posted 2 hours ago
Varnish, in its botanical form, is a kind of poison sumac tree. The sap is tapped like rubber and used to coat and seal things. Staghorn sumac, Rhus typhina, also has a milky sap which hardens to a clearish wax/resin.
In staff meeting today we discussed pottery a little in its being an alternative to plastic. Paul thought that the glazes in pottery could be a potential source of toxins, and I replied that natural varnishes or shellacs could work, although varnish is derived from the poisonous, allergenic urushiol. Perhaps ordinary sumac could be a source of varnish for pottery or wood projects?
Can we think of any other uses for this sort of substance? Processes for tapping? (Likely similar to rubber…)
One can never be too kind to oneself or others.
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