Mr. Guy's advice should be taken to heart and histamine response. Urushi and its main component urushiol is not to be taken lightly. Its toxicity is just as he dramatically describes. Further, it must be cured in a heated and humid environment--a feature of the finish that requires the construction of a special and sealed curing container. It is NOT for the casual finisher.
The best alternative I've found is pigmented polyurethane. Builds fast and polishes out well. Its also unavailable any more. Krylon and Rustoleum enamels are fine as long as you are prepared to be patient through applying and sanding about 15 coats (brushed, baby). That said, you can get some sweet results.
Another pro-woodworker friend I know, who was born, raised and apprenticed in Japan, got a nice fat tube of raw urushi sent to him by his brother back home. It was remarkably expensive, and the few small "experiments" he conducted in his own little corner of a good-sized commercial shop affected everybody there and then everybody at his home, too. I itched for days (I'm not especially allergically reactive to the compound), and his wife wore red handprints on her back from the "backrub" he gave her.
Even better, in an attempt to begin the conditioning process followed by lacquer workers in Japan, he ingested a matchtip-sized bit of urushi in a cup of tea to begin building immunity. Do they have the Michelin Tire Man in Japan? If not, he could have modeled. He was able to open his already slanted eyes only millimeters due to the puffiness.
A beautiful, matchless finish is the urushi hallmark. That level of craftsmanship comes at a steep price. Cut your teeth on commercially available finishes like enamels and synthetic lacquers. Learn your brushing technique, don't get too discouraged by sanding off nearly all of your first 6 coats, and do wear a mask and gloves. Just don't expect that minor protective gear to render you invulnerable to a poison like urushi.
Will Graves
