Making lacquerware : Painters / Polishing the foundation of lacquerware

Polishing the foundation is an important task to harden the unlacquered wood as the base of lacquerware.
The first step is “wood hardening,” which consists of rubbing raw lacquer onto the unlacquered wood. Second, pieces of cloth are applied to the edges and bottom of the lacquerware. After drying these areas, they are polished so that the lacquer or the cloth and the wood are stuck together.

Rubbing raw lacquer into the unlacquered wood with a spatula (wood hardening)

Spatula

This is an important tool in lacquer painting, for applying lacquer, strengthening the unlacquered wood and kneading together pigments and lacquer.

Applying pieces of cloth to the edges and bottom of lacquerware (covering)

Fixing the lacquerware to the wheel for polishing