Chapter 145 Genius Needs No Reason
Lin Sicheng stood in the very center of the experimental table.
About five minutes later, the materials team delivered the already spun box (lacquer box inner mold).
It uses an electric lathe; you just input all the data and press a button, so it's very fast.
Five minutes later, degreased ramie cloth was brought over. This material is used for the frame of lacquer boxes; some are made of wood, but that's not durable and is too heavy and clumsy.
About five minutes later, the materials team delivered the raw materials for papering and varnish as Lin Sicheng had requested: they were actually all glues, the former being an adhesive compound used to stick the burlap onto the wooden mold, and the latter used for shaping and fixing the mold.
With these materials all there were, Lin Sicheng put on his gloves and began mixing the paint.
Huang Zhifeng stared intently, while Yao Hansong narrowed his eyes as well.
It wasn't that the people at the Provincial Museum were unreserved, but rather that Lin Sicheng was too young.
Being proficient in theory, able to recite it fluently, and even able to deduce techniques from papers—this is difficult, but not without precedent.
But to say that someone in their early twenties has a wealth of experience and is highly skilled is honestly a bit difficult.
Besides, it was self-taught?
More importantly, the inlaid gold technique is inherently difficult, and the figure and floral patterned box is even more so. They didn't quite believe that Lin Sicheng could have learned it on his own.
Just like these people in the laboratory, including Yao Hansong and Huang Zhifeng, who dares to say that they can deduce ancient craftsmanship by self-study?
That's why I'm curious about the extent to which Lin Sicheng has learned.
Almost everyone who didn't have any work to do gathered around.
Lin Sicheng proceeded unhurriedly and methodically: grinding, sieving, weighing, mixing, mounting, and then drying.
Seven drying and seven pasting processes take about two hours, with simultaneous scraping and finishing of the putty, which means solidifying each layer of the tire.
Huang Zhifeng perked up slightly: Here they come!
Before engraving and gold inlay, fixing the base is the most difficult process, requiring four steps for each layer:
The first coat of coarse gray fills in the texture of the linen. The second coat of medium gray smooths the surface. The third coat of fine gray, also known as gloss gray, is mainly for enhancing shine. The fourth coat polishes the box to a mirror finish.
The difficulty in the process lies in the thickness: according to the requirements of Song Dynasty craftsmanship, seven layers of hemp cloth plus seven layers of paper pasting, plus twenty-one layers of lacquer ash, the total thickness cannot exceed 3 millimeters.
But just seven layers of linen cloth, pressed together, would be about this thick. Where did the papering and paint ash go?
The key lies in mixing the lacquer: the paste and lacquer putty are soaked into the linen, which not only prevents the formation of a layer, but also helps to shape and strengthen the lacquer base.
Furthermore, good lacquer can soften ramie fibers, and then, during the coagulation process, increase the density of the ramie layer and reduce its thickness.
Therefore, it is also called dry lacquer lacquer. Skilled lacquer lacquer makers can control the thickness to about 2.5mm.
How thin can Lin Sicheng sandwich?
Huang Zhifeng felt that it shouldn't be three millimeters; he should be allowed to double that, with the linoleum thickness not exceeding six millimeters, and that would be considered acceptable.
Others shared similar thoughts, their eyes glued to the screen.
Wang Qizhi slowly picked up his teacup: he couldn't be sure how thin Lin Sicheng could stretch, but he had seen Lin Sicheng mix lacquer: holding both ends with his hands, he could stretch the lacquer thread to more than a meter long, as thick as a hair, without breaking it.
That one is even more difficult than the one in front of us.
But Huang Zhifeng had never seen it, nor had anyone else.
When they saw Lin Sicheng finish applying the first layer of paint, no one realized anything was amiss. They just felt that this kid must have practiced before, otherwise he wouldn't be so skilled.
Huang Zhifeng also secretly sighed: Whether it was self-taught or not, I don't know, but they definitely have experience, and it's quite extensive.
But when Lin Sicheng finished scraping off the second layer, Huang Zhifeng noticed something was wrong: two layers of plaster had already been applied. Why didn't the tire shell look much thicker?
When the paint was dried for the third time and the third layer of paint was applied, Huang Zhifeng moved a little closer.
But after a few glances, his pupils contracted: after the third layer of fine ash was scraped away, the tire shell was still just as thick as it had been before.
So, the thickness wasn't increased at all. Where did all that gray that was applied go?
Surely this kid didn't deliberately apply such a thin layer just to show off?
Subconsciously, Huang Zhifeng and Yao Hansong exchanged a glance, but Professor Yao shook his head.
He also noticed it, but it's too early to draw conclusions now. He has to wait for the final drying and molding, and then remove the inner mold to see.
Huang Zhifeng breathed a sigh of relief and waited patiently.
Put it back into the oven for quick and even drying, and after about half an hour, the lacquer base is formed.
