Has anyone head of Japanese Laquering? It has been found on artifacts six thousand years old. It comes from the Rhus verniciflua tree (family of poison sumac, ivy and oak). Water cannot penatrate it and it is acid resistant. The japanese coated leather with it to make armor, bows, scabards and just about everything else was laquered with it. It is said to last generations. The drawbacks are it must be cured in 70% - 90% percent humidity and takes at least ten hours between the several layers. The second drawback is that it is more toxic to the skin than sumac or ivy. The sap is collected during the summer, stored in non metalic containers for three months and it seperates into three different qualities of laquer. Start with the cruder stuff and finish with the best quality (from the top)which dries looking wet. They have recovered scabards and utensils from shipwrecks in perfect condition. It is all natural, and I always cringe at coating my all natural bows with something in a can or risk it in severe weather using oils, wax, or grease. Yumi of Canada coats all his bows with it. It is a real pain to get this stuff apparently as I have been searching for weeks on the web in vain. I have read where some people study for two years in Japan mastering it. I also read that the Korean and Chinese versions are of lower quality. Any thoughts?
Topic: The Ultimate Natural Bow Finish? (Read 273 times)
