Quality, hardness, and price are the main reasons. You can use a top lacquer for doing middle work but it is a waste of money since top lacquers are more expensive than middle, sometimes significantly more. Middle and top lacquers can differ in many ways but one of the main differences is in how hard they cure and therefore their durability. As lacquer is refined from a basic lacquer on up to a refined top lacquer the main process is the driving off of water and the subsequent concentration of the urushiol. Urushiol is what makes the lacquer form natural polymer bonds through curing. It is too simple to say you are paying more for just the increased urushiol in the lacquer since top quality lacquers also have oils and other qualities in their finish not related to just urushiol but all top lacquers contain a very high percentage of urushiol.
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Kintsugi FAQ Is it possible to fill a crack with just lacquer?
5 Is it possible to fill a crack with lacquer?
Usually it isn’t. The only types of cracks that can be ‘filled’ are those where you can’t fill them if you run your fingernail across then. Stand your finger up and rub the crack perpendicular to the line. If you sense a crack then it is probably too wide to fill with just plain lacquer. If you don’t feel any bump or sense the crack then it should be able to be filled with just lacquer.
Kintsugi FAQ Why is middle lacquer black and top lacquer red?
Why is middle lacquer black and top lacquer red?
The functional aspect of using different colors is that when you are applying your top red lacquer as a substrate for your metal, gold, silver, brass, etc., it is very easy to see what area has been applied to and what has not if you have a good contrast in color. If you were to apply red as your working middle lacquer and then use the same red as your substrate lacquer it would be very difficult to tell what has been covered and what hasn’t.
Kintsugi FAQ Can I use basic lacquer for all the processes?
Can I use basic lacquer for all the processes?
Yes you can. It is better to use basic for the first steps such as mixing mugiurushi(flour/water/lacquer) or sabi(jinoko/water/lacquer) and then red for the middle and upper lacquers. Basic will work, it is a less refined lacquer so won’t give you the results that red will.
Kintsugi FAQ What are the differences between the types of lacquer
Is kintsugi food safe
What are the differences between the types of lacquer?
Question. Is Kintsugi food safe?
Answer. Yes, all the lacquers I sell are food safe.
Question. What are the differences between the types of lacquer?
Answer. This question is usually asked in relation to the 3 types of lacquer I sell.
Shinurushi is a synthetic lacquer.
Cashew lacquer is derived from cashew nut shells.
Real lacquer is made from lacquer tree sap.
Reactivity
Synthetic lacquer isn’t very reactive to skin.
Cashew lacquer is a little more reactive.
Real lacquer will sometimes cause reactions to skin.
Curing
There are big differences in the way each of them cure and how to use them. Both synthetic and cashew derived lacquer will cure in a room environment. Real lacquer needs to be cured in a warm, humid
place so it is usually dried in a cooler box with a heat source like a light bulb and a bowl of water for moisture.
Cashew has a much stronger smell when using it although it dries to a state without smell. It also will cure at room temperature and at regular humidity.
Real lacquer causes much more of a reaction to skin. It doesn’t have a strong smell when using as such like cashew lacquer. It also requires a temperature of 25 +C and a humidity level of more than 70%.
Traditional, lacquer based kintsugi, Step 5, cleaning and shaping
This video shows fine cleaning after filling in rough spots with the piece fitted back together.
Step 5 refers to this page, https://zac.wnz.mybluehost.me/website_a640e8d6/?page_id=80
For more on traditional, lacquer based kintsugi see kintugi.com
Traditional, lacquer based kintsugi, step 1, red lacquer
Applying the coat of red lacquer for gold #5.
For more on traditional, lacquer based kintsugi see kintugi.com
Traditional, lacquer based kintsugi, Step 1b, applying #5 gold, first time
This video shows the application of #5 gold over red lacquer. This is the first application of two.
Step 1a refers to this page, https://zac.wnz.mybluehost.me/website_a640e8d6/?page_id=225
For more on traditional, lacquer based kintsugi, see kintugi.com
Traditional, lacquer based kintsugi, step 1, initial red lacquer
This is the outside, substrate coat of red lacquer for gold #5.
For more on traditional, lacquer based kintsugi see kintugi.com
Traditional, lacquer based kintsugi, cleaning brushes
This is how to clean brushes that have been used with real lacquer. Use cooking vegetable oil and repeat until no more lacquer comes out of the bristles.
For more on traditional, lacquer based kintsugi see kintugi.com