Reported practice · r/Kintsugi
A delicate break runs through a lacquered piece whose thin branches leave very little room for brushwork. The mender is confident in the join itself but worried that tracing with bengara and dusting gold powder in the narrow gaps between branches will be impractical.
This page is written from one discussion thread. It records what practitioners reported and what they linked it to — not documented workshop practice. Every claim below links to the comment it rests on, so you can read it in context.
Ki-urushi (raw lacquer) is a potent skin sensitiser; the reaction is delayed, often appearing 24–72 hours after contact. Avoid bare-skin contact and wash any splashes promptly.
What the thread establishes
One commenter proposes a full sequence that sidesteps the usual sabi putty: seal both fracture faces with ki-urushi and cure, then join with just enough mugi-urushi to hold without squeezing out. The remaining crack line is filled by wicking kuro-urushi in with a tiny angled craft brush, curing fully, and tracing again to bring the surface flush. A crystal whetstone cut into a long stick is used for sanding in the tight spaces. The finish is a bengara trace followed by gold keshifun. The original poster confirms they will follow this plan.
What goes wrongA crack or break in a lacquered piece with thin branches, where the narrow gaps between branches make standard brushwork and powder application difficult.
What recovers itFill the crack with kuro-urushi applied by a tiny angled brush rather than sabi putty, sand with a crystal whetstone shaped into a long stick to reach between branches, then finish with a bengara trace and gold keshifun.
Apply ki-urushi to both broken surfaces and allow a full cure before attempting the join.
Use just enough mugi-urushi to adhere the pieces; the amount should be too little to squeeze out at the edges.
Wick kuro-urushi along the remaining crack line with a tiny angled craft brush. This substitutes for a sabi putty fill. Allow an extended cure to ensure the lacquer is fully set.
Trace along the crack again with kuro-urushi to bring the surface flush with the surrounding area.
Cut a crystal whetstone into a long stick and use it to sand the filled crack flush, reaching between the branches where a flat stone would not fit.
Trace the crack with bengara (e-urushi) and apply gold keshifun over the still-wet trace.
Limits of this source