Monday, October 26, 2009

How's your Japanese?

I finally decided to buy myself a "nicer" baren and invested in a "Japanese Disk Baren" from Daniel Smith. It arrived while I was in Utah (of course), so was a happy present to myself when I came home.

It is also something of a mystery. There's no denying the authenticity of its origin when the instructions are all in Japanese. But what the heck is the purpose of little red-capped plastic vial of oily liquid? (You know, the one that half leaked out in the package, anyway.) If the instructions refer to it, they do so without a little diagram, so I'm clueless.

Ideas, anyone?

5 comments:

  1. The explanation I got was the oil (camellia oil) is used to "lube" the baren. Sprinkle a few dots on a piece of cloth or felt, wipe the baren across it, and you're good to go.
    If you're too lazy to do that, like I am, the oil is also good for putting on your knives after you've sharpened them.

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  2. Wow, this does look exciting. Did it come with bamboo leaves to create the cover? Camellia oil rings a bell but I'd have thought it went on the cover. I will wait for real words of wisdom to find their way to you.

    At the Hiroshige exhibition in Rome earlier this year I sat and watched a video on covering a baren. I think there is a video on the Baren Forum. Good luck. Heck, you have a real Japanese Baren - you've already got good luck!

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  3. Thanks, Marissa. It seemed like that was probably the purpose, but I wondered about getting oil from the baren on to the paper. Putting it on a cloth first to be sure it's even and light makes sense, but I'm still going to try it without first.

    Robyn.. no, not a bamboo one to cover. I'm a little too lazy for that. Thankfully Marissa has absolved me of even having to mess with the oil... so it's all good. Until I have to change the disk, of course. Then I'll have to sort out the amusing instruction sheet. :-)

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  4. Go to imclains.com. They do a good job of explaining the process. McClain's is a company that specializes in materials for relief printmaking. I am considering order the exact same baren. Looking forward to hearing how it works foor you.

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  5. Thanks, Deborah. I know McClain's... I love this baren so far... I'm not using the little vial of oil, so far it's not necessary. I put a sheet of tracing paper between the print and the baren when I burnish, and this seems to be "lubricant" enough.

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