Types and applications of lacquer

Purification of lacquer

Sap taken from the lacquer tree is called the Arami.
By filtration Arami and removing the garbage, it becomes a Ki-Urushi (raw lacquer).
Raw lacquer in a state in which, such as moisture and urushiol (oils) are mixed, component is uneven.
When a uniform component by stirring the raw lacquer, gloss will appear on the lacquer surface. This stirring is called "Nayashi".
Further stirred while heating to around 40 °, to remove the water content of about 30% contained in the raw lacquer to 5% or less.
As a result, it becomes semi-transparent state of brown. This work called "Kurome".
Through the above work, the lacquer have high transparency and viscosity is "Kurome-Urushi".
It is generally called "Kijiro-Urushi".
After this, mixing such as oil and ore in Kurome-Urushi, it is made a lacquer suitable for a variety of lacquer painting process.

1.Ki-Urushi (raw lacquer)

There are Kijomi-Urushi and Suriyou-Urushi and Shitajiyou-Urushi and Seshime-Urushi in the Ki-Urushi, and they are used for techniques of Suri, Fuki, Shitaji (foundation).

2.Suki-Urushi (transparent lacquer)

Kijiro-Urushi
Painting on wooden base you will get brown finish with a little clarity.
It is also possible to be colored if you mix the pigment or dye in it.

Syuai-Urushi
It is the lacquer in order to give a transparency and a gloss of the coating film by adding dry fat.
By kneading the colored powder, it is suitable to make the color lacquer, used for colorful lacquer paintings.

Sukinakanuri-Urushi
Lacquer to that increase the transparency by mixing such as perilla oil.
It is used as an intermediate when you repaint.

Nashiji-Urushi
This lacquer is, issued a yellow tinge to put the yellow ore to Kurome-Urushi, it is oil-free.
To draw such as a background primarily by the Maki-e, it is used in the process of rub the flour.
Origin of its name is similar to the skin of pear.

Hakushita-Urushi
This is used in the process to put a foil.
This has been adjusted to be smoother than Syuai-Urushi.

3.Kuro-Urushi (black lacquer)

Adding iron sulfide in Kurome-Urushi, it is made by dying black.