I'm lucky, so far I've had no allergic reaction to Urushi despite using
it in it's raw state and applying it to the bores of flutes etc... 15
years and counting (haven't done much lately). I sympathise with those
who suffer.
Conversely I developed a small growth on my chin when I used epoxy resin
(exact type unknown) to replace material I had overzealously removed
from the mouthpiece of a Shakuhachi. It's gone now (the growth), I
shaved it off by mistake a few years ago and it didn't return. This
could be an unrelated coincidence of course... I wonder about the
possible carcinogenic properties of the materials used in casting a
resin bore...being an old hippy I think I'd prefer the natural poisons
(I certainly enjoyed a few of them in my youth!). Any knowledgeable
folk out there know about epoxy type resins and their carcinogenic
properties?
Also I know of at least one manufacturer who uses Urushi to paint the
inside of cast flutes, casting resin is normally clear and needs
finishing with something to satisfy the majority of customers who don't
want a transparent bore. Even a cast flute normally requires a little
bore work to remove imperfections for example after the holes are
drilled, if this is left unfinished it would look very untidy. Just to
say that owning a cast flute is no guarantee that the flute does not
have urushi in the bore.
By the way, if everyone took a few seconds to remove the original text
from their messages when using the reply function to reply to the list
(unless they are replying in the body of the original message) It would
make me very happy. We all got the message first time around anyway, it
should be obvious what your message relates to...if not there's
something fundamentally wrong with your method of communicating. My
scrolling finger (also used for nasal hygiene) is developing a
repetitive strain injury!
All things in moderation (including moderation).
Cheers Folks,
Bill O'Connor.
Nagano-Ken, Japan.
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