In order to produce the cream "Noro" that is used for polishing, Tosa Shikkui is mixed with water and then strained through a sieve, after which color pigments can be added.
Tosa Shikkui filtered cream "Noro"
Red pigment mixed with Tosh Shikkui Noro. Mixing the cream and pigment in a bag is clean and convenient.
Apply first coat of Tosa Shikkui over an earth plaster brown coat. Depending on the area to be polished and the need to reduce suction, the brown coat can be dampened. Apply second coat of Tosa Shikkui. Compress. Any variations in the surface of the Tosa Shikkui will be reflected in the finish coat.
When the Tosa Shikkui has stiffened up, the finish coat of cream Noro is applied. Even with a Jigane trowel, horizontal and then vertical. Remove excess cream Noro. When the variations have been corrected, compress with polished Jigane. The Jigane must be polished or it will scratch the surface. When there is too much friction to compress with the Jigane, begin compression with a polished honyaki trowel. The trowel should be polished with 1000-2000 grit water resistant sand paper. When there is too much friction to compress with the polished honyaki trowel, apply Unmo (mica group of aluminosilicates) or Tonoko (powdered stone local to Kyoto), which functions like baby powder, bringing moisture to the surface. Rubbing with your hand or soft cloth, cover the surface evenly. Before continuing, remove any access with a soft cloth. Continue compression with the polished Honyaki Finishing Trowel. And when there is too much fiction for the finishing trowel, continue compression with a polishing trowel.
Day one polished Tosa Shikkui
Next Day
A detailed description of Tosa Shikkui can be found at the the Japanese Plastering Page
My sincere thanks to the teachers at the Kyoto Plastering Institute.
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