Item Description:
Imitation Jade (Yunzi) Nosepads - These pads are made from a material similar to Yunzi (a traditional material for making go stones in China, typically a combination of crushed agate and molten stone).
Colors: Green, White, Black.
Styles: Screw Mount, Press Fit.

Supplier Information:
Ulikia Technology Co., Ltd. - Chinese optical and jewelry component manufacturer in Shenzhen.

Pricing:
$0.60 per pair (estimated cost for pads, shipping, and customs fees; may raise or lower slightly once cleared by customs).

Timeline:
Receive in USA within April, possibly as late as April 20th. This order has been fully paid-for and claimed in advance, so payment has no specific date, simply pay prior to shipping to you.

Payment Details:
I can take payment by CashApp, Venmo, Check, Money Order, or Trade (to be negotiated).

Shipping:
I only ship via UPS, but whether it is ground or express, that's up to you. Once shipping is calculated, can pay in single payment before I send.

Risks:
Zero; order has been paid in advance by me, I will claim any pieces that are not claimed by GASM members.

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Remaining Pieces:

Green Screw Mount: 15
White Screw Mount: 11
Black Screw Mount: 15

Green Press Fit: 19
White Press Fit: 18
Black Press Fit: 19

(Claims recorded: Chad Sobodash, zdk)

Welcome to the Group Purchasing (GP) section of the Guild of American Spectacle Makers (GASM) forum. This space is dedicated to organizing bulk purchases of materials, tools, and components to help members save money and access otherwise hard-to-find items.

To ensure smooth and fair group purchases, please follow the guidelines and structure outlined below. These rules are designed to protect both buyers and organizers, and to maintain transparency and trust within the community.

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1. What is a Group Purchase (GP)?
A Group Purchase (GP) is an organized effort where members pool their orders to buy items in bulk, often at a discounted price. GPs are typically used for:

• Raw materials (e.g., acetate, titanium).
  
• Tools and equipment (e.g., drivers, pattern cutters, frame warmers).
  
• Components (e.g., hinges, rivets, screws, nose pads).
  

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2. Roles in a Group Purchase

• Organizer: The person who coordinates the GP, communicates with suppliers, and manages the process.
  
• Participants: Members who join the GP by committing to purchase items.
  
• Moderators: Forum staff who oversee GPs to ensure compliance with guidelines.
  

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3. How to Start a Group Purchase
If you’d like to organize a GP, follow these steps:

Step 1: Interest Check (IC)

• Create a new thread in the Group Purchasing section with the following format:
  • Title:
    [IC] Item Name
    (e.g., [IC] Acetate Sheet).
    
  • Content:
    • Item Description: Provide details about the item(s) being considered (e.g., material, size, color options).
      
    • Supplier Information: Name of the supplier and any relevant details (e.g., MOQ - Minimum Order Quantity).
      
    • Estimated Pricing: Rough cost per unit, including shipping and any fees.
      
    • Timeline: Proposed timeline for the GP (if known).
      
    • Purpose: Explain why this GP would benefit the community.
      
    • Questions for the Community: Ask for feedback (e.g., preferred colors, quantities, or alternative suppliers).
      

Step 2: Gauge Interest

• Allow the community to provide feedback and express interest in the IC thread.
  
• Use polls or ask participants to reply with the following:
  • Quantity they might be interested in.
    
  • Any additional suggestions or concerns.
    

Step 3: Finalize Details

• Based on the feedback from the IC thread, finalize the details of the GP, including:
  • Exact pricing.
    
  • Payment methods.
    
  • Shipping arrangements.
    
  • Timeline.
    

Step 4: Launch the Group Purchase (GP)

• Create a new thread in the Group Purchasing section with the following format:
  • Title:
    [GP] Item Name - Estimated Timeline
    (e.g., [GP] Acetate Sheets - June 2024).
    
  • Content:
    • Item Description: Provide finalized details about the item(s).
      
    • Supplier Information: Confirmed supplier and MOQ.
      
    • Pricing: Final cost per unit, including shipping and any fees.
      
    • Timeline: Commitment deadline, payment deadline, and estimated delivery date.
      
    • Payment Details: Payment methods accepted (e.g., PayPal, bank transfer) and deadlines.
      
    • Shipping: How items will be shipped (e.g., bulk shipping to a single address or individual shipping).
      
    • Risks: Any potential risks (e.g., delays, quality issues) and how they will be mitigated.
      

Step 5: Commitment

• Participants should reply to the GP thread with:
  • Quantity requested.
    
  • Preferred payment method.
    
  • Shipping address (unless otherwise sent by private message).
    

Step 6: Payment

• Organizers should collect payments only after the GP has reached the MOQ and all details are finalized.
  
• Provide clear instructions for payment and deadlines.
  

Step 7: Updates

• Keep participants informed with regular updates (e.g., order confirmation, shipping status, delays). You may simply edit the thread and include the date of the update, for the sake of brevity.
  

Step 8: Delivery

• Once the items arrive, organizers should distribute them to participants as agreed (e.g., bulk shipping to a single address or individual shipping).
  
