Hello,
I would appreciate some feedback about how risky urushi really is. I have the normal allergic reactions to poison ivy, though I grew up in a rural area in eastern North America, without cable TV, so got extensive rashes from it many times as a kid from my endless hours playing in the woods.
Perhaps for that reason, I have a slightly perverse curiosity of urushi. The idea of creating such a beautiful lacquered piece, from such a baneful sap, seems like the kind of challenge I would like to try in my middle age.
I have read that urushi is even more potent than poison ivy, such that even vapors on surfaces could trigger an allergic reaction. Is this something I actually should be worried about, or is the risk mainly with direct contact to the sticky sap? The way some authors have written about it, I worry that urushi liquid would render my home as a bio-hazard, ha. While others (perhaps those who are immune to it) write about in a softer light.
I am interested in revisiting that urushiol I remember with such vividness from my childhood, but to see it in a new light, to appreciate its potential beauty.
Any practical advice (beyond just *wear gloves*) for those starting out, from those who are reactive to urushiol, surrounding safe handling or curing, or any unpleasant experiences that led to specific lessons, I would be grateful to read, if you wanted to share a story.
Thank you very much for taking the time to read this.