色彩
When the colored lacquer paste is dry, it should be wet-sanded, for three purposes: firstly, to ensure that the huitai (lacquer paste) is even so that the instrument’s shape is unveiled; secondly, to ensure that the qin surface is smooth and the patterns of the qin surface are fixed; thirdly, to ensure that all the buzzes are eliminated and the surface lacquer is consistent. People in the past used to use rubbing stones, sanding stones and sanding sticks to sand lacquer paste, but I prefer using sanding paper of different grits or grit sizes, which is then wrapped around a block of wood. It is easier to keep the pressure equal in this way.Wet sanding is an important step in the lacquering technique in qin making. If it is carried out without any serious hiccups and there is no need to make material repairs and mendings, the lacquer finish will look natural and unblemished. Otherwise, the repairs on damaged areas will look different from the earlier lacquer, leaving something to be desired even if it is made even. Therefore, when wet sanding, whether sanding stone or sanding paper is used, different grit sizes should be used from the coarser ones to fine ones. Care must be taken to applying equal pressure while sanding. Sand too lightly and it is not going to have any effect; sand too heavily and it might go overboard and damage the colored lacquer surface. This step not only calls for experience, but also care and patience. All the skills in the world require concentration and patience.