I’ve actually seen a few designs of these in the past, but this particular example was made by Kolo Narvaez.
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Comments
138 responses to ““The Original Ear Expander””
#9 (Mr Pumpernickel)- what if you got a circle made out of curved segments that could slide against each other, sort of like a camera aperture? You’d have the problem of the pieces sliding against the lobe, but it would give you a more or less round piece to work with.
I don’t know if this would/will actually work (I’m no engineer), but I think it has potential.
Hell, do it in a matte black, and it would look badass!
For that matter… how ’bout a regular tunnel/eyelet with a camera aperture in it? Maybe a little lever you could use to open and close it… Damn, I wish I had the skill to build these things!
#9 (Mr Pumpernickel)- what if you got a circle made out of curved segments that could slide against each other, sort of like a camera aperture? You’d have the problem of the pieces sliding against the lobe, but it would give you a more or less round piece to work with.
I don’t know if this would/will actually work (I’m no engineer), but I think it has potential.
Hell, do it in a matte black, and it would look badass!
For that matter… how ’bout a regular tunnel/eyelet with a camera aperture in it? Maybe a little lever you could use to open and close it… Damn, I wish I had the skill to build these things!
hey, what would happen if the mechanism inside broke and it just kinda…popped open all the way….ouch
hey, what would happen if the mechanism inside broke and it just kinda…popped open all the way….ouch
The biggest flaw I see with this design is it’s not going to apply uniform pressure to the lobe.
It’s the same problem that stretching with silicone creates, when certain parts of the lobe adhere to the tacky silicone surface.
The biggest flaw I see with this design is it’s not going to apply uniform pressure to the lobe.
It’s the same problem that stretching with silicone creates, when certain parts of the lobe adhere to the tacky silicone surface.
I want one!
I want one!
Anselm, I have a hard time seeing something like that working, though I may be imagining it differently than you are. I don’t know how it would work with gradually expanding it either since you’d have to put that mechanism either inside or behind the aperture itself. Interesting idea though.
Kaylee, it wouldn’t do that since there is no tension in the mechanism. For it to “pop open all the way” you would actually have to turn the screws manually all the way yourself, the screws won’t open themselves automatically.
Anselm, I have a hard time seeing something like that working, though I may be imagining it differently than you are. I don’t know how it would work with gradually expanding it either since you’d have to put that mechanism either inside or behind the aperture itself. Interesting idea though.
Kaylee, it wouldn’t do that since there is no tension in the mechanism. For it to “pop open all the way” you would actually have to turn the screws manually all the way yourself, the screws won’t open themselves automatically.
I might be wrong, and liked to be corrected if I am…
I taugh Kaos were a bad idea to stretch since they created pressur on a small part of the lobe rather than the whole lobe. Meaning that only a small part of the lobe will actually stretch.
These seems to me like they will create the same type of problems since only 4 specific points will stretch, and assuming you don’T spin them around, wouldn’t they cause partial excess stretching?
But I have to agree, they look nice for a novelty jewelry.
I might be wrong, and liked to be corrected if I am…
I taugh Kaos were a bad idea to stretch since they created pressur on a small part of the lobe rather than the whole lobe. Meaning that only a small part of the lobe will actually stretch.
These seems to me like they will create the same type of problems since only 4 specific points will stretch, and assuming you don’T spin them around, wouldn’t they cause partial excess stretching?
But I have to agree, they look nice for a novelty jewelry.
Helen- the uneven pressure is exactly what I was thinking. In all reality though I think most people will be able to stretch with these just fine. Personally, I wouldn’t trust my lobes to them and prefer the more traditional methods anyway. It would look cool as jewelry though.
Helen- the uneven pressure is exactly what I was thinking. In all reality though I think most people will be able to stretch with these just fine. Personally, I wouldn’t trust my lobes to them and prefer the more traditional methods anyway. It would look cool as jewelry though.
For those wondering about kaos…
I wrote an experience about my terrible kaos ordeal:
https://www.bmezine.com/pierce/01-ear/A40524/earcooki.html
I’m pretty sure I’m not one of the first to have had some major problems with it when it first came out to the public, however I think mine might have been the straw that broke the camel’s back, persay… At the end of my experience, shannon took the liberty to add:
“Note: It is important to note that since Marsdweller had this experience, KAOS SOFTWEAR has officially recommended that their jewelry not be used for stretching.”
I don’t know if he added that to all the kaos bad experiences, but… that said enough for me…
My experience was terrifying, painful both emotionally and physically, and if I can do anything to stop atleast one more person to from stretching with kaos, i’d do it all.
