Usage of Colophony (Pine Resin) in Lacquer Paint

On the market today, pine resin is typically available in the form of colophony—the solid residue left after volatile oils (such as turpentine) are extracted from raw pine resin. In the context of traditional Vietnamese lacquerware, colophony serves as an important additive during the lacquer “curing” or finishing phase. It is commonly melted in oil (such as kerosene or vegetable oil) before being blended with raw lacquer sap to form a working lacquer mixture.

When incorporated into the lacquer, colophony contributes to a harder, denser, and more optically deep surface film, which is highly valued in finishing layers requiring gloss and visual depth. However, the use of colophony also comes with a major drawback: it significantly slows down the drying time—even more so than mixtures containing Tung Oil. Therefore, it is most suitable for final stages of lacquer finishing, where there is enough time for the paint film to dry naturally and can be processed and polished.

In modern coatings industries, colophony can be chemically modified into resinates or esters to improve drying time and film stability, making it suitable for synthetic varnishes or oil-based paints. However, such chemical transformations fundamentally alter the nature and workflow of traditional lacquercraft, and thus are not considered compatible with the preservation of Vietnamese lacquer heritage.

Another approach involves heat-induced polymerization to form abietin-type compounds, which enhance drying and hardness. However, under typical heating conditions, colophony is highly flammable—it can emit thick smoke and burn uncontrollably, making this method unsafe and impractical for artisanal use.