How to do Real Kintsugi Gold Repair (Sabi Filling)

Here is how to do traditional Kintsugi gold repair at home. Real kintsugi is 100% food safe but can be a little intimidating to learn. That's why I'm making these videos. This video is step 3 in the Kintsugi Process. I will put up every step of the process as a video over time. ☯ What is "Real" Kintsugi? Unlike fake Kintsugi using epoxy (which is the vast majority of videos on YouTube), real Kintsugi using Urushi is foodsafe, waterproof and heatproof. ☯ What is Kintsugi / Urushi? Kintsugi is the process of repairing broken ceramics (and other objects) with Urushi lacquer - a kind of tree sap from Japan. Precious metals, or gold, are often bonded in to the lacquer. ☯ What are the steps in Kintsugi repair? ° Step 1 - Mending broken pieces with Mugi Urushi (a glue made of flour, water, Urushi.) Let dry 1-2 weeks in a Muro (wood or cardboard box at ~70-80% humidity /20-25 celcius.) ° Step 2 - Sand down and clean dried lacquer that seeped out between the cracks. ° Step 3 - Fill in cracks, holes, or recessed areas using Sabi Urushi (a filler made from 55% moistened Kinoko [a clay from Kyoto] and 45% Urushi.) Let dry 3 days in Muro. ° Step 4 - Sand down the dried Sabi, repeat step 3 until all gaps are smooth and level. ° Step 5 - Paint over the smoothed Sabi with Black Urushi. Let try 2-3 days in Muro. ° Steps 6 - Paint over black Urushi with Red Urushi. Let dry in Muro 30 minutes, then lay 24K gold powder in to Red Urushi. Let dry in Muro a few days. ° Step 7 - Seal gold by painting a a 50/50 vegetable oil/Urushi mixture over the gold line. Dab away with tissue. Cure in Muro 1-2 days. ° Step 8 - Use Tonoko [a course clay from Kyoto] to polish the line with your finger until Gold is bright. ☯ Follow my Instagram for more of my art.   / marcalexand.re