Because the gold is so expensive, I try to be sparing in using it. This is how they arrived: Intermediate stage where I was filling gaps left by pieces too small to glue, basically dust. (1 gram approx. - FDA rated(21 CFR 175.300) for direct food contact and potable water storage. Just a little gap between gloves and sleeve started it and then it spread. However, working with urushi is highly toxic. I ordered a cashew lacquer from Japan, (very hard to find) that was supposed to be more authentic, but yipes, I am deathly allergic to cashews (I mean epipen and emergency here) so I could not use this material even though I used gloves and long sleeves and was very careful not get it on my skin. If you have any questions always feel free to, WiziWig Tools - Stainless Steel Profile Ribs, Clay Planet Ceramic Supplies, Pottery Supplies & O, 2022 Clay Planet - Ceramic Supplies, Clay & Glaze Manufacturer. Or learn a language, play a musical instrument, or get in shape. 6. If you have any specific questions about the DIY Kintsugi Kitor just any general Kintsugi questions at all - the Mora Approved customer services team will be more than happy to help you further. I also went on YouTube to view all the videos I could, read some very academic papers and museum conservation treatises. I had thought that Id keep the mug as a souvenir of all the trials and tribulations, and since the idea of wabi-sabi is that a thing is more beautiful for the life it has lived and its wear and breaks are a part of its history and aesthetic, I thought that was a healthy attitude to apply to this situation. Be careful here or you may scratch the glaze. 6- 3 small sheets of sandpaper for cleanup work before final gold application (400, 1000, 1500 grit), 7- 1 fine-tipped liner brush for epoxy application before gold dust application, 8- 1 golds brush for the dusting of gold or silver powders, 9- 1 small bag of mawata (silk fiber for final powder polishing). However, as Kintsugi teaches us, sometimes its better to wear our imperfections and use them to our advantage. The synthetic lacquer did not have to cure, only dry and could be handled within 24-48 hours. When repairing something in life, we often look to repair it to exactly as it was beforehand. So here is a project I have been working on for more than a year. 24k gold is non-toxic and is often used in cake decoration, so 24k gold leaf and 24k gold dust is often available from cooking supply stores and whatnot. Results for week beginning 2019-02-04 | Iron Blogger SF, Results for week beginning 2022-07-04 | Iron Blogger SF, Results for week beginning 2022-05-30 | Iron Blogger SF, Results for week beginning 2022-05-23 | Iron Blogger SF, Results for week beginning 2022-05-16 | Iron Blogger SF. Each time, it goes into the box to cure, and then clean up. 10- Instructions on how to use this kit properly. The easiest starter Kintsugi set! $200). So for more than 8 years, I have been practicing my technique. Finally, start to apply the sticky powered glue to put your broken piece back together again. I used instructions found on the internet and YouTube. The epoxy fast glue is resistant to the max of 100 degrees Celsius /212 Fahrenheit, hotter than that components will melt, therefore will NOTbe safe. Permanent link to this article: http://issoantea.com/it-is-harder-than-it-looks/. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. This will be covered by the FDA-compliant epoxy during the final stage of repair. Thank you. For anyone interested in repairing items without trying to simply return them to the impossible past, our Kintsugi Kit offers the ideal starting point. Even though I have sent photos to the craftsman, I have never heard back from him. Our kit includes the following: 1x 24ML Unique Bio resin 1x Epoxy putty 1x Premium gold and/or silver mica powder 4x Bio disposable mixing spatulas 2x Bio disposable bamboo sticks 2x Sandpaper 1x Brush 1x Wooden Chisel 1x Set of biodegradable gloves 2x Compostable mixing lids 1x Quick Guide 1x Linen gift bag, 2022, CHIYU KINTSUGIPowered by Shopify I repeated this until it was suitably covered. Then final washing away of the powder. If you'd like to help maintain the cost of this blog we gladly accept donations. Finally when the seams are completely filled and lacquered over and cleaned up, you can paint over the repairs with lacquer and dust it with the powder. Learn how your comment data is processed. The downsides are: Urushi is high in Urushiol which can cause contact dermatitis; it requires a high humid and temperature-controlled environment to cure properly; and can take weeks to months to complete a repair. Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repair of ceramic objects with gold lacquer. Yes you are correct, I let the joining resin fully cure, and then used a thin paintbrush to paint on top of the joined cracks with more wet resin, and dusted it whilst that was still wet. Instead, seal up those shattered areas and bring the remaining parts back together with the power of our Kintsugi Kits! It mustnt be too thick or you get gaps between the pieces nor too thin or they wont hold together. The result was less than I wanted. View all posts by Steen. Sometimes you can only do one side, let that cure and then assemble the other side. I tried on a test piece as the video demonstrates and my lines looked awful. This process may take 2, 3 or more layers as you build up missing pieces or deep cracks. Thank you for your comment. I got it from a cake decorators supplier! So I am not sure how long I can do it. DIY Kintsugi Kit It looked better, but my technique was sloppy and still did not look very good. You have to look at each project to see how it fits together, what pieces are missing, where you have holes, and what order you are going to re-assemble the pieces. 