Remove the clay slab from the inner layer, then gently pry it open; with a "zzzz" sound, the wooden frame falls off.
Huang Zhifeng's eyes were fixed on him: "Xiao Lin, shall we check it?"
Of course, it needs to be checked.
Lin Sicheng nodded and handed the paint tire to the inspector.
The machine was right next to us, and it was very fast, taking about ten minutes.
Looking at the screen, a dozen or so men, women, and children looked at each other: How was this data measured?
Circumferential tensile strength: ≥25 MPa.
Flexural modulus: ≥4 GPa (three-point bending test)
Impact toughness: ≥9 kJ/m (Charpy impact test)...
It can be said that this data shows that the strength and toughness are even higher than that of a lacquer base with more than ten layers and a thickness of more than five millimeters.
But looking at the thickness: 2.2...
The laboratory gradually fell silent.
Yao Hansong remained silent, staring intently at the test report. Huang Zhifeng's eyes were fixed on Lin Sicheng's face: "How did you do that?"
Lin Sicheng succinctly stated: "Pile up lacquer!"
Hmm, Daqi... He can repair porcelain?
No, he actually knows how to repair porcelain. He specifically mentioned it during his introduction: it's a family tradition, and his grandfather was famous in the industry for his excellent repair of antique porcelain.
But he didn't mention that he would also use lacquer thread to repair porcelain?
With such high tensile strength and toughness, how thin and how long can the paint thread be drawn?
Huang Zhifeng didn't say anything, but looked at Yao Hansong: Didn't you say he was self-taught?
Yao Hansong didn't say anything: You only listen to him say that his grandfather can repair ancient porcelain, but you don't ask what kind of porcelain his grandfather repairs.
Qing Dynasty famille rose!
Go ask around and see if anyone uses lacquer to touch up their painted decorations.
The two looked at each other in silence. Then, Huang Zhifeng took Lin Sicheng's hand and smiled slightly: "Next is polishing, and then painting (applying red lacquer to build up the thickness of the lacquer layer). These two are relatively simple and can be left to the lacquerer."
"Of course, you'll have to mix the paint yourself, so for the next few weeks, Xiaolin, you'll need to come over every two days... Don't rush off when you do come, let's discuss it properly..."
Yao Hansong nodded in agreement: "After all, we have all the equipment and materials, so if you want to practice, you can get started anytime!"
Lin Sicheng grasped Huang Zhifeng's hand: "I'll definitely need Professor Huang's help in the future!"
Huang Zhifeng smiled even more broadly: "No trouble at all!"
The teacher and student exchanged another glance: more support means more technical strength.
Their main goal recently has been to apply for World Heritage status, so even if Huang Zhifeng doesn't mention it, they will come frequently. Even if they can't come every two days, they will still come once or twice a week.
The main reason was to borrow the provincial museum's laboratory: traditional tools are easy to obtain, but even the university doesn't have those high-precision machining and testing instruments.
Wang Qizhi's idea was to ask the principal if the school could get one. But Lin Sicheng estimated that the principal wouldn't agree: just one multi-functional small machine tool would cost eight or nine million US dollars, equivalent to six or seven million RMB.
Once the iron project is approved, the school will naturally purchase it.
For now, all I can do is piggyback on others' success...
We roughly arranged the next time, and when I looked at my watch, it was already 5 p.m.
Lin Sicheng thanked them one by one again, and his attitude towards both the researchers and technicians was completely different from before.
His surprise was tinged with curiosity, and his politeness was tinged with admiration.
After saying goodbye, Yao Hansong and Huang Zhifeng personally escorted them downstairs.
Once inside the car, Wang Qizhi rubbed his temples: "There's basically no problem with the Provincial Museum. I'll sort things out when I get back and see when I can make a trip to the district museum."
"Teacher, we can go after we've reached an agreement with the Provincial Museum," Lin Sicheng thought for a moment. "Or, how about we let Grandpa talk to them first and get their word out?"
Wang Qizhi's eyes lit up: "That's right!"
An advisor is not necessarily someone who provides technical guidance.
Wang Qizhi's identity is too sensitive; it's like unleashing a powerful move right from the start, which is too conspicuous.
The old man was just right: he was technically savvy and had a wide network of connections...
The more Wang Qizhi thought about it, the more suitable it seemed: "Should you talk or should I talk?"
"Teacher, please speak!"
Lin Sicheng sighed: "Knowing too much all of a sudden will really scare the old man."
Wang Qizhi knew exactly what he was thinking at a glance, and chuckled, "It's alright, you'll get used to it!"
Like him, now he's too lazy to ask, and there's no way to ask him all the time: like Lin Sicheng, who never mentioned it before, yet he's looking for a grave?
And this gilded lacquer box—it's only been four or five days since Lin Sicheng brought it back. He just looked up some information and pondered it for a few days, and he actually managed to replicate it?
He witnessed this firsthand, which only proves that genius needs no explanation...
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