Red Japanese Lacquer

[jasonB]

Has anybody got any recommendations for an external finish that will give the look of a red Japanese Lacquer.

I have got to do some repairs to a small bridge, the existing wood has a burgundy finish and the repairs will be new wood but the client wants a brighter red finish.

Thank, Jason

 

[tnimble]

You might want to check out Handbook on Japanning: 2nd Edition by William N. Brown. I've tried a few of the recipes and so far they seem to be excellent.

 

[AndyBoyd]

Dick in Germany sell this,

www.dick.biz

forget the name just now but let me search it for you and repost

 

[AndyBoyd]

here it is

Homepage > Materials and Natural Finishes > Finishing Products > Urushi Varnish

you need a primer too which they sell

However I'm not sure if it can be used externally

Good luck

 

[jasonB]

Thanks Guys particularly Andy. That is exactly the look I.m after but as it is for a large external bridge over a pond the cost of 20-30 tubes of the varnish may be a bit high!! Also the bridge has been coated in something before and outside for several years so its not the ideal surface or MC.

Think I will end up looking for an external paint or heavily pigmented varnish. I've got the look of japanese lacquer in the past with artists oil paints and glazes when painting model figures but its not a practical way for outside use.

Jason

 

[Scrit]

You might like to try someone like W. Habberley-Meadows in Birmingham, Wright's of Lym (in Cheshire) or A. S. Handover of Highgate for signwriter's paints which are high pigment content, very durable and retain their brilliance for much longer than conventional paints (if you've ever seen old abandoned vans or buses you may have bnoticed how the hand sign writing endures). These paints are normally high gloss. Not cheap, but maybe what you need

Scrit

 

[jasonB]

Thanks for that Scrit, I have used Handovers in the past for guilding etc.

The bridge as it stands at the moment is in quite a rough state, starting to decay in places, I just have to do a bit of patching up and two new rails then give it a lick of paint. To get a decent finish would mean stripping right back and thats not whats required. Having just done £20k worth of work just on their front room and also now got a tree seat to make there was not so much left to spend on the bridge :wink:

From rummaging through the clients garage it seems it may well have be cooated with Sadalin Supadec opaque varnish, going to give that a try.

Jason