This video shows shaping by sanding and cutting. I use special stones, mesh 600, and some sandpaper, mesh 400. There are a couple of very small fills I need to do.
Step 5 refers to this page, https://www.kintugi.com/?page_id=80
All posts by David Pike
Kintsugi FAQ Do the different choices of lacquer make a difference in the time taken for it to dry?
Question
Do the different choices of lacquer make a difference in the time taken for it to dry? Does it take hours or days for the lacquer to set?
and
B How long does it normally take to fix one piece from start to finish?
Shinurushi (synthetic), and cashew lacquer will dry in a normal room environment and dry within a day or two. Natural lacquer needs a warm and humid environment and takes between 2-4 days to dry, sometimes longer depending on the quality of the lacquer, the temperature and humidity. Generally speaking the higher the quality of the lacquer the longer it can take to dry.
B It depends on the complexity of the break but it can take between 2 weeks to 2 months to do a repair. A very complex break can take a year or so depending on your skill level.
New kintsugi pieces.
Traditional, lacquer based kintsugi, steps 1, 2, and 3, fitting a piece back together
This video shows the first 3 steps to put a piece back together. I am using a rice based paste and not flour as I usually do. I also bind the piece at the top and bottom to get as good compression as possible.
Steps 1, 2, 3, refer to this page https://www.kintugi.com/?page_id=80
For more on traditional, lacquer based kintsugi, see kintugi.com
Traditional, lacquer based kintsugi, Step 3, taping and first fill
This video shows the initial steps of repairing a chip on the edge of a small cup. I first tape the area from the outside with a masking tape, mix rice with basic lacquer, and then apply that mixture to the chipped area.
Step 3 refers to this page https://www.kintugi.com/?page_id=80
For more on traditional, lacquer based kintsugi see kintugi.com
Traditional, lacquer based kintsugi, Step 6, polishing gold
Traditional, lacquer based kintsugi, breaking a very old celedon bowl
Kintsugi FAQ Is this a hopeless project? How to clean old material, shelf life of lacquer.
A few years back I was working on a project and became discouraged when I mis-mixed a batch of lacquer, flour and water with disastrous results. I was attempting to fill in joints after cementing the parts and the mixture was spread all over the bottom and the sides.
I have a couple of questions:
a) is this hopeless and should I start over?
b) If still viable what is the best way to clean?
c) I seem to remember you saying that lacquer has a limited shelf life. Is the material I have had since 2016 still viable for anything or do I need to replenish?
A, No, it isn’t hopeless, it will just take time to clean up. Starting over would mean scraping off the mugiurushi which never works well.
B. Hardwood charcoal that has had the tip soaked in water will usually take most materials off of a ceramic surface with some consideration given to the firing temperature of the body. The higher the firing temperature the more likelihood of success, the lower fired bodies tend to be softer than the charcoal. Store bought briquettes won’t work.
C. The shelf life of lacquer is usually about 12 months, I have only gotten 16 months at the longest. There are enzymes in the lacquer that die and render it useless.
Kintsugi FAQ What is the difference between togidashi polished gold and gold polished with a burnishing tool.
Togidashi is a word used in the maki-e world that can be translated to mean finishing by polishing using specialized whet stones, It is a long and detailed process wherein gold or silver is applied to a surface, hardened through applications of lacquer which also results in the surface being a layer of lacquer with the silver or gold beneath, and then polishing that surface down to reveal a layer of metal. There are several layers of lacquer after exposing the metal after polishing but they are to realize depth in the surface.
The second, fourth and fifth photos show #3 gold polished with a burnishing tool, the first, third, and sixth photos show #3 gold that was properly hardened and polished with polishing stones.
There is a lot of depth to the gold that was polished with the traditional method of togidashi. The surface is also far more robust in the properly done togidashi surface.
Kintsugi FAQ Can I skip filling a chip on a cup and just coat it with silver?
Can I skip filling a chip on a cup and just coat it with silver? Below is the original question.
I have a cup with a chip on the rim. I do not have the chipped off piece, and I wish to simply coat the chipped spot in silver. Can I use the top layer lacquer to do this? Would I need to cure a preliminary application of the lacquer and then add another layer and the silver dust? Or is it better to do this all in one application?
If you just want to coat the chip then use a top lacquer. You don’t have to cure it. If you want to fill the chip before your coat of silver then use jinoko/water/basic lacquer which is called sabi.