If you want pictures, check out the BME Encyclopedia, Risks Edition. There are all sorts of pictures of lobe problems, which all occur with Kaos stretching problems.
That being said.. that contraption looks great! as long as the edge are well lubed up not to have any friction/tearing, i think its a great idea!
For those wondering about kaos…
I wrote an experience about my terrible kaos ordeal:
https://www.bmezine.com/pierce/01-ear/A40524/earcooki.html
I’m pretty sure I’m not one of the first to have had some major problems with it when it first came out to the public, however I think mine might have been the straw that broke the camel’s back, persay… At the end of my experience, shannon took the liberty to add:
“Note: It is important to note that since Marsdweller had this experience, KAOS SOFTWEAR has officially recommended that their jewelry not be used for stretching.”
I don’t know if he added that to all the kaos bad experiences, but… that said enough for me…
My experience was terrifying, painful both emotionally and physically, and if I can do anything to stop atleast one more person to from stretching with kaos, i’d do it all.
If you want pictures, check out the BME Encyclopedia, Risks Edition. There are all sorts of pictures of lobe problems, which all occur with Kaos stretching problems.
That being said.. that contraption looks great! as long as the edge are well lubed up not to have any friction/tearing, i think its a great idea!
well.. most of the dead skin has fell off today.. the skin that some what overlapped the kaos plugs.. the throbbing has went away… it took about a week for it to completely subside… i failed to mention that i kept single flared steel 1/2″ plugs for two days prior to putting kaos in… not everyone is as lucky as me, and i’m sure that it being my second hole in my lobe helps out tremendously… the only problem i have now is that the lip of the plug is putting pressure on my conch, but i am sure this pain will surely dissapate soon as well…
well.. most of the dead skin has fell off today.. the skin that some what overlapped the kaos plugs.. the throbbing has went away… it took about a week for it to completely subside… i failed to mention that i kept single flared steel 1/2″ plugs for two days prior to putting kaos in… not everyone is as lucky as me, and i’m sure that it being my second hole in my lobe helps out tremendously… the only problem i have now is that the lip of the plug is putting pressure on my conch, but i am sure this pain will surely dissapate soon as well…
amazing…I love it……hey #27……this product doesn’t promote stretching faster than suggested, it just eliminates multiple pieces of jewelry. The fact that it is in segments wouldn’t make any difference if you turn it a bit once or twice a day…….duh……..well designed, and very cool looking
amazing…I love it……hey #27……this product doesn’t promote stretching faster than suggested, it just eliminates multiple pieces of jewelry. The fact that it is in segments wouldn’t make any difference if you turn it a bit once or twice a day…….duh……..well designed, and very cool looking
I stretched my ears from 0 to 1 inch with silicone.. I think the reason it worked well was that I had previously stretched with the traditional method of using tapers and let them shrink up. It would be WAY too easy for someone to overstretch with silicone, you HAVE to be patient.
I stretched my ears from 0 to 1 inch with silicone.. I think the reason it worked well was that I had previously stretched with the traditional method of using tapers and let them shrink up. It would be WAY too easy for someone to overstretch with silicone, you HAVE to be patient.
i stretch and wear ‘organic’ wood-bamboo-horn mostly. anything ‘synthetic’ acylic-strainless, i get major irritation quick. i could never use kaos, i already know that :/
and yes, i know people say that stretching with stuff like wood b/c of the grain is bad…but…never been an issue for meeeeee.
that’s my 2cents on materials!
i stretch and wear ‘organic’ wood-bamboo-horn mostly. anything ‘synthetic’ acylic-strainless, i get major irritation quick. i could never use kaos, i already know that :/
and yes, i know people say that stretching with stuff like wood b/c of the grain is bad…but…never been an issue for meeeeee.
that’s my 2cents on materials!
as a lot of people already said, id love to have one to wear as it looks wicked, however ill stick to old fasioned stretching thanks 🙂
as a lot of people already said, id love to have one to wear as it looks wicked, however ill stick to old fasioned stretching thanks 🙂
I like my PTFE tape, m’self. I’ll also second Shannon’s comment about slightly rough wood, it seems to result in faster settling after stretches for me, though I perform the initial stretch with something smoother.
I’ve pictured these things in my head before now, though, and really like the concept. I think they look good as just jewellery, and having jewellery that expands to fill the lobe opens possibilities for things that otherwise you’de never have gotten in (or at least, couldn’t get back out).
If you wanted something more uniform – how about something based on a coiled leaf spring? Literally like clockwork – the spring could expand maintaining a circular form.
