New Blog: Aura Visual Concepts Inc.

I’ve decided to use the blog format to stay in contact with our past, current and future customers.

This blog will contain news and information about Aura Visual Concepts as well as discussions about eyewear and eye safety.

http://auravisual.wordpress.com/

Thumbs Down on Revere Glass Studio, Dustin Revere

Update: Dustin Revere has since paid his account in full.

I’ve debated about posting this for some time now, but recent events have prompted this post.
For over a year now, Revere Glass Studio has owed my company, Aura Visual Concepts/Aura Lens Products, over $400.00 for some eyewear that I sold to him on open account, net 30 days. About 2 months ago, I received payment in the amount of $50, with the promise of an additional $50 each week until the account was paid in full. Of course, the balance never arrived.

There are reports of other shady deals with Revere as well, as can be seen here: http://www.thegldg.com/forum/showthread.php?t=28904 such as cancelling classes without notice, not returning borrowed equipment etc.

Even though Revere brings in some high talent artists, his business practices leave much to be desired.

Accordingly, I recommend that you skip taking classes at Revere Glass Studio and you give your business to other reputable studios.

A question from the field

I purchased a pair of your glasses 4 or more years ago. Lately, I’ve noticed that my eyes are hurting when I am done at the end of the day. Does the filter material “wear out” over time?

Answer: No. The filter elements are part of the glass matrix and cannot/do not fade. Welding filter glass uses iron as the major filtering element. AUR-92/ACE glass uses didymium/neodymium/praesodymium plus other “rare earth” elements. These elements are mixed in with the silica when the glass is being melted by the manufacturer.

The manufacturer of the glass routinely tests its glass over time, keeping samples of each melt and subjecting them to various tests to determine transmission over time and exposure. Schott Glass Technologies, for example, has samples of didymium that go back over 50 years, and that glass still has the same transmission characteristics that it had when it was first made.

What is more likely is that over time, your skills have improved from the time you first bought your glasses. You may be working longer hours, you may be using different techniques, and you are certainly working with different formulations of borosilicate glass (especially the colors). You may also be doing more fuming now than you did when you first got your glasses.

The bottom line is that you have perhaps “out grown” your current filters and most likely need something with more filtration.

The view from the naughty bench

The title of this piece isn’t meant to be snide or churlish, just what I’m feeling right now.

Did your grade school have a naughty bench? You know, the bench or chairs outside of the Principal’s Office? Where the ‘bad kids’ sat before getting lectured for their behavior?

Yeah, that place.

I admit it. I’m an ass. I’ve taken the first step: admitting to a problem. The next steps are even harder, but today I’m trying my best.

What does cataract surgery cost?

Per eye, approximately $7,200.

My mother, still “young” (in her early 70’s), just had cataract surgery in both eyes over a two month period of time.

$14,400 for both eyes. Plus not having perfect vision for up to 2-3 weeks afterwards, having to avoid bright lights for 6-8 weeks. If my mother had been a torch worker, she would have been out of work for close to 4 months.

Energy Radiance Information for Glassworkers

NIOSH and OSHA have determined that the IR TLV (threshold limit value) to the unprotected eye is 10 mW/CM2 for time periods greater than 16 minutes. (10 mW is .010 Watts)