Home Made Urushi?

[Febeleh]

Does anybody know where the Japanese Urushi Lacquer (seen on pens that have maki-e patterns, or most notably a Nakaya) can be purchased? Or how about methods of making it? I was thinking about taking a Noodler's Nib Creeper and making it into a Nakaya type pen. The clip is easily removed, to get that clean clipless look, and the entire pen can be dissasembled so it should be easy to cover it in the lacquer without hindering mechanical action. Is this even a viable idea? I just really like the look of an Urushi pen, and wanted something that isn't going to cost an arm and a leg (until I proverbially grow some extra limbs). What about color? Will the underlying color show through? I was thinking about buying a red or a black Nib Creeper so the undercolor is nicely matched.

 

Basically I want to go from this:

http://www.gouletpens.com/v/vspfiles/photos/N17004-2T.jpg

to this:

http://rudiphoto.net/img/s3/v39/p967942023.jpg

 

I know my results will vary vastly, but I think it's worth a try to see how it goes.

Any input is very much appreciated.

[WaskiSquirrel]

I don't know much about urushi, but is the Noodler's material what will work as a base?

 

Also, the urushi is a difficult art and comes from the sap of a plant a lot like poison ivy. The urushi pens are expensive because of the time involved and the difficulty of working with the material. If you have the patience for working with the many layers and can provide a good environment, getting the material may still be difficult. Here is one source I found in a quick search:

 

Urushi Lacquer Source

 

ETA: If you are interested, I have the feeling you may need an ebonite pen as a core.

 

About Urushi pens

Edited October 23, 2014 by Waski_the_Squirrel

[Sakura FP Gallery]

I wish you a lot of luck because with urushi nothing is easy. There is a reason why it is rather expensive. You will experience it when you give it a try. I'm convinced that afterwards you will appreciate the urushi pens even more.

[Thuja]

My favourite tool shop also sells Urushi: http://www.mehr-als-werkzeug.de/category/Urushi-3752_4913.htm but I have no idea if they are able to ship it to the US.

[KBeezie]

I'd much rather get one done professionally than risk botching up a batch of urushi lacquer, would be quite expensive to botch. Also the good looking stuff is done in multiple layers (coats).

 

Had a Platinum PTL-5000 that was painted by Engeika shop with a single coat of Urushi, which didn't take much to chip off.

[Drone]

Urushi work when done properly, is quite complex and time consuming. See this...

 

11 June 2014 Guest post on the On Fountain Pens Blog hosted by Maybelline Tan, by Martin Pauli founder of Manu Propria, on Urushi and Lacquering Techniques:

 

http://onfountainpens.com/2014/06/guest-post-urushi-lacquering-techniques/

[gwyneddd]

Well,you learn something every day. Urushiol is the name for the component in poison ivy and cashew plants that gives you dermatitis. So now I know how it got that name.

[KBeezie]

Well,you learn something every day. Urushiol is the name for the component in poison ivy and cashew plants that gives you dermatitis. So now I know how it got that name.

Guessing Urushi is the name of a Lacquer Tree in Japanese, whereas Urushi-e is Lacquer Picture (like Maki-e being sprinkled painting). Guessing they just decided to name it that because the Urushi tree has the same component. Least that has some kind of a connection compared to some names that seem to have nothing related other than coincidence.

 

By the way isn't the sap the lacquer is made from toxic and corrosive? Seems like working with it before it's cured would require a bit caution.

[gwyneddd]

Guessing Urushi is the name of a Lacquer Tree in Japanese, whereas Urushi-e is Lacquer Picture (like Maki-e being sprinkled painting). Guessing they just decided to name it that because the Urushi tree has the same component. Least that has some kind of a connection compared to some names that seem to have nothing related other than coincidence.

 

By the way isn't the sap the lacquer is made from toxic and corrosive? Seems like working with it before it's cured would require a bit caution.

 

Yes, it's toxic as a sap and when it's liquid. I have no idea how they work with it and not get that dermatitis (Hypersensitivity Type IV.) Urushi is its Japanese common name. Interestingly, mango leaves have similar components.

[KBeezie]

 

Yes, it's toxic as a sap and when it's liquid. I have no idea how they work with it and not get that dermatitis (Hypersensitivity Type IV.) Urushi is its Japanese common name. Interestingly, mango leaves have similar components.

 

Heh, never knew that. Might explain some things when I was a kid down in Panama.

[Algester]

Urushi takes about a year to cure (ie usable) and months to harvest the sap and a lot of boiling think of it like making maple syrup but you need months to just get something to use

Now question remains which tree you will use the colors you see is also affected by the material you use

But it only takes days for it to dry

Its like making a katana in a very traditional manner

Or find this tree Toxicodendron Vernicifluum also known as Laquer Tree or Urushi(漆樹)

Edited November 8, 2014 by Algester

[gwyneddd]

Here's an amusing "factoid" about poison ivy (Toxicodenron radicans) and their relatives. They don't grow in England. And you need TWO exposures to get the rash. So the first time you encounter it, you theoretically can bathe in the stuff and nothing happens. Then the immune system steps in and the next time you are IN TROUBLE. When I was a kid, we moved to Pennsylvania, where poison ivy is rampant. We loved the woods behind our house and as kids, couldn't stay away from exploring it. But sadly, we'd come down with massive poison ivy and need cortisone treatment which at that time, wasn't very good. We'd be in misery for a week or so. One kid actually had to be hospitalized.

 

You can't spread it from the blisters breaking, but if you have the resin on your skin (it's very sticky) or on your clothes, it "spreads" because you are getting more skin contact with it. So if you come in contact with poison ivy, you go in the house, strip off, put your clothes in the washer and give them a really good wash on hot, and you wash yourself with Fels Naptha bar soap (it's strong and can break down that resin.) Often, you'll be able to mitigate a bad case of poison ivy because you've quickly removed the resin from your skin before the immune reaction.