work. Don't use Balsa or soft pine..
    Also make sure the state department won't come in an confiscate your wood like they did to Gibson Guitars.

    Chip

  8. #8
    Optical Educator
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    Wood eyewear is very cool.

    Rimless works well (metal/alloy bridge and endpieces) and wood temples, preferably with a metal/covered in plastic earpiece area for best adjustments.

    I've worked with African Bubinga...not in manufacture, but in dispensing (Gold and Wood)...it is gorgeous, strong enough, and looks better over the years.

    : )
    Ophthalmic Optician, Society to Advance Opticianry

  9. #9
    Optical Educator
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    PS:

    If you are thinking about a 'full-frame' wood frame, front and temples of wood...I would consider finding a way to have adjustable nosepades in the bridge...like the imbeded ones in zyls. This way you will have more adjustment control for lens configuration/its relationship to the eye and the optical system of the eye. And, your clients will not end up with unsightly stains around the bridge. (think a fine-polished piece of wood, using oils...the oils in our skin will make that part of the frame front darker over time)..
    Ophthalmic Optician, Society to Advance Opticianry

  10. #10
    Master OptiBoarder optical24/7's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Laurie View Post
    ..I've worked with African Bubinga... : )

    There's a wood called "Bubinga"? Sounds like what obxeyeguy yells out in Vegas when his penny slot machine spits out a nickel.

  11. #11
    Independent Problem Optiholic edKENdance's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by optical24/7 View Post
    There's a wood called "Bubinga"? Sounds like what obxeyeguy yells out in Vegas when his penny slot machine spits out a nickel.
    Bubinga is great. OGA uses it in a lot of their wood frames. It's a stamina type of wood (worked in layers) and it's supposed to be 4 times as strong as oak.

  12. #12
    Master OptiBoarder Crazy-bout-Optics's Avatar
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    I have OGA 6748O and they are one of my favorite pairs of glasses. A blue wood with an orange strip of poly inserted into the temple. While it is strong I did accidentally snap off the end piece of the temple. :-(

    My rep was very kind in replacing the frame for half off.

  13. #13
    Independent Problem Optiholic edKENdance's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Crazy-bout-Optics View Post
    I have OGA 6748O and they are one of my favorite pairs of glasses. A blue wood with an orange strip of poly inserted into the temple. While it is strong I did accidentally snap off the end piece of the temple. :-(

    My rep was very kind in replacing the frame for half off.
    That's not poly. That's synthetic glass. I go a little overboard with my frame tech.

  14. #14
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    O.K. I'll bite. What is synthetic glass and why would anyone synthesise it? There is no shortage of sand.

    Chip

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    Independent Problem Optiholic edKENdance's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by chip anderson View Post
    O.K. I'll bite. What is synthetic glass and why would anyone synthesise it? There is no shortage of sand.

    Chip
    Otherwise known as acrylic glass. I thought you used that stuff for making the fake eyes but maybe you have good access to sand.

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    Never heard any plastic referred to as synthetic glass, but I guess the shoe fits. Prosthetic eyes are Acrylic, or Plexiglass or Lucite or several other trade names. Too brittle for frames although it's been tried. Also too brittle for opthalmic lenses although it made a damn good contact.

    Chip

  17. #17
    Independent Problem Optiholic edKENdance's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by chip anderson View Post
    Never heard any plastic referred to as synthetic glass, but I guess the shoe fits. Prosthetic eyes are Acrylic, or Plexiglass or Lucite or several other trade names. Too brittle for frames although it's been tried. Also too brittle for opthalmic lenses although it made a damn good contact.

    Chip
    I'm just gonna guess here and assume they're using it because the way it's placed into the temples of the frame require it to be drilled. Perhaps glass is not the best material to do this with.

  18. #18
    OptiWizard
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    You guys got my creative juices flowing, thank you for ideas and responses as usual.

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    OptiBoardaholic Lulubelle's Avatar
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    Locally you can source exotic wood at Windsor Plywood and Lee Valley Tools. They carry it for woodturners to make bowls, pens etc.

  20. #20
    OptiWizard
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    Quote Originally Posted by Lulubelle View Post
    Locally you can source exotic wood at Windsor Plywood and Lee Valley Tools. They carry it for woodturners to make bowls, pens etc.
    Good idea, I figure in BC we've got the abundance of wood, thanks for the sources

  21. #21
    Manuf. Lens Surface Treatments
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    Redhot Jumper Check the Chinese wooden frame production ...............................

    There are 2756 wood eyewear from at least 468 suppliers on Alibaba.com,

    click on picture or


    Check the Chinese wooden frame production there are: Eyeglasses Frames > "wood eyewear frames" :

    1,120 Products found at --------------------> http://www.alibaba.com/products/wood...=detail_sn_cat

    and see how they do it these day's.


    Last edited by Chris Ryser; 05-23-2012 at 03:03 AM.

  22. #22
    OptiBoard Apprentice
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    The harder the wood the stronger and lighter it will be for example ebony bubing zebra and Mahogany and they are naturally colored.

  23. #23
    Ophthalmic Optician
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    Why not a synthetic wood (plastic), infused with a synthetic glass (plastic)?


    Of course, you could use synthetic glass (plastic) for the lenses.
    Ophthalmic Optician, Society to Advance Opticianry

  24. #24
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    Kramkram: The harder the wood the heavier it will be. Ebony for instance doesn't float. If you've ever had a pine 2x4, a cedar 2x4 and an oak 2x4. The cedar is gonna be soft and light, Pine is gonna be harder and heavier, and the oak is gonna be a lot heavier and even harder.

    Chip

  25. #25
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    You might try calling the people at Annie Shades, a Ohio based frame maker that deals exclusive in wood. Super cool. http://www.annishades.com/

    Also, http://www.woodenspecs.com
    Check out the vimeo video made about the Wooden Specs here http://vimeo.com/54647235

    I have no association with either of them, FYI.
    Roscoe
    Last edited by Roscoe; 02-20-2013 at 05:16 PM.

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