The Coccus lacca is an insect that feeds on certain trees in India and Southern Asia. It produces a gummy substance through its pores that hardens into a protective covering called lac. This lac is collected and then crushed, washed and dried to create shellac – the key ingredient to creating a beautiful finish.
As the leading guru of wood finishes, Bob is an expert in shellac and many other obscure raw materials. He has a vast collection of these materials (from as far away as Africa and India) that he uses to create customized finishes to meet each client’s needs. No other person in the region compares with Bob when it comes to his knowledge about shellacs and natural resins.
Because of his mastery of ingredients, chemicals and hand application, you won’t find a current finish in the world that the guru can’t match. Whether it’s extremely rare or centuries old – he won’t be fazed. And if he does cross paths with a finish that he hasn’t seen before, he will thoroughly research its origins to recreate the perfect matching finish.
Hand Applied. The One True Way.
Spray finishes have become popular over the years, but they do a great disservice to woods – creating a plastic look and a difficult surface to repair. Therefore, the only way to properly recreate a period look is with a hand-applied finish.
There is an art to achieving an immaculate finish by hand. It takes a true craftsman. And although the process of applying several layers can be quite time consuming, the final outcome cannot be equaled.
Wood Dances When Given the Proper Finish.
When wood has the proper clarity and depth it becomes chatoyant, giving it a gorgeous liquid appearance. If you’ve ever seen light play off tiger eye quartz, you have experienced chatoyancy. A truly beautiful, chatoyant finish draws a client in to experience the wood, often compelling them to run a hand along its smooth surface. Its presence “makes wood dance” and brings joy to both the guru and his customers.
