A Practical Guide On Vietnam Lacquer (Rhus succedanea) Buying

Vietnam Lacquer – the resin obtained from the Rhus succedanea tree – is one of the most unique and valuable materials in traditional crafts. From high-end wood coatings to artistic lacquer paintings, lacquer has proven its durability, aesthetics and superior surface protection over the centuries. However, to fully exploit that potential, the first important thing is to choose the right source of pure, stable, unadulterated and clearly tested lacquer.

In reality, finding a source of high-quality lacquer is not simple. The current market is still quite fragmented, lacking clear standards, causing many artisans, businesses or beginners to encounter difficulties and risks in the purchasing process.

1. Why choose the right source of high-quality lacquer?

Pure high-quality lacquer has all the ideal properties for high-quality wood coatings and lacquers: high adhesion, good clarity and gloss, durable paint film, does not peel off under the influence of weather, time and humidity.

Using poor quality or diluted paint not only affects the aesthetics of the finished product but also leads to serious technical errors such as:

• The paint film is cracked, peeled after a short period of use

• The paint layer does not dry on time, affecting production progress

• The paint color is dull, opaque, and does not reach the desired depth

• The wood is not protected from mold, termites or light

2. Common risks when buying lacquer on the market

Even for those with many years of experience in the profession, buying lacquer still has many potential risks if they do not check carefully or trust too much in the appearance. Here are some common mistakes:

❌ Lacquer is diluted with Tung oil or industrial oil: This is a common trick to increase volume and profit for sellers. However, tung oil or improperly engineered oil cannot create a strong polymer bond, causing the paint film to become soft, easy to peel, and not resistant to weather or friction. If used in interiors, the product can deteriorate after just a few months.

❌ Mixing high-quality red resin with white resin or chicken fat resin: Red paint has a high laccol content, good adhesion and gloss. However, due to its high cost and scarcity, many sellers add white paint or chicken fat (for higher productivity but poor quality) without clearly stating. As a result, the paint dries unevenly, easily cracks or appears patchy when polished. This is especially dangerous when used for lacquer paintings or products that require a high level of finish.

❌ Improper storage: Lacquer is a living material - meaning that after harvesting and filtering, if not stored in a sealed, humid and cool environment, it will easily oxidize, clump, and lose its ability to form a film. 

❌ Buying from an untraceable source: Many types of lacquer are sold without any information about the lacquer growing area, the time of harvest, the filtering and storage method, or the age of the tree - all of which are factors that directly affect the quality of the resin and the laccol content. The lack of transparent information makes it difficult for buyers to control input quality, especially in strict construction projects such as export goods or heritage restoration.

❌ No technical testing required - especially laccol: Laccol is a natural polymer compound characteristic of lacquer, playing a key role in creating a durable, elastic and water-resistant film. Many batches of paint on the market are not tested, or the laccol content is too low (due to harvesting from young trees, white trees, or being diluted), causing the final product to not meet technical and aesthetic quality, but buyers cannot know without specific analysis results.

3. How to identify and choose to buy pure lacquer

You can check lacquer through the following methods:

✅ Observe the color: Standard red lacquer has a reddish brown or reddish brown color, smooth and uniform; mixed lacquer is usually light, opaque or cloudy.

✅ Test the paint film: Apply to the surface of bamboo or wood, let it dry in cool, humid conditions. If it creates a shiny, even, non-peeling film, it is good paint.

✅ Request a technical inspection report: At professional units, you should request indicators such as laccol content, viscosity, pH, humidity, and impurity ratio to evaluate the paint.

Nacipe Raw Lacquer (Urushi)

4. Where to buy lacquer to ensure quality?

✅ Look for a company specializing in lacquer supplying, prioritize experienced suppliers

✅ Ask clearly about the process of processing, filtering, tilting and preserving paint before buying; at the same time, request to provide actual test samples for inspection.

✅ Avoid buying from small traders, goods of unknown origin, no packaging, no labels - even though the price is cheaper, it contains great risks.