Re: [Shaku] Cashew Urushi vs. Urushi

From: Derek Choice (soundwave1@earthlink.net)
Date: Thu Sep 09 2004 - 07:56:27 PDT


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Hi Steve...

I am still in the experimental stages myself, but so far, I feel that =
fully catalyzed urushi is a bit stronger and more resilient than cashew. =
 However, having tried dozens of domestic, commercially available =
lacquers, cashew (being non-domestic, of course) is among the best, next =
to urushi. It flows nicely and provides an beautiful finish. As far as =
thinning, I would tend to avoid camphor or turpentine (for cashew), as =
it seems to work best with the agent(s) already present in it's =
synthetic base; odor is also an annoying factor with the above thinners. =
If you like "rolling your own" thinning mixtures, there are specs at =
http://www.itwtranstech.com/MSDS/Thinner%20%231%20Cashew.pdf, which you =
may have already seen. Or, if you want to shell out the big bucks, it =
can be purchased domestically at =
http://www.shadowofleaves.com/Lacquering_finishes.htm (which is =
comparable to final importing costs, if you can even get it shipped over =
here, from there).

Nitrate Dope is another excellent alternative lacquer, but I still =
prefer urushi & cashew. Avoid butyrate dope, as it has been =
compositionally brutalized to meet safety, environmental and aircraft =
fuel-proof needs (however it cures with a bit more gloss, in thinner =
applications).

Since urushi is already the finish on your guqin, you might also check =
with one of the residing shakuhachi veterans, to see if they can =
possibly do a refurb for you. =20

All the best,

:)

Derek

________________________________
  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Steve Amazeen=20
  To: shakuhachi@communication.ucsd.edu=20
  Sent: Thursday, September 09, 2004 3:06 AM
  Subject: [Shaku] Cashew Urushi vs. Urushi

  Hello,

  I am hoping that some of the list members might have some information. =
=20

  I play guqin and the lacquer is in need of some repair. Cashew Urushi =
is being considered because of a strong allergic reaction to Urushi.

  2 questions:

  Is Cashew Urushi as durable a lacquer as Urushi?

  What does one thin it with?

  There is a commercial Cashew Thinner available but it seems to be =
impossible to get in the US. =20

  I understand the list is dedicated to shakuhachi, but I don't know who =
else to ask. =20

  Most appreciativeley,

  Steve Amazeen
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<META content=3D"MSHTML 6.00.2800.1400" name=3DGENERATOR>
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Hi Steve...<BR><BR>I am still in the =
experimental=20
stages myself, but so far, I feel that fully catalyzed urushi is a bit =
stronger=20
and more resilient than cashew.&nbsp; However, having tried dozens of =
domestic,=20
commercially available lacquers, cashew (being non-domestic, of course) =
is among=20
the best, next to urushi.&nbsp; It flows nicely and provides an =
beautiful=20
finish.&nbsp; As far as thinning, I would tend to avoid camphor or =
turpentine=20
(for cashew),&nbsp;as it seems to work best with the agent(s) already =
present in=20
it's synthetic base; odor is also an annoying factor with the above =
thinners. If=20
you like "rolling your own" thinning mixtures, there are&nbsp;specs at =
<A=20
href=3D"http://www.itwtranstech.com/MSDS/Thinner%20%231%20Cashew.pdf">htt=
p://www.itwtranstech.com/MSDS/Thinner%20%231%20Cashew.pdf</A>,=20
which you may have already seen.&nbsp; Or, if you want to shell out the =
big=20
bucks, it can be purchased domestically at <A=20
href=3D"http://www.shadowofleaves.com/Lacquering_finishes.htm">http://www=
.shadowofleaves.com/Lacquering_finishes.htm</A>&nbsp;(which=20
is comparable to final importing costs, if you can even get it shipped =
over=20
here, from there).<BR><BR>Nitrate Dope is another excellent alternative =
lacquer,=20
but I still prefer urushi &amp; cashew.&nbsp; Avoid butyrate dope, as it =
has=20
been compositionally brutalized to meet safety, environmental and =
aircraft=20
fuel-proof needs (however it cures with a bit more gloss, in thinner=20
applications).<BR><BR>Since urushi is already the finish on your guqin, =
you=20
might also check with one of the residing shakuhachi veterans, to see if =
they=20
can possibly do a refurb for you.&nbsp; <BR><BR>All the=20
best,<BR><BR>:)<BR><BR>Derek<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR></FONT>______________=
__________________</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=3Dltr=20
style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
  <DIV=20
  style=3D"BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>=20
  <A title=3Dblueharp@earthlink.net =
href=3D"mailto:blueharp@earthlink.net">Steve=20
  Amazeen</A> </DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A=20
  title=3Dshakuhachi@communication.ucsd.edu=20
  =
href=3D"mailto:shakuhachi@communication.ucsd.edu">shakuhachi@communicatio=
n.ucsd.edu</A>=20
  </DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, September 09, =
2004 3:06=20
  AM</DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [Shaku] Cashew Urushi =
vs.=20
  Urushi</DIV>
  <DIV><BR></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Hello,</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I am hoping that some of the list =
members might=20
  have some information.&nbsp; </FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I play guqin and the lacquer is in =
need of some=20
  repair.&nbsp; Cashew Urushi is being considered because of a strong =
allergic=20
  reaction to Urushi.</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT><FONT face=3DArial=20
size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>2 questions:</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Is Cashew Urushi as durable a lacquer =
as=20
  Urushi?</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>What does one thin it =
with?</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>There is a commercial Cashew Thinner =
available=20
  but it seems to be impossible to get in the US.&nbsp; </FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I understand the list is dedicated to =
shakuhachi,=20
  but I don't know who else to ask.&nbsp; </FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT><FONT face=3DArial=20
size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Most appreciativeley,</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Steve=20
Amazeen</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>

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