A high-tech, low-cost Japanese baren with a replaceable printing face. The Kurosaki Disc Baren was invented as an alternative to traditional barens that required re-facing with bamboo. The PVC surface is dotted with tiny bumps arrayed in a wave-like pattern as opposed to concentric circles. A replacement face, or shin, can be bought separately for when the bumps start to wear down. The Kurosaki Disc Baren comes boxed and includes instructions and a little bottle of Camelia Oil to gently lubricate the surface when printing. The baren diameter is 13cm.
Traditionally barens are very lightly lubricated to maintain the condition of the bamboo sheath (takenokawa) and to assist the baren with gliding over the ategami backing paper when printing. Camelia oil is the natural choice, but alternatives, such as silicone machine oil, are preferred for the newer ballbearing barens. Rather than apply the oil directly onto the baren's face, it is added to a pad from which the baren can pick up a little oil. This pad can take the form of a folded piece of cloth. The camelia oil included with the Kurosaki Disc Baren is for ease of printing alone.
