[Jewelry making - Article 00479] - Re: [Orchid] ColorIt and mass-production

[R . E . Rourke]

========[ Invite a Friend - http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm  ]========

Andy,

    I have used Colorit for years. True- mostly one-off pieces, but there
    were runs for Krewes, etc in which I used the material for hundreds,
    if not a thousand pieces. The limitation is drying time and how long
    one has to apply the various steps to pieces to achieve the resultant
    colour or effect desired, and cost as glass is far cheaper in the
    long run.

    Application has to be done in a temperature controlled environment,
    and the process, as i used it/use it, involved some layering and some
    floating into hollows to achieve a stained glass like effect formerly
    only accomplished through using glass enamel..It is a versatile
    substance, and unlike Elaine's summation does quite look like and act
    like traditional enamel once fully cured..and in many ways is
    superior to glass enamels, particularly to the beginning jeweler that
    has not the funds to invest in a kiln as well as all the other
    essentials to a small shop ( like a rolling mill!)..I suspect the
    reason Colorit told you no one is using it in mass production is due
    to the cost and their limited packaging capacities..they have never
    bent when asked to provide the materials in larger quantities to any
    school i have taught at or any time I inquired about a quart, or more
    of x colour for larger scale work, or many pieces of a design ( as in
    Krewe favors, call-out gifts, or team sport awards etc. ). 

    If you can keep the liquid from drying out or skinning over when
    doing large production then most of the fight is won..I have tried
    covering tjantings of a colour with nitrogen, CO2 and a few other
    gases to extend the working time to little avail..tried different
    containment vessels and delivery systems..time is always against you
    in applying the material to many of anything..so batching into
    smaller runs and lessening the steps involved were the only viable
    solution..Ultimately the effects are not as versatile as glass
    enamels in number, but to add colour to workpieces it is a very
    viable and versatile material exceeding that of most epoxies and
    most other available resins..the finished product looks and acts like
    enamel, without the tendency to chip if not stoned to a proper height
    before a final flash firing as with glass..Feel free to contact me
    off list if you want more experiential related information..I am in
    the process of moving though so please allow a few days for a
    response unless it's urgent in the subject line.. 

RER
____________________________________________________________________
T h e   O r c h i d   L i s t
Open Electronic Forum for Jewelry Manufacturing Methods and Procedures
____________________________________________________________________
Orchid FAQ:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/faq.htm
Orchid Archives:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/archive
Orchid Galleries:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/gallery.htm
Invite a Friend:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm
____________________________________________________________________
Tips From The Jeweler's Bench - Article Archive
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/tip_sear.htm
The Jeweler's Selected Bibliography List
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/jewelry-books
Buy Orchid Jewelry:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/shop
____________________________________________________________________
-Unsubscribe:
-Email: orchid-request AT ganoksin.com Body=unsubscribe subject=blank
____________________________________________________________________