Typhoon and urushi

A typhoon is raging outside.

 I am working about my wood finish.  I have 3 things made, shrines?  objects?  Caves?
Anyway, the next step is the finish.  I love Japanese urushi.

 Urushi is a hard subject to speak about.  Americans translate it to the word, lacquer.  But lacquer in American English means any hard shiny paint.  Urushi in Japan is much older.  It is a natural tree sap, from a tree similar to poison ivy.  Anyway the sap can have a similar effect on people, the raw sap.  For me it used to be ok, but now can give me a heck of a rash.  I only use it in a well ventilated area and with rubber gloves.  It is dangerous, and quite expensive, but I can't resist using it.  The finish is like no other, hard and strong, but rich and deep in a way that varnish, oils and waxes are not.

The darkness of this urushi surprised me. When it reacts with air, and water It darkens.  Water is important.  Lacquer can not harden with out humidity in the air.  It is one reason it so well fits Japan.  Lacquer is unique in the way that it goes on, very light and milky, but quickly darkening  I have used it before, but previous times it had turned out a bit lighter, more of a honey tone.  I wonder if it is the wood, or a different lacquer supplier?

With a little rubbing it is becoming interesting.  Lacquer is volatile and dangerous in its raw form, but when it hardens it is a strong, nonreactive, safe and natural finish.  More safe than a usual substitute, cashew nut oil, which turns out to be carcinogenic, something that lacquer is not.  Lacquer is safe, has been for 1000 years.