Hello everyone!

I just received a DaniTrio raw ebonite Hanryo from a wonderful user of the Pentrace message boards (I'm sure he is probably lurking around FPN, as well), and I absolutely love it!

After looking through photos on winedoc's website, though, I wondered if it might be possible to obtain the supplies to do my own (very simple) personalization using urushi lacquer? I am speaking completely out of ignorance here, so forgive me if the idea is offense, but I am a bit of a painter and it occurred to me that a small, simple design would be an interesting way to personalize my pen.

Does anyone have any thoughts or opinions on the matter, or better yet any information that an interested student may read?

Thanks in advance!

Cheers!

DANGER WILL ROBINSON!

Do you know what urushi is? The principal ingredient, urushiol, is an oily stuff that comes from the urushi tree, which happens to be related to poison ivy. It's what causes the allergic rashes and itching. The stuff is wicked difficult to handle, with about 90% of the people on earth strongly allergic to it. I think I'll let other people make the lacquer.

The following is copied and pasted from another thread on this newsgroup. The reply was in response to learning where to obtain urushi. My suggestion to anyone desirous of using urushi in such a limited manner is to leave it up to those experienced using urushi, who have the proper tools, and the technique down. You don't want to go about ruining your $500 pen. If you'd like my artist friend to give you a quote, please contact me backchannel. Beware, quality is not cheap.


The post:

"Hi. I'm stan and know a little about urushi.

There may be someone out there in America selling urushi but, think not as it is expensive and there is a very limited market. It can be obtained overseas and assume there should be no issues with Customs, etc.

Try this link for urushi from Japan.

Watanabe-Syoten (page is in English). They sell everything you need to use urushi and start your very own makie pen.
http://www1.odn.ne.jp/j-lacquer/home_eng.html

Although dated, there are two other sources listed in this link.
http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/byform/mail.../1998/0636.html

Another source for where to purchase urushi for export to America is Wendy Maruyama at the San Diego State University School of Art.

One friend is an artist in Canada and he regularly imports urushi. Am not sure he would be willing to sell any.

Good luck."

Yes, it IS stupid to do your own Urushi. That's why I'm going to be doing it soon. Here is the thread I started a few weeks ago. I already have the Urushi sap and am just waiting for a few more supplies. I'll be posting my progress (including allergic reactions) once I get started...

Well, I can certainly appreciate the extreme care and skill needed to do urushi now! Quite amazing really. I can't imagine I'd do enough custom artwork to my pen to justify most of the associated costs and issues with the urushi. I was really just thinking of two kanji symbols on the section, or some other very mild flair to make it a little more personal.

Having said that, are there any other options for 'painting' some personalization onto the ebonite that will resist against major chipping, etc. after normal day to day use? Any ideas at al even if it might be susceptible to chipping? I don't think I can think of anything off the top of my head that will bond properly with ebonite.

Cheers!