You’d have to have the expansion work AGAINST the spring, however, since as 52 said, if the design “popped” you’d be in a world of trouble.
(since the design here doesn’t use springs, though, it wouldn’t “pop”…)
I like my PTFE tape, m’self. I’ll also second Shannon’s comment about slightly rough wood, it seems to result in faster settling after stretches for me, though I perform the initial stretch with something smoother.
I’ve pictured these things in my head before now, though, and really like the concept. I think they look good as just jewellery, and having jewellery that expands to fill the lobe opens possibilities for things that otherwise you’de never have gotten in (or at least, couldn’t get back out).
If you wanted something more uniform – how about something based on a coiled leaf spring? Literally like clockwork – the spring could expand maintaining a circular form.
You’d have to have the expansion work AGAINST the spring, however, since as 52 said, if the design “popped” you’d be in a world of trouble.
(since the design here doesn’t use springs, though, it wouldn’t “pop”…)
ok! where I can buy it? I like it very much and will pay a lot of $ to get it 🙂 PLEASE help me out.
ok! where I can buy it? I like it very much and will pay a lot of $ to get it 🙂 PLEASE help me out.
i forgot my iam page address
i forgot my iam page address
I hate how elitist people can be.
If someone wants their ears to be a certain size, let them do it how they please. It’s exceptionally narrow-minded to judge someone as “lazy” or “not-committed” for wanting to do it in a non-conventional way.
This a community, not a jury.
I hate how elitist people can be.
If someone wants their ears to be a certain size, let them do it how they please. It’s exceptionally narrow-minded to judge someone as “lazy” or “not-committed” for wanting to do it in a non-conventional way.
This a community, not a jury.
Thank you, Max Brand, and others who understood my concept.
Based in North Miami Beach, I work at Kolo Tattoo and Piercing, the shop at which we custom-make The Original Ear Expander. I am Fernando “Kolo” Narvaez.
Designed and handmade by me, the Ear Expander offers lobe-stretchers yet another option in plugwear. It is not meant to replace traditional stretching; it just provides modifiers with another look, another style, another way to express the freedoms they feel.
With its biomechanical look in silicone guards (yes, they are Kaos), the Ear Expander expands to fit the natural stretch of the hole one already has for ultimate comfort and unique style.
Worn closed or open in a wide range of potential shapes and sizes, the EEs exist now in 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-points, beginning at 3/4 inch and upward, with expandability from the smallest of increments up to 1/2 inch.
I regret not seeing the BMEzine blog on my design for the Ear Expander sooner, as I would have liked to have been able to provide more information to those who assumed they knew what it was for. For more info, please check out http://www.inkednation.com/earexpander, and keep an eye out for our web site to launch in January 2008 http://www.earexpander.com. Or you can call or email us directly. Thank you all very much for all your comments and support, and especially to BMEzine for providing us with these kinds of forums.
Kolo Tattoo and Piercing
348 NE 167th Street
North Miami Beach, FL 33162
1.786.344.5091
1.404.484.3298
Thank you, Max Brand, and others who understood my concept.
Based in North Miami Beach, I work at Kolo Tattoo and Piercing, the shop at which we custom-make The Original Ear Expander. I am Fernando “Kolo” Narvaez.
Designed and handmade by me, the Ear Expander offers lobe-stretchers yet another option in plugwear. It is not meant to replace traditional stretching; it just provides modifiers with another look, another style, another way to express the freedoms they feel.
With its biomechanical look in silicone guards (yes, they are Kaos), the Ear Expander expands to fit the natural stretch of the hole one already has for ultimate comfort and unique style.
Worn closed or open in a wide range of potential shapes and sizes, the EEs exist now in 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-points, beginning at 3/4 inch and upward, with expandability from the smallest of increments up to 1/2 inch.
I regret not seeing the BMEzine blog on my design for the Ear Expander sooner, as I would have liked to have been able to provide more information to those who assumed they knew what it was for. For more info, please check out http://www.inkednation.com/earexpander, and keep an eye out for our web site to launch in January 2008 http://www.earexpander.com. Or you can call or email us directly. Thank you all very much for all your comments and support, and especially to BMEzine for providing us with these kinds of forums.
Kolo Tattoo and Piercing
348 NE 167th Street
North Miami Beach, FL 33162
1.786.344.5091
1.404.484.3298
Forgot to leave the email: [email protected].
Thanks for all of these comments– everybody’s ideas are valuable to us. Peace– Kolo
Forgot to leave the email: [email protected].
Thanks for all of these comments– everybody’s ideas are valuable to us. Peace– Kolo