• Please note that Participants will be responsible for shipping costs, and best practice dictates to collect shipping costs once items arrive to the Organizer.
  

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4. Rules for Organizers

• Transparency: Provide clear and accurate information about the GP, including risks and timelines.
  
• Communication: Post regular updates and respond to participant questions promptly.
  
• Accountability: Handle funds responsibly and provide proof of transactions if requested.
  
• No Profiteering: GPs should be organized for the benefit of the community, not for personal profit.
  

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5. Rules for Participants

• Commitment: Only join a GP if you are certain you can pay and follow through.
  
• Patience: Understand that GPs can take time due to supplier delays or other issues.
  
• Respect: Be courteous to organizers and other participants.
  

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6. Dispute Resolution

• If issues arise (e.g., delays, quality problems), participants should first contact the organizer.
  
• If the issue cannot be resolved, contact the forum moderators for assistance.
  

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7. Example IC and GP Threads

Interest Check (IC) Example
Title: [IC] Acetate Sheets
Content:

• Item Description: 2mm thick acetate sheets in various colors (black, tortoiseshell, clear).
  
• Supplier: AcetateCo, MOQ of 100 sheets.
  
• Estimated Pricing: ~$13 per sheet + shipping (TBD).
  
• Timeline: Tentative start in June 2024.
  
• Purpose: To combine freight shipping for cost reduction.
  
• Questions for the Community:
  • Which colors are you most interested in?
    
  • How many sheets would you likely purchase?
    
  • Are there alternative suppliers we should consider?
    

Group Purchase (GP) Example
Title: [GP] Acetate Sheets - June 2024
Content:

• Item Description: 2mm thick acetate sheets in black, tortoiseshell, and clear.
  
• Supplier: AcetateCo, MOQ of 100 sheets.
  
• Pricing: $10 per sheet + $50 shipping (split among participants).
  
• Timeline:
  • Commitment Deadline: June 15, 2024.
    
  • Payment Deadline: June 20, 2024.
    
  • Estimated Delivery: July 15, 2024.
    
• Payment: PayPal (Friends & Family) or bank transfer.
  
• Shipping: Bulk shipping to the organizer’s address, then redistributed via USPS.
  
• Risks: Potential delays from the supplier; updates will be provided weekly.
  

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8. Disclaimer
Group Purchases are organized by community members and are not officially endorsed or managed by GASM. Participants join at their own risk. GASM moderators are not responsible for any issues that arise during a GP but will assist in resolving disputes when possible.

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Once this thread has received enough feedback to be considered an agreeable procedure to the community, it will be locked.

After some discussion with Scott Balestreri, I want to try my hand at dyeing buffalo horn. He told me that he had purchased a specific dye for horn, but couldn't recall from where.
My idea is that horn should be able to accept leather dye, but may need to be boiled in an alkali solution to prepare it to accept the dye. I'm going to try a solution of sodium hydroxide and distilled water and boil the horn at a low temperature, which apparently has a bleaching effect. I'll post results here later in the month, but if anyone has any tips please let me know.
I'm trying to get blonde horn to the point where it has a candy apple red color for a project I'm working on.
Source:

• Maggie Campbell Pedersen - A Background to Horn
  

Share your work playlist or songs you rock out to here.

I'll go first. X Japan is my favorite band of all time, so my usual playlist for work is mostly them, Dir En Grey, Queen, or anything with some good overdrive solos.

My name is Harry Chilinguerian I own a small studio called Optscureal Limited, I specialize in "helping opticians realize the value of obscure optical knowledge".  My goal 20 years ago was to teach frame making to opticians through MakeOptics, at the time the industry was not ready and most opticians pushed back.  I now look around and see a vibrant community of professionals that have taken up the craft of making frames.  I'm glad to be here and happy to share.

Hello everyone,

I am happy to welcome everyone to the Guild of American Spectacle Makers (GASM). Most of you are visiting from the SMALLBATCHTOOLS WhatsApp group, so before I say anything I want to say thanks to them for being such a fantastic resource for the frame making community. Each one of us owe gratitude to them for hosting and encouraging independent lunetiers from all over the world.

In discussions with many independent makers, the need has become apparent to build a group that can facilitate the needs of American frame makers, specifically. This includes North, Central, and South America, as these areas are globally underserved in the needs of materials, components, and knowledge. There is a large array of reasons for this, and many unique to their respective countries.

This forum is loosely moderated (as many of you know me as a crass, loud-mouthed cretin), so please post freely. I am a free speech absolutist. The landing page will be developed soon with a couple pieces of merch at low pricing solely to support server costs.

Call to Leadership (Buying Group Manager)

With this community, I hope that we can leverage costs as a buying group, and reduce our shipping and production costs. I have no personal interest in being someone who manages finances, so I am calling for someone to take leadership in managing the money from the members for performing purchasing. Anyone who is interested may want to make a post indicating such, or send me a private message. If nobody is interested, then I will assume this role as needed, but it is not my desire to do so.

Welcome everyone, and thanks for participating.