Boro glasses???!!!NOT AURALENS!!!!!

mkultra23 · #1 2011-01-21, 11:43am

I recently made a purchase from Aura Lens

because I was foolish enough to buy the hype about them and not aware of the problems people have seem to have had for years with them. I'm working to get my money back and have no idea how Auralens can still exist given their complete lack of respect for their customers, and indifference to reputation. SO my mistake, but I need a pair of glasses that will give the best possible protection for borosilicate color work and fuming. It looks like my other option is Philips green ACE. Has anyone recently had any good experiences purchasing eye protection and could recommend a reliable source and/or product maybe I haven't come across. My eyes have been taking a beating using Didymiums and plastic welding shades and now that I can afford some real protection I end up falling for a scam. Thanks in advance I appreciate your help!

menty666 · #2 2011-01-21, 12:10pm

Aura makes awesome glasses, but as you found the customer service end sucks. A lot.

Phillips is pretty much the only other player in the game, but I think Wale Apparatus is trying to start their own line. I have no idea how they source their lenses.

Dale M. · #3 2011-01-21, 12:13pm

For serious boro work, "split lenses" are probably the best solution.... Upper half is usually didymium or Ace 202 (replacement glass for didymium) and lower half is didymium/ace with either shade #3 or shade #5 welding shade , which shade you use will have a lot to do with size and intensity of boro objects you are making....

The only negatives I have heard about Phillips comes from their "competitor"....

Dale

BellaBean · #4 2011-01-21, 12:15pm

Wale has some nice glasses. They told me the source, but I honestly can't remember what they said.

Here's their link...
http://www.waleapparatus.com/store.a...22&catid=19836

Feel free to call and talk to them about them. Dan and Glen (their sales guys) are two of the nicest people on the planet.

ABR Dave · #5 2011-01-21, 12:19pm

Just get Phillips 3 or 5.

As far as the base coat of Ace 202/AUR 92, they are the exact same lens, sourced from the same original material.

The Phillips are fantastic, and never have problems with getting in touch with them.

mkultra23 · #6 2011-01-21, 1:30pm

"Aura makes awesome glasses, but as you found the customer service end sucks. A lot."

Yeah it seems like they really don't care about their business. It would be one thing if they had said it would take a few months to complete the glasses, I don't mind waiting for a quality product. But instead they just keep stringing me along promising delivery dates again and again and coming up with some really lame excuses rather than just being up front about whats going on with them.

mkultra23 · #7 2011-01-21, 1:31pm

"Wale has some nice glasses."
thanks I'll check them out, never had a problem with Wale.

mkultra23 · #8 2011-01-21, 1:34pm

"As far as the base coat of Ace 202/AUR 92, they are the exact same lens, sourced from the same original material.

The Phillips are fantastic, and never have problems with getting in touch with them."

Thanks, I'm thinking Phillips is what I'll be going for is there any particular type of lens material I should be looking for, seems people don't like the older offerings. And should I order straight from them or do they only do wholesale, and if so who's a reliable vendor for them?

BellaBean · #9 2011-01-21, 4:14pm

Btw... I was told that Phillips will custom make lenses to fit any frames you send in (in case you have a pair of sunglass or eyeglass frames you really love)

ABR Dave · #10 2011-01-21, 5:52pm

We carry the full line of Phillips Eyewear for lampworking!

ArtcoInc · #11 2011-01-21, 5:53pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkultra23

Thanks, I'm thinking Phillips is what I'll be going for is there any particular type of lens material I should be looking for, seems people don't like the older offerings. And should I order straight from them or do they only do wholesale, and if so who's a reliable vendor for them?

You can buy retail directly from Phillips, or from one of their stocking distributors (like me

).

Malcolm

kathleen milligan · #12 2011-01-21, 7:04pm

I do! That is nice to know.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BellaBean

Btw... I was told that Phillips will custom make lenses to fit any frames you send in (in case you have a pair of sunglass or eyeglass frames you really love)

JesterGlass · #13 2011-01-22, 6:58am

Anyone thinking about Aura should read this:

http://www.talkglass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=27365

crofootadv · #14 2011-01-24, 3:35pm

I do all boro and I went with Phillips Assurance frame and shade 3's. The assurance frame is very good, it's solid metal, not just a wire frame, it's got adjustable nose pieces and spring hinges with rubber grippers at the ears. They stay in place very well with those features. And they are a wrap frame so you get pretty decent physical protection from the side as well.

I'm just part time, so shade 3's are more than enough, plus I work with a lot of clear boro, and not so many bright colors when hot. If I was full time, I'd definitely try the shade 5's, or maybe have both.

