Colorit and UltraUV alternatives

In a previous post (old news by now) the author notes; “photopolymer
systems (eg Colorit,UltraUV)…cure at roughly room temperature
using actinic light.” My question is three-fold. What is "UltraUV"
compared to Colorit? I have been unable to find this product in a
net search. Is it only available in the US? If these
photo-activated ceramic polymers are cured with actinic light, can
an enterprising jeweller substitute an aquarium actinide lamp for
the expensive Colorit setup? And finally, can the same enterprising
and thrifty person buy a sheet of red-tinted acrylic plastic and
form it into the also expensive light shield supplied with the
Colorit system? (Presumably, this is to keep the blue end of the
spectrum of natural or incandescent light from begining to cure the
polymer while the jeweller is still applying it to the piece.)
Thanks for any thoughts or encouragement- should I happen to be the
first to have thought these crazy cheap-outs would work. Danny
Rondeau

Danny,

I got a Colorit kit last year. Haven’t used it much yet, though.
Colorit i s very similar to the white stuff dentists use to fill
cavities with. It cure s with a blue light. I went to Ebay and
bought a light gun from a dental supplier for about $240.00 instead
of the $600.00 unit. I also bought the set up from the manufacturer
the materials, tools, the warmer and a sheet of the orange sheet.
You can actually buy the orange color sheet from Gesswein and use
that to cover a glass or acrylic shape to create a work area. I
would get the warmer from the company though. The biggest problem I
found and have not gone back to find the solution for yet was the
fact that I don’t like the colors Colorit comes in and wanted to make
my own mixes. You can’t really tell what the color looks like under
th e orange “dome”. I’ll go back to Colorit at some time and point
and figure it out. One piece of advice about the light - NEVER look
directly at that light!! I became a dental assistant many years ago
out of necessity ( a family to support) and was not aware of its
hazzard. After the first time I used it ( the Dr. did not give me
the special glasses and I had no experience) I noticed a floater or
a dark spot in my field of vision. That light is so bright it can
burn your retina. I was never able to confirm that the light
actually caused the blind spot, but I do believe it did. As far as
using an y other light it really depends on the type of project you
are working on. If you want to color a curved surface you need it to
cure fast so the Colorit does not run. Any flat surface can sit
under a light for a long time. So these are the things to take into
consideration. This became quite a long e-mail! If you have any
more questions please feel free to contact me off-Orchid. Please
give me a few days to respond. Good luck with your new toys!

Vera B.
Acquamarin

Where can I find more on the Colorit system. Who sells
this in the US? Is there a website in English, all I can find are
German ones.

Thanks,
Daniel J. Statman, Statman Designs
www.statmandesigns.com
@Dan_statman

Hi Daniel, Gesswein sells Colorit http://www.gesswein.com there’s
basic in their online catalog. They also have a tech
person for colorit but I’ve yet to have him return a phone call or
email.

I just bought most pieces of the small outfit they sell and am just
starting to experiment. So I don’t know very much but if you have any
specific questions I’d be glad to answer if I can.

I bought the a new dental curing light on ebay for much less than
Gesswein’s - the main problem with that is that it only runs in 60
second increments and much of the colorit timing requires 5 minute
intervals - so it takes a lot of babysitting to keep turning the
lamp back on. I don’t know what the exact specs for Gesswein’s
version is and if it runs for a full 5 minutes or not - so I’m not
sure what I’m missing out on here. Anyone have a small lamp from this
system? Could you tell me the specs as far as wattage, etc. I know
my lamp can be modified but I don’t know how much it needs to and/or
how much altering the unit will allow without burning itself out.

Michelle

Hi Dan,

Gesswein is the distributor for Colorit in the US. Call us at
1-800-544-204 and ask for Chuck Duncan in Tech Services. He is the
Colorit expert at Gesswein.

Best Regards,
Elaine Corwin
VP Tech Services
Gesswein Co. Inc.
Bridgeport CT 06605

Tel: 1-800-544-2043 x287
in CT: 203-366-5400

Elaine, I received an e-mail from an Orchid list member warning me to
stay away from Colorit. I have no reason to believe him, but thought
I would ask you your opinion. he claims that Colorit is planning on
going out of business in July of 2003. Seems a little odd to me, and
I replied to him to verify the source of his but have
not heard anything back. What is your take on this?

Daniel J. Statman, Statman Designs
www.statmandesigns.com
@Dan_statman

Dear Dan: Innovis, the manufacturers of Colorit, sent us a letter
very recently statin g that they are selling their Colorit division.
If they are unable to find a buyer, they will be closing the
division.

Any announcement to that effect now is premature. Innovis may yet
find a buyer.

However, as a supplier, our job is to look at the contingencies and
make sur e that whatever happens we are able to support the product.
In the time since we received the letter from Innovis we have been
researching alternate sources of supply for both colors and
equipment.

We have found them.

The alternate colors come from the dental industry (as does Colorit)
and are the same material as Colorit, with the slight variations in
component ratios that you’d expect to find among different
manufacturers of the same product.

