Making Process

The process starts with gathering all the raw material from the market. Some manufacturers prefer seasoned wood while some get the wood and keep it for seasoning. For wood seasoning the normally time require is 1 to 4 months because the wood is heavier in weight while cut from the tree so to reduce is weight it is kept for few month so all the moisture can be removed and we can easily use it.

STEP 1: Purchasing raw material

The process of making starts with the collection of wood which is collected from the local market of channapatna and then it is seasoned for 1 to 4 months. Government used to provide the season wood but due to cost the manufacturer prefer to buy the wood from local market and season them in storage area or godown.

STEP 2: Seasoning the wood

After collecting the wood from local market Logs are cut into billets, and seasoned until they are dry and can be turned on the lathe.

The waste wood are gathered for fire and two wooden sticks are heated and the raw lac are kept on stick and started heating and softening until lac becomes plastic and malleable. It is kept on beating until white tint appears. After that powder die is mixed with little water and added to lac at the time of heating. The lac is stretched with the help of two sticks and beaten to get perfect shade of colour. Before solidifying it is removed from the stick and again pressed and mixed with the help of hands. After that long sticks are cut into different lengths. 5 to 6 sticks can be made at a time.

Step 5: Lac Application

After getting the final form of toy now its time for lacquering. The piece is placed on lathe and the colour sticks which were made earlier are pressed against wood piece which is revolving in lathe and the heat is produce and the resulting friction causes lac to bind to the surface of the toy.

Toys are shaped using hand tools and lathe. Cutting tools are used in revolving piece of wood so the extra material can be removed and the shape we want is formed. After getting the perfect shape the piece is sanded with the sandpaper at the time of rotating on lathe and rubbed till the surface gets smooth and equal. And different tools is used for measurement when piece is on lathe vernier caliper is also used for the measurement.

After applying lacquer it is spread uniformly over the surface with the help of screw pine leaf. This gives shine to the piece. Coconut oil is also used to give shine. After Polishing the piece is separated with the help of cutting tool from lathe.