| Project by NíccoloJosé | posted 11-06-2011 05:06 AM | 6211 views | 7 times favorited | 17 comments |  |
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~Yes, how COOL would it be to wear your favorite wood on your face 16 hours a day?
I bought a new pair of glasses on October 3, 2011. On October 26, while putting on my safety goggles, I didn’t realize I accidentally drop it on the floor. As soon as I stepped back, I broke the legs of my 23 day old glasses and my heart felt crushed cause I really liked them. Plus, it takes me a long time to break and replace a pair.
While picking up the broken pieces, I looked around my shop, my wood and my tools… I started to think. After a few minutes, I suddenly had a smirk on my face.
The Mangkono (Philippine Ironwood) wood is my favorite and one of the strongest/hardest wood in the world (see _http://www.ehow.com/about_6507071_mangkono-tree.html_). It has a natural brownish-purple color and the one in my dad’s collection is about 150yr old. I focused all my energy on personalizing my glasses. I used a solid piece of wood, bandsaw, diamond grinder, belt & disc sander and my travel-size carving set. Then, I used the parts and hinges of the broken pair, jewelry making kit and had my Dremel for finishing and buffering.
NOTE that any ordinary wood would break with the thin cuts I made, especially the ear brace area. I also had to try it on a thousand times to get the right fit since its my first time to make one. It was a good challenge going from a 6ft giant chair to an 8’’ eye glasses.
Anyway, I’ve been wearing it for 10 days now and it works like a dream. I get to wear Mangkono on my face like a geeky woodworker. Its the perfect conversation piece! If people ask for a sample of my work, I can actually say “you’re looking at it”. I’m happy to be a walking ad of my work. =p
-- Niccolo Jose; Filipino Artist, www.niccolojose.com
17 comments so far
Alan S
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181 posts in 4321 days
#1 posted 11-06-2011 05:15 AM
Awesome!! Maybe I’ll have to do this someday!
Alan
canadianmajar
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17 posts in 3425 days
#2 posted 11-06-2011 05:20 AM
Awesome, I had to call over everyone in the house to have a look.
-- J
Skylark53
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2852 posts in 4064 days
#3 posted 11-06-2011 05:26 AM
Great idea and very, very nice work.
-- Rick, Tennessee, John 3:16
Eric_S
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1565 posts in 4199 days
#4 posted 11-06-2011 05:39 AM
Nico those look great. How are the lenses held in place?
-- - Eric Noblesville, IN
usnret
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#5 posted 11-06-2011 05:41 AM
Youare a GEEK, but those glasses are sweet. Now I think I want a pair. I wonder if Bubinga would work?
-- Chief Petty Officer USN(RET) 1991-2011
majeagle1
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#6 posted 11-06-2011 06:00 AM
What a fantastic and creative idea! Beautiful job and they look great on you !
-- Gene, Majestic Eagle Woodworks, http://majesticeagleww.etsy.com/, http://www.flickr.com/photos/majesticeagle/
sras
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5861 posts in 4133 days
#7 posted 11-06-2011 06:22 AM
Cool idea – a great way to turn disappointment into success! I suspect you will make more of these…
-- Steve - Impatience is Expensive
patron
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13716 posts in 4345 days
#8 posted 11-06-2011 08:48 AM
these look real italian cool
and they follow the ripples
on your head too lol
(it is just the ear pieces
that were broke guys)
-- david - only thru kindness can this world be whole . If we don't succeed we run the risk of failure. Dan Quayle
NíccoloJosé
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96 posts in 3626 days
#9 posted 11-06-2011 11:21 AM
@usnret: I don’t think bubinga would work. Tropical wood is harder than others in different climates. But, you could try using wood harders which you can purchase in home depot. You could also try lamination bending of different kinds of wood which will make it more durable than just a solid piece.
.
-- Niccolo Jose; Filipino Artist, www.niccolojose.com
mmh
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3682 posts in 4726 days
#10 posted 11-06-2011 04:11 PM
Very cool! Now if I can only break my titanium frames . . .
You could have a custom order business here!
-- "They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night." ~ Edgar Allan Poe
jeepturner
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946 posts in 3797 days
#11 posted 11-06-2011 06:10 PM
I broke my titanium frames this week, and I have thought about fixing them with a piece of wood. My glasses broke midway on the nose bridge. I don’t know if I have any wood dense enough though.
Thanks for the post and those are nice looking frames.
-- Mel,
NormG
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6508 posts in 4008 days
#12 posted 11-07-2011 05:06 AM
Simply awesome
-- Norman - I never never make a mistake, I just change the design.
Shannan
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28 posts in 3673 days
#13 posted 11-07-2011 05:04 PM
Those look fabulous!
GabeB
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23 posts in 3421 days
#14 posted 11-08-2011 12:47 AM
Great way to use your tools and ideas for a great pair of glasses
Dave
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11435 posts in 3844 days
#15 posted 11-08-2011 03:05 AM
love it;)
-- Superdav "No matter where you go - there you are." http://chiselandforge.com
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