Our preliminary test results with these colors are excellent. Many
of the colors match the Colorit brand exactly. We are currently
working on matchin g all of the colors as well as offering new colors.

The new equipment will operate the same way as the Colorit brand,
after all, it’s from the dental industry too. It’s a different
brand of the same type of light. Our intent is to keep both quality
and costs in line with what we’ve been providing all along.

We are out of stock of Colorit kits at this time because we are,
quite frankly, hoping to hear that Colorit has found a buyer. We are
loyal to the brand and we know our customers are too. We don’t want
to switch to another brand prematurely. However if we don’t hear
something positive from them very soon, we are ready make the switch.

In the interim we have a good supply of Colorit colors on our
shelves and there will be no interruption in getting colors or parts.

As far as equipment that is already out in the field, we are able to
get parts directly from the manufacturers of the equipment. There is
no need fo r concern that machines cannot be repaired when the need
arises.

Whatever happens with Innovis and its Colorit division, we are fully
prepared. We are in close contact with Innovis and will know more
from the m shortly. Either Colorit brand equipment will soon be in
stock or another brand will. Should a brand change be made, all our
Colorit customers will b e notified along with details on making the
transition between brands seamless .

If you have any questions or concerns or simply want to discuss this
further , please feel free to contact me by email or by phone (contact
info is below). As usual, that goes for anyone reading this letter.
I’m always pleased to hear an Orchid member is calling and welcome
your input.

Best Regards,
Elaine Corwin
VP Technical Services
Gesswein Co. Inc.
Bridgeport CT
Tel: 1-800-544-2043 x287
in CT: 203-366-5400 x287
Fax: 203-335-0300
email: ecorwin@gesswein.com

What is the difference between Colorit and Ceramit? Are they used
in the same applications? Can they be mixed or interchanged? I have
a bit of Ceramit, but haven’t used it yet. I am looking forward to
experimenting with it.

Thanks: Katharine Whittaker

Katherine, ceramit is a heat curing polyester(SP?) resin product,
while colorit is photocured in UV light. The Colorit product is
extremely strong, same stuff as used in dentistry (see other posts),
while the ceramit,though reasonably tough, can’t really compare for
hardness and, I suspect, durability. Hope this helps.

Danny

      What is the difference between Colorit and Ceramit? Are they
used in the same applications? Can they be mixed or interchanged?
I have a bit of Ceramit, but haven't used it yet. I am looking
forward t o experimenting with it. 

Hi Katherine, Both Ceramit and Colorit produce a hard ceramic-like
surface resembling kiln-fired enamel. The difference is primarily in
durability and hardness o f the material although Colorit also cures
faster and has a much wider choice of colors offering more creative
potential.

Ceramit (aka Ceramitation) is a low-temperature-curing resin. It’s
a liquid two-part system in which a catalyst and a color are mixed,
then fired at low temperatures. There is a shelf life to the
catalyst (about 1 year). There are a variety of opaque and
transparent colors which can be mixed and matche d for different
effects. It’s very easy to use.

Colorit is a material from the dental industry. It’s a
ceramic-reinforced composite material. Like Ceramitation it’s a
liquid and it’s very easy to use, but it cures by light, rather than
the chemical reaction/heat that cure s Ceramitation.

Colorit is photosensitive – it will cure even in normal daylight
but it wil l take a long time (hours or even days depending on the
specific color) and results are unpredictable. Therefore a special
light is supplied in the Colorit Kits to make curing faster,
consistent and predictable.

It is commonly assumed that the Colorit Light is ultraviolet but
actually it is a blue light in a range of about 200 to 600nm with an
ultraviolet and infrafred filter making it more user friendly.
Colorit takes only minutes t o cure with this light and results are
consistent and predictable.

Colorit is a lot tougher than Ceramitation and can stand up to more
abuse, including polishing to a high shine, sandblasting, milling and
drilling, filing, carving and lathe-turning at high RPMs. While the
gold around it will look scratched and worn over time, Colorit will
not. Colorit has a wider range of color choice than Ceramitation
including Deep Colors, Neon, Pearlescent and unique Eye-Effect
colors.

Although they could probably be used together in the same piece, I
can’t honestly see a reason to do it. If you have Colorit, you’ll
never want to go back to Ceramitation.

Please note that I’m not knocking Ceramitation, it’s a very good
product, it does the job and it’s very popular. Certainly the price
is right. But Ceramitation has its limits and is not nearly as
durable as Colorit. Ceramitation is subject to scratching, wear
marks, cracking and fading (over time).

I hope I’ve answered your questions. If you have more, please feel
free to ask via Orchid, email or by phone. Contact info is below.

Best Regards,
Elaine
Elaine Corwin
VP Tech Services
Gesswein Co. Inc.

Tel: 1-800-544-2043 x287
in CT: 203-366-5400
email: ecorwin@gesswein.com or elaineec@aol.com