Thomas Coleman Posted February 2, 2018 Report Share Posted February 2, 2018 Do you recognize this resin? I showed it to Joe Robson once and he told me but I forgot! Maybe copal? Thanks. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MikeC Posted February 2, 2018 Report Share Posted February 2, 2018 I have some fossil copal that kind of looks like that. I'm not sure of the source and have never tried to make anything with it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Thomas Coleman Posted February 3, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2018 Thanks Mike. I'm not sure of my source as well. It's been sittin' around for a bit. I would like to make something with it. Anyone else? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Stavanger Posted February 3, 2018 Report Share Posted February 3, 2018 Maybe @Vernici Liuteria Can identify it? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Violadamore Posted February 4, 2018 Report Share Posted February 4, 2018 From just looking at it, it could be rough chunks of chalcedony for all the photo tells me. Does it have a smell? What does it dissolve in? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Thomas Coleman Posted February 4, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2018 It is soluble in alcohol. It smells very good, similar to frankincense or myrrh. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Violadamore Posted February 4, 2018 Report Share Posted February 4, 2018 OK, since it dissolves readily in alcohol, my first guess is sandarac, followed by frankincense, and possibly myrrh. Copal is harder to dissolve. Dammar is more susceptible to turpentine than alcohol, and only the batu form would look like that. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Thomas Coleman Posted February 4, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2018 When burned, it smells just like incense and I'm leaning towards frankincense. Is frankincense used in varnish? Tschu Ho Lee probably bought this in the 80's to use for varnish. I have about 2 lbs of it and as an interesting side note, it is cut with bits of yellow plastic. Probably crushed up tail lights!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Michael_Molnar Posted February 4, 2018 Report Share Posted February 4, 2018 Any Catholic might recognize the odor of frankincense from religious rituals. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Christopher Jacoby Posted February 4, 2018 Report Share Posted February 4, 2018 Kauri? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Violin Varnish Italy Posted February 4, 2018 Report Share Posted February 4, 2018 On 2/2/2018 at 8:56 PM, Thomas Coleman said: Do you recognize this resin? I showed it to Joe Robson once and he told me but I forgot! Maybe copal? Thanks. it is impossible to recognize all types of copal, many are similar, while others are very particular and are immediately recognized it is impossible to recognize all types of copal, many are similar, while others are very particular and are immediately recognized Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Violin Varnish Italy Posted February 4, 2018 Report Share Posted February 4, 2018 1 hour ago, Christopher Jacoby said: Kauri? this is kauri Quote Link to post Share on other sites
joerobson Posted February 5, 2018 Report Share Posted February 5, 2018 Olibanum. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
arglebargle Posted February 5, 2018 Report Share Posted February 5, 2018 Yeah, I recognize it. It's mine. I lost it a while ago. Please send it back, and thank you for finding it. I was very worried. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Violadamore Posted February 5, 2018 Report Share Posted February 5, 2018 10 hours ago, joerobson said: Olibanum. Isn't that a synonym for frankincense? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
joerobson Posted February 5, 2018 Report Share Posted February 5, 2018 1 hour ago, Violadamore said: Isn't that a synonym for frankincense? It is in some languages. In the perfume industry the residue (resin) remaining after extracting the oil (frankincense) is known as olibanum. It is not effective as a varnish resin. on we go, Joe Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Thomas Coleman Posted February 5, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2018 1 hour ago, joerobson said: It is in some languages. In the perfume industry the residue (resin) remaining after extracting the oil (frankincense) is known as olibanum. It is not effective as a varnish resin. on we go, Joe Joe, this certainly smells like frankincense, but I do know that Tscho Ho Lee bought this for making varnish. It smells good when burned. Should I just save it for sacrificing all my crappy violins or is there some way I can test it? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
joerobson Posted February 5, 2018 Report Share Posted February 5, 2018 2 hours ago, Thomas Coleman said: Joe, this certainly smells like frankincense, but I do know that Tscho Ho Lee bought this for making varnish. It smells good when burned. Should I just save it for sacrificing all my crappy violins or is there some way I can test it? To his credit Mr. Lee, my mentor and friend, has been and continues to be a creative, unrestrained searcher. Perhaps he had an idea... on we go, Joe Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Thomas Coleman Posted February 5, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2018 Aye. I am neither creative nor are my searches unrestrained. In the spirit of Mr. Lee, I will send 1/2 ( about 1 lb) of this resin to the first person that is interested. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Stavanger Posted February 5, 2018 Report Share Posted February 5, 2018 The notorious horder in me would surely be interested... But then again, probably not worth sending it half around the globe for another guy to scratch his head over what to do with it Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DutchViolins Posted February 5, 2018 Report Share Posted February 5, 2018 On 4-2-2018 at 9:49 PM, Christopher Jacoby said: Kauri? Kauri Gum does not dissolve in ethanol. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FredN Posted February 5, 2018 Report Share Posted February 5, 2018 Hi Mike- could that unknown resin you have is the fossil congo copal I sent to you when you were interested in making varnish? fred Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Thomas Coleman Posted February 5, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2018 4 hours ago, Stavanger said: The notorious horder in me would surely be interested... But then again, probably mot worth sending it half around the globe for another guy to scratch his head over what to do with it Yay or nay? If you think you can use it lemme know. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Stavanger Posted February 6, 2018 Report Share Posted February 6, 2018 1 hour ago, Thomas Coleman said: Yay or nay? If you think you can use it lemme know. It would surely be interesting to try to cook up a batch of varnish at some point. Im in Norway thou, so maybe someone closer to you (less shipping) would want it instead.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Evan Smith Posted February 6, 2018 Report Share Posted February 6, 2018 it's not expensive,,, don't need to spend a fortune sending it back around the world,, I bet theres some close to norway https://www.ebay.com/itm/1-Lb-Kosher-Frankincense-Resin-Incense-Tears-Boswellia-carteri-100-Natural/391920451017?hash=item5b40477dc9:m:mY3B9me4MQNOK-JOA_0Uq0Q I love the smell,, oh yeah, get some of this and you'll be the Norwegian monk that works with wood. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.