I'm considering commissioning a pair of glasses frames made from exotic wood, but I have no experience with woodworking myself. I reached out to my local woodworking guild for guidance, but they didn't have anyone experienced in that area, although one member mentioned he carved beautifully intricate wooden pipes. I'm curious if making glasses frames is significantly different, as they seem simpler to me. Any advice?
3 Answers
I think you’d run into issues with tension. Wood generally doesn’t handle that well, which might mean your frames could end up thick and heavy. Impregnating the wood with epoxy might help, but I'm skeptical about its durability. It might be better to consider a wood/resin blend!
It sounds like a cool idea, but wood might not be the best choice for frames due to its strength limitations, especially around where the lenses fit. You might find someone skilled enough for wooden frames, but it's a pretty rare craft. The feedback you got from the experienced woodworker is probably a strong indication that it could be tough to pull off safely.
While it's possible to craft wooden glasses, like with CNC lasers, the fit for lenses could be problematic. Unless the wood is thick and carefully handled, I don't see them lasting very long under normal use. Just a thought—what about using bamboo? It’s surprisingly durable for everyday items like chopsticks!