What Is A Lacquer Tree And Where Do Lacquer Trees Grow

Toxicodendron vernicifluum (formerly Rhus verniciflua), also known by the common name Chinese lacquer tree, is an Asian tree species of genus Toxicodendron native to China and the Indian subcontinent, and cultivated in regions of China, Japan and Korea.

Where do lacquer trees grow?
What tree does lacquer come from?
Which tree was used for making varnish?
Is Urushi toxic?
Does lacquer come from trees?
How is natural lacquer made?
Why is Urushi lacquer so expensive?
Where is lacquer used?
Is lacquer waterproof?
Is lacquer seed oil edible?

Where do lacquer trees grow?

Where Do Lacquer Trees Grow? It is not hard to guess where lacquer trees grow. The trees are sometimes called Asian lacquer trees, Chinese lacquer trees or Japanese lacquer trees. This is because they grow in the wild in parts of China, Japan and Korea.

What tree does lacquer come from?

Traditional lacquer comes from the sap of the Asian lacquer tree – toxicodendron vernicifluum, formerly rhus vernicifera. This tree is not easy to deal with as its sap actually has the same kind of allergic oil that is found in poison ivy!

Which tree was used for making varnish?

Varnish Tree - Rhus verniciflua.

Is Urushi toxic?

Japanese lacquerware is made from the sap of the lacquer or urushi tree, native to Japan. The sap is a close relation to poison ivy and is poisonous to the touch until it dries. In the most basic terms, the urushi sap is a naturally made plastic and is a highly resistant and durable material.

Does lacquer come from trees?

Lacquer. Sap, containing urushiol (an allergenic irritant), is tapped from the trunk of the Chinese lacquer tree to produce lacquer. This is done by cutting 5 to 10 horizontal lines on the trunk of a 10-year-old tree, and then collecting the greyish yellow sap that exudes.

How is natural lacquer made?

According to doityourself.com, lacquer is a solvent-based product made by dissolving nitrocellulose along with plasticizers and pigments in volatile solvents. It also is made with a solution of shellac in alcohol, which creates a synthetic coating and forms a high-gloss surface.

Why is Urushi lacquer so expensive?

Its harvesting and highly technical processing make urushi an expensive raw material applied in exceptionally fine successive layers, on objects such as bowls or boxes. ... The skills and techniques of Japanese lacquer have been passed down through the generations for many centuries.

Where is lacquer used?

More and more water-based colored lacquers are replacing solvent-based clear and colored lacquers in under-hood and interior applications in the automobile and other similar industrial applications. Water-based lacquers are used extensively in wood furniture finishing as well.

Is lacquer waterproof?

Polyurethane, varnish, and lacquer are tried-and-true sealants with excellent waterproofing properties. They're either brushed or sprayed onto clean, sanded wood and then allowed to dry completely, prior to the piece being lightly re-sanded and recoated.

Is lacquer seed oil edible?

The fruits of these lacquer trees are nearly 30 percent edible oil, the sole source of vegetable oil for locals when transportation was not as convenient as today. Freshly extracted lacquer tree oil is strong and pungent to the nose, and its scent even denser and richer when heated.