Neat Technique for Bending Temple Arms to Fit Your Face

[powrwrap]

I need glasses with long temple arms. Even arms that are 140mm and
145mm are not long enough. The pre-defined curves in the arms start in
front of my ears, not at my ears. Not only is this a lousy fit but it
looks stupid. But if I order glasses with arms of these lengths I
straighten the bends and rebend at a spot further away from the lenses
in order to get them to fit my head properly. Alternatively, if your
temple arms are too long and you want to shorten them by moving the
bend closer to the lenses, this technique will work for you also.

Previously I have done this by utilizing a blow dryer and/or running
hot tap water over the area of the temple arm that I wanted to alter.
Yesterday I came up with a better idea.

I take a coffee mug full of water (about 8 oz.) and microwave the
water until it is at a temperature of about 160 degrees F. My
microwave happens to have a temperature probe which makes it
ridiculously easy. I simply plug the on end of the probe into the
microwave, set the sensing end into the cup of water, punch up 160 and
hit the "Maintain Temp" button, then Start. You might need to use a
thermometer to determine when you have achieved 160 degrees. This was
about 90 seconds on high power on my 900 watt microwave. I suppose you
could also heat water in a pan on your stovetop. There's nothing
magical about 160 degrees, but I didn't want to use boiling water.

After the water has reached temperature I dip the curved end of one
temple arm into the water and alternately stir the water and hold the
arm still in the water. (It's best to have the other temple arm folded
up against the lenses.) Do this for about one minute. Then using
forefinger and thumb, I straighten the arm slightly. Don't try to
straighten it out all in one go as it might break the arm. Repeat the
dip in the hot water for one minute then straighten a little bit more.
Repeat as necessary until arm is straightened (or mostly straight). It
took me about four times to get it straight.

Reheat the water and repeat the procedure on the other arm being
careful not to break the arm. If you straighten it incrementally
rather than all at once, you will do fine.

Now put the glasses on, stand in front of a mirror, pull hair away
from your ears and grab onto the temple arm at the very top of your
ear where it joins your head. You should be gripping at the spot where
you want the new bend to start. Either mark this spot or remember
where it is, e.g. "I need to start the bend one inch from the end".
Reheat the water and go back to dipping and stirring the temple arm in
the hot water. Now slightly bend the arm at the prescribed mark. Put
back in hot water for a minute. Bend a little bit more. Repeat, etc.

Reheat the water and repeat with the other temple arm. Once you are
finished you should have a pair of glasses that fit nicely on your
face, don't wiggle or shift when you move your head, especially when
you look down at the floor. Hope this helps you get a great fit with
your new glasses.