4. I have been attempting to practice this art for many years. I am curious how long you held the pieces together to get the epoxy to hold. Mixing a lacquer glue, usually with something like flour to make it sticky and hold together. I recommend a respirator as well. A kit that loves every break, crack and chip. My basic techniques are: 5. - Gluing the pieces together. I was scooping up all the shards and throwing them away, when I realized that maybe it would be a good project to try kintsugi-ing that mug as well. At first I was obsessed with it and collected as many photographs as I could get. It also got on my neck where I didnt have any protection. Bob, I think that the urushi can got in where skin is exposed. After I broke some plates, I decided Id finally try it. Urushi has to cure in a warm, humid environment, so I built a humidity box. DIY Kintsugi Kit Imperfection is the new Perfection. Next you mix lacquer with something called tonoko. I guess if you want to microwave it, but honestly the look of the real gold is so superior that Im willing to sacrifice microwavability. I dipped a dry paintbrush in gold dust, and the held it over the resin line, and lightly shook/tapped the paintbrush so the dust fell delicately off the brush and onto the resin, without ever touching it. It had a cheap epoxy based glue with a pearlized type of gold powder that you mixed with the glue and stuck the pieces together. pictures by And 24k gold is food safe, and and 5 grams of it cost the same as 5 grams of the food coloring dust he recommended, so I didnt really see any reason not to use it? The provided epoxy must be applied in 2 coats and be a continuous shell on top of alternative gold or silver powder. Still, I did get rashes and it seems like the more I do it, the more reaction I get. Next I tried a synthetic lacquer kit with some gold colored metallic powder. Click on the photos to see the detail. Please work in well ventilated area and protect yourself. I waited until it was completely cured (~24 hours) before cleaning/wiping away the excess. Mix the powder and epoxy glue together with the mixing bamboo sticks on the mixing tray. I think that it actually cures faster when it is warmer, and as I recall it was fairly warm when I did it. Upcycle your broken itemswith our Kintsugi Bio Repair Kit and get an immediate, durable & beautiful result! It causes rashes like poison ivy. How do you dust for the last step without smudging the resin line? Unfortunately, you cannot learn kintsugi in an afternoon workshop, just as you cannot learn chado in one easy lesson. Hi happy to stumble upon your project after finding the original video on Youtube. 3- 10 g High-Quality Alternative Silver Powder (Lead-Free Brass and aluminum). Your email address will not be published. Traditional Kintsui uses Urushi (Japanese lacquer) as the main material in ceramic repair. Good luck with your project!! I did buy some cheap fine-tipped paint brushes specifically for this project, because after painting with the resin they were basically ruined once it cured. My employer had recently been acquired by a larger company, and they are now closing our site. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); One of my first attempts. Boy that is expensive! or was a separate adhesive used? Required fields are marked *. Have you been drinking hot liquids out of the mug? 4- 1 palette knife for mixing and applying epoxy and clean up work. Then into box to cure. How do you think you got the rashes with all the protection that you had? Thank you. Follow the instructions provided, and before long you will come to see Kintsugi as the ideal DIY repair mechanism that provides a very important philosophical lesson, too! I also used toothpicks to help with some of the application, as I recall. Use left/right arrows to navigate the slideshow or swipe left/right if using a mobile device. 3. Then you have to clean up the mixture where is has over filled or where you dont want it, using a combination of sand paper and water. Prior to the the final gold dusting step did you apply another coat of the resin on top of the joined cracks? One day I hope I can get to this level. We offer you step by step instructions on how to carry it out. I am curious about the rashes you got. It seemed like it just made cleanup the next day more difficult and everything more messy in general. Check out the Kintsugi tutorial video we have done below. What other tools did you use ie brushes etc.? The gold looked fake, and the epoxy was not food safe and left a large ridge where the pieces were stuck together. is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock. I always use long sleeves, gloves, a respirator, work in a well ventilated area, and keep my workspace exceptionally clean. Buy one of these Kits, and you shall receive: Imperfections show progress, and Kintsugi teaches us to wear that progress even in the items we own. Modern Kintsugi Kit for Beginners (FDA Compliant). We do not advise dishwashing, microwave & pouring very hot drinks directly. I have posted some photos of the kintsugi projects that I have recently completed and it has gotten a lot of interest. @yukographer, Watch our Instruction Videoand check out our Tips & Tricks. Id been curious about finding a food safe epoxy for a sort of Kintsugi project for some time now. I am beginning to teach myself using urushi. 2- 30 g High-Quality Alternative Gold Powder (Lead-Free Brass) All alternative gold and silver powders on the market require a top coat to be considered FDA Compliant. Then I purchased a kit online and tried it. I tried to repair a piece today with the epoxy after 45 min and again at 2 hours with no luck. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Here are some photos after the initial join, before the final gold step on top: And here are some photos of the mug after it is all done, and I painted on the final part on top and dusted 24k gold dust onto the fresh resin: Steen is a nerdy biologist who spends a lot of time trying to cultivate Chloroflexi, who also likes to draw comics, play video games, and climb. Urushi is highly toxic. Shaky and uneven, Repaired by Taikyo with super glue, gold added by me. My goal is to do maki-e and raden on fountain pens. Filling gaps. Designed to help you master the ancient Japanese art of Kintsugi, you will learn to use a coloured glue to help seal the cracks and snaps of items back shut. Sometimes you need to build forms to hold the piece while it is curing, sometimes you can use tape to temporarily hold it, sometimes rubber bands. I know that the ArtResin (whats used in the video) website warns against heating it over 120F [https://www.artresin.com/blogs/artresin/artresin-passes-food-safety-tests], but Ill just avoid eating hot foods out of the bowl Im planning to fix. So yes, it is not a simple or easy process. Then it goes into the box to cure. I do remember assembling the pieces in such a way that they tended to hold together by their own weight, but I also remember sometimes using blocks (etc) if necessary to prop them up and keep the pieces pressed together. Find the right broken ornament (whether it be a plate, vase or mug - keep it quite simple to start with). Because really its not a full cure until after 24 hours, and it stays pretty mushy until then. It then goes into the box to cure. That seems like an excellent approach, just not sure where to source the actual gold dust. Where did you purchase the pure, 24k gold dust from? PRE SALE - YOUR ORDER WILL BE SHIPPED ON 26/07. When I wash the powder away, I try to save as much as I can. But the plates and bowls and mug I show here are still in regular circulation for eating off of in this household, and have held up! I was just watching the same video, planning on attempting it in the next week or two, so very glad to hear it worked out for you! I took a class in Japan where we used a play-doh like resin for joining the pieces but then after trimming we lacquered over the cracks then dusted them while still wet with the gold dust. Basically it is powdered ceramic. This kit was designed for those individuals who want to experience the art of kintsugi without any risk of traditional urushiol dermatitis, the need for a tightly controlled environment, and the length of time required for a traditional repair. It will work on pretty much everything you can think of: porcelain, ceramics, jewellery, glass, wood, terracotta, hard plastics. I received some tea cups from Japan, but they were not packed very well and they arrived broken. Repair 8-10 medium sized broken items.Works onceramics,stone,glassandwood.Food safeDishwasher proof. I did that anyway, but couldnt figure out why it was suggested. We work with the best Epoxy Glue in the whole Europe, from Bison. Because the tonoko mixture is porous, I paint lacquer over the repairs I have made. Press the space key then arrow keys to make a selection. Finally, here is a piece done professionally. 1. Two, I bought some 24k gold dust for the final dusting, instead of using food coloring. I am using the same product. Good luck! 1- 2 x 20g tubes of Epoxy designed for food use (40g when mixed). Im too scared to try! 2. Once you have got hold of your kintsugi kit. I have not tried drinking hot liquids from my mug yet, Ive only been using it for ice coffee and other cold liquids. While I was practicing on the plates, I accidentally dropped my work mug (whilst at work). I think it really makes an incredible difference. Im making up my diy kit and want to make sure I have everything for this project. I was able to convince someone from Japan to send me some authentic urushi lacquer that is traditionally used in kintsugi, and some 22kt gold powder. http://issoantea.com/it-is-harder-than-it-looks/, Sweet Persimmon Blog Archives (2007 2011). Watch our Instruction Videoand check out our Tips & Tricks HERE. If you are interested in learning the traditional techniques and materials used, order the traditional Urushi based kintsugi repair kit. Your email address will not be published. I found this tutorial on YouTube which also recommends a food safe epoxy to try, and I thought it was really good: However, I made two changes to this method: One, I guess because it is winter, the resin was not nearly tacky enough to hold together the ceramic any earlier than 2 hours, so I increased the wait time. 5- 2 x 10g red 2 part epoxy putty for areas of large loss compensation. Each time it goes into the box to cure and then clean up. I have put this kit together because of what I have seen being sold on the market today for Kintsugi and my concerns in the safety of these kits. This is what you use fill gaps and make make up for missing pieces. I have worked as a ceramic artist for 20 years, have trained in both the USA and Japan, wrote my Masters's Dissertation at NYU on conservation of Tea Ceremony Ceramics, and have practiced the art of Kintsugi for 15 years. Since I have no teacher, I am self-taught and am taking the long way. You need a steady hand, patience to wait while it is curing, and be careful and meticulous about safety throughout. Fitting the broken pieces back together again. Thats one part of the video that Im not clear about. Your email address will not be published. Good question! I also plan on wearing nitrile gloves, sleeve protector, an apron, and a face shield. Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. Then start to piece it back together again (essentially so you know which bit goes where). I think that is everything, though. Like anything Japanese, it looks easy, but really it is harder and takes longer than people expect. I used these cups to refine my techniques. We are a specialist Kintsugi store - providing you with all the necessary Kintsugi supplies to carry out your craft. Get a good brush, it is painstaking detail work. This is great! Thanks. I will also add that, adding coloring to the binding resin seemed useless, as the final coat painted on top is totally opaque? So, yeah, it is a cheap corporate mug, but the process in this case was largely a symbolic one. It was less toxic than traditional lacquer, but the metallic powder was not food safe. When fully cured, 22 karat gold urushi is food safe. Sometimes it takes 2, 3, or more layers to completely cover up the repair.