PS - I might also buy from one of the two guys who logged into this forum to give you some free advice.....maybe whoever's closer to save on shipping.

mkultra23 · #15 2011-01-26, 12:41pm

Thanks for all of your replies. I'm glad to know that Philips is up to snuff, it's great to have an alternative to Aura. I really wanted the Aura lens but I realize I was deluded by marketing hype and they clearly have some major "issues" in house and WILL TAKE YOUR MONEY AND RUN. ABR Dave I'll probably end up ordering from you, you guy's were great with quick shipping last time I ordered and your sales staff are helpful and friendly peop's from my experience, but I'm also going to check out ArtCo to as they are totally new to me. I see you also have the exact same Aura frame and lens combination I originally order from Aura but given my recent experience even if I can get them from you I'd worry I'd be up the creek if I wanted any repairs done from them.

mkultra23 · #16 2011-01-26, 1:29pm

Thanks for that link Jester I hadn't seen that one and I've been looking. It seems a lot of people have been taken in by this d-bag. I hope I'm the last person who makes the mistake of ordering from them!!! R.I.P. Auralens, you suck!

metalbone · #17 2011-01-26, 9:24pm

Well, I'll be the lone voice here. I bought 3 pairs of glasses from Auralens over the last 2 years, 2 for boro and 1 for soft, and they are all top notch quality. All metal frames. The first two arrived in about a week of payment. The last arrived about a month after payment with several back and forth emails with Mike in the interim (they arrived a few weeks ago).

There are a lot of posts about the lousy customer service here and the other site, but I have not experienced lousy service, theft, or inconvenience. I do however experience top quality glasses everytime I torch.

I could be I just got lucky though.

Rodger · #18 2011-01-26, 9:50pm

This is interesting... I have been looking into getting prescription boro glasses soon, and the bit about Ace 202 and AUR 92 being the same is interesting. It looks like Philips don't make prescription 'split' lenses though on their website... Anyone know if they'll custom make a pair of split prescriptions?

Also +1 for the whale glasses - I got a pair of their shade 3 fit overs and they're great, esp for 60 bucks!

ABR Dave · #19 2011-01-27, 9:06am

It's darn near impossible to do prescriptions in split lenses. You have two pieces of glass layered over one another. To get a prescription precise, would be impossible. You could maybe do a prescription on the base coat, and not the dark weld shade. But then you'd still get distorted going through the piece of weld lens.

Best thing to do in that situation, is buy a pair of their Shade 3 and 5 Fitovers, and just wear them over regular ones. Or, flip up shade 3 and 5 is an option as well.

Dale M. · #20 2011-01-27, 10:12am

You may also want to consider a shield or visor so you don't have to go through the "another new set of glasses" as eyes change over the years....

http://www.phillips-safety.com/store...pntq1747v9urb2

Dale

ABR Dave · #21 2011-01-27, 11:23am

yup, that's why the Fitovers are so great. They are really comfy. Our guy Cody wears them when he works, and doesn't even wear glasses. Best thing about them, is they wrap all the way around your peripheral. So, it does a great job of blocking dangerous side light. They are a steal too. Cheaper than any other framed shade 3 or 5

Here's a link to them on our site, if you haven't seen them
http://www.dichroicimagery.com/index...433_17_257_276

Rodger · #22 2011-01-28, 1:33am

That is a good point about prescriptions changing over time Dale. I guess I'll stick to using fit-overs then, even though they aren't AS comfortable as just a single pair... I had to steam-bend my Phillips ones a bit for a nicer fit.

And I just noticed Phillips have some new glassworking glasses it seems (well I hadn't seen them before)... Polycarbonate lenses, so like the Whale glasses, but only in non-welding shade. These still look pretty cool though, and a pretty good price too http://www.phillips-safety.com/store...pntq1747v9urb2

Rodger · #23 2011-01-28, 9:59am

Well Phillips just said they COULD make me a pair of prescription splits with my -2sph/-1cyl prescription, but it would be over $400 bucks... Nice to know though.

mkultra23 · #24 2011-02-23, 8:15am

Just wanted to let everyone know I just got my 3/5 green ACE split goggles from Phillips and they are great. Took less than a week to receive them too. I was sceptical after waiting for months with Aura before canceling but I was pleasantly surprised by the short wait. I don't know how they compare to Aura's product since that companies odd attitude to it's customers kept me from getting a pair but I think they are awesome and my eyes definitely feel better. Thanks to everyone who responded for your help!

Moth · #25 2011-03-02, 12:56pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by JesterGlass

Anyone thinking about Aura should read this:

http://www.talkglass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=27365

Wow. I'm a new member over there and wasn't aware of the scale of these complaints.

TomK · #26 2011-05-09, 5:37am

You could also use 202s with a full face shield shade 3 or 5. You just have to be willing to have most of your face covered with a 3 or 5 shade. Should be around $30 for the head band and #3 or #5 replacement shield.
Nice thing about these is you can flip them up and just use the 202s for set up. Then nod your head to drop the shade in place.

Note: I'm not talking about an arc/mig/tig helmet, I'm talking about the torch-Oxy/fuel face shields that come in 3 or 5.

ArtcoInc · #27 2011-05-09, 8:50am

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomK

You could also use 202s with a full face shield shade 3 or 5. You just have to be willing to have most of your face covered with a 3 or 5 shade. Should be around $30 for the head band and #3 or #5 replacement shield.
Nice thing about these is you can flip them up and just use the 202s for set up. Then nod your head to drop the shade in place.

Note: I'm not talking about an arc/mig/tig helmet, I'm talking about the torch-Oxy/fuel face shields that come in 3 or 5.

Like these?

http://www.artcoinc.com/face_shield.php

Malcolm