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Kanshitsu (5) - Line cloths.

I am working on bodies made of hemp cloths and urushi (Japanese lacquer) with a technique called kanshitsu.
Illustration of Cross Section
Partial enlargement of a cutaway drawing of kanshitsu (illustration). The order of the procedure is as follows: plaster mold, base, linen, primer, and urushi (Japanese lacquer) for painting.
The previous processes

Kanshitsu (1) - Making plaster molds

I made molds in plaster...

2025.01.26

Kanshitsu (2) - Mold releasing agent.

I applied a release agent to the plasters.

2025.02.20

Kanshitsu (3) - Tonoko-sabi.

I applied tonoko-sabi (fine-grained base paste) ...

2025.04.21

Kanshitsu (4) - Jinoko-sabi.

I applied jinoko-sabi (coarse-grained base paste) ...

2025.04.30

Applying linen cloths
I applied several sheets of linen cloth that would be the core of kanshitsu body.
As shown in the illustration above, one cloth of fine-grained linen is applied to the outside of each of the several coarse-grained linen cloths.
Linen cloths for kanshitsu - linen cloths for the core of kanshitsu body were applied with glue lacquer.

I applied a coarse linen cloth.

Glue urushi is made from ki-urushi and boiled glutinous rice flour.
Linen cloths for kanshitsu - glue lacquer is made from ki-urushi (Japanese lacquer) and boiled glutinous rice flour.

Linen cloths for kanshitsu - I applied several sheets of linen cloth that would be the core of kanshitsu body.

It is necessary to work quickly before the glue urushi dries.

Linen cloths for kanshitsu - After the glue urushi has dried, lightly flatten the entire surface with sandpaper.

After the glue urushi has dried, lightly flatten the entire surface with sandpaper.


After dried
Linen cloths for kanshitsu - Overlapped areas are removed with an engraving knife and flattened.

Overlapped areas are removed with an engraving knife and flattened.


Mezuri
To fill in the concavities of the cloth, a paste mixed with Wajima ground powder, glue made of boiled glutinous rice flour and ki-urushi is applied, and the paste is scraped off the convexities with a spatula. This process is called "mezuri". Wajima jinoko is light and strong so it's suitable for kanshitsu. Wajima is a city famous for its urushi industry.
Mezuri - To fill in the concavities of the cloth, a paste mixed with Wajima ground powder, glue made of boiled glutinous rice flour and ki-urushi is applied.

Wajima ground powder, glue made of boiled glutinous rice flour and ki-urushi.

Mezuri - To fill in the concavities of the cloth, a paste mixed with Wajima ground powder, glue made of boiled glutinous rice flour and ki-urushi is applied, and the paste is scraped off the convexities with a spatula.


The linen cloth application and mezuri were repeated once a day for a total of 6 sheets of linen cloth. Where thickness was needed in certain areas, such as the bottom and the top of the lid, an extra sheet of coarser linen was applied.

2025.05.21