Mujitsu and Tairaku's Shakuhachi BBQ

Mujitsu · 2009-08-20 21:36:04

Do any of the makers know of a source of red urushi that is bright? I've used various shades that cure dark red. I like that but I'd like to have a brighter shade available as well.

Thanks all,

Ken

Musgo da Pedra · 2009-08-20 22:19:02

Hi Ken!

Here is a pic from a non root end shakuhachi made by my friend Emilio Barolo, from São Paulo:

Is that what you are searching for?

If so, he told me that he use to buy his urushi at the Dick Tools: http://www.dick.biz/dick/page/homepage/detail.jsf

Good luck!

Mujitsu · 2009-08-20 22:25:15

Musgo da Pedra wrote:
Is that what you are searching for?

Thanks Henrique,

That looks pretty bright. Never heard of that company. I'll check it out!

Ken

Priapus Le Zen M☮nk · 2009-08-20 23:20:47

Mujitsu wrote:
Do any of the makers know of a source of red urushi that is bright? I've used various shades that cure dark red. I like that but I'd like to have a brighter shade available as well.

Thanks all,

Ken

The bright red you are looking for is the type used in filling in the grooves or open carvings on Japanese swords and especially Yari/spears and Naginata/Halberd blades. The best place to get the stuff is this shop in Tokyo. They can also have all kinds of other color urushi for scabbards of Japanese swords.

Just mention you need Red urushi to paint the groove on a Yari and you will get the right stuff. Bear in mind that it is not listed on their website and they have much more stuff if you just ask by email or phone

http://www.namikawa-ltd.co.jp/cgi-bin/list_e.cgi

This would be how bright the stuff is

http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/imageL7P.JPG

Last edited by Gishin (2009-08-20 23:26:42)

Mujitsu · 2009-08-21 10:33:22

Thanks Gishin and Kees for the information.

Gishin, I've ordered from Namikawa Heibei Co before and the quality of their urushi is excellent.
Next time I'll specify "groove on a Yari."

Ken

edosan · 2009-08-21 11:09:40

I am constantly grooving on a yari....

Yungflutes · 2009-08-21 13:13:42

Mujitsu wrote:
Do any of the makers know of a source of red urushi that is bright? I've used various shades that cure dark red. I like that but I'd like to have a brighter shade available as well.

Thanks all,

Ken

Ken, I use Meijiro's Honshu red mix these days. Compared to what I used to go through with mixing and filtering, I would say there is very little difference when cured properly.

It's difficult to get accurate color reproduction due to different light sources and different computers screens but I think you can get a sense of the hue and value from these shots (for those interested, this is an old wide bore Jinashi that was in for refurbishing a while back. Probably over 100 years old).

As Kees mentioned, a longer, slower cure will result in a brighter red. I use two coats. The first will be slightly darker since it's absorbed into the bamboo a bit.

It does require a longer curing time than Shuai though.

Nice photo Henrique!

Mujitsu · 2009-08-21 14:10:43

Yungflutes wrote:
Ken, I use Meijiro's Honshu red mix these days. Compared to what I used to go through with mixing and filtering, I would say there is very little difference when cured properly.

Thanks Perry. That's a nice shade.

All this talk about urushi has me thinking about yellow and orange. Yellow is available at Namikawa. Mix with red and you'd have Tairaku grooving on your Yari!

Yungflutes · 2009-08-22 19:56:46

Mujitsu wrote:
All this talk about urushi has me thinking about yellow and orange. Yellow is available at Namikawa. Mix with red and you'd have Tairaku grooving on your Yari!

Yes, I can envision Tairaku playing a shakuhachi with a nice shade of orange!

(Getty Photos)

Tairaku 太楽 · 2009-08-22 22:24:11

Yungflutes wrote:
Yes, I can envision Tairaku playing a shakuhachi with a nice shade of orange!

Or a bass!

Kiku Day · 2009-08-23 03:01:48

Cool pic, rock star!

Musgo da Pedra · 2009-09-09 10:13:34

Michal wrote:
Medium red urushi by Dick Tools cure quite to brown. I do not advice as bright red...

Hi Michal!

I don't know if the one that Emilio used (from Dick) was medium red urushi, but I saw his flutes with my eyes and it was really red to me... not even a bit brown... maybe some diferences in the cure process (as said in the above topics) or in the urushi itself?

A big hug man!

mikemike · 2009-09-28 02:33:05

I have an Ichijo 2.0 Jiari Shakuhachi that was re-worked by Monty. I just love the bright red urushi on this flute! I am sure he knows the secrets to this, it don't get any redder than that!

Last edited by mikemike (2009-09-28 15:30:45)

Mujitsu and Tairaku's Shakuhachi BBQ

#1 2009-08-20 21:36:04

Bright red urushi?

#2 2009-08-20 22:19:02

Re: Bright red urushi?

#3 2009-08-20 22:25:15

Re: Bright red urushi?

Musgo da Pedra wrote:

#4 2009-08-20 23:20:47

Re: Bright red urushi?

Mujitsu wrote:

#5 2009-08-21 10:33:22

Re: Bright red urushi?

#6 2009-08-21 11:09:40

Re: Bright red urushi?

#7 2009-08-21 13:13:42

Re: Bright red urushi?

Mujitsu wrote:

#8 2009-08-21 14:10:43

Re: Bright red urushi?

Yungflutes wrote:

#9 2009-08-22 19:56:46

Re: Bright red urushi?

Mujitsu wrote:

#10 2009-08-22 22:24:11

Re: Bright red urushi?

Yungflutes wrote:

#11 2009-08-23 03:01:48

Re: Bright red urushi?

#12 2009-09-09 10:13:34

Re: Bright red urushi?

Michal wrote:

#13 2009-09-28 02:33:05

Re: Bright red urushi?

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