[CApainter]

Sounds more like a process rather than product. Was the Japan (Jap) Drier used in the process?

Wikipedia:
"Japan drier is a common lay term and generic product name for any oil drying agent that can be mixed with drying oils such as boiled linseed oil and alkyd resin paints to speed up "drying". The name refers to "japanning", a term for the use of drying oils as an imitation or substitution for urushiol based Japanese lacquer."

It would be a challenging argument to accuse manufactures responsible for labeling the product "JAP" drier, as anything other than shorthand used in the field for a word that would otherwise have three syllables verses one. For example: "Deuce" verses "Two gallon bucket".

 

[Redux]

Wikipedia:
"Japan drier is a common lay term and generic product name for any oil drying agent that can be mixed with drying oils such as boiled linseed oil and alkyd resin paints to speed up "drying". The name refers to "japanning", a term for the use of drying oils as an imitation or substitution for urushiol based Japanese lacquer."

It would be a challenging argument to accuse manufactures responsible for labeling the product "JAP" drier, as anything other than shorthand used in the field for a word that would otherwise have three syllables verses one. For example: "Deuce" verses "Two gallon bucket".

I think I made mention in a previous thread of working with Urushiol/Urushi lacquer when doing wood finishing in traditional Japanese timber framed homes. Urushiol is the oil found in poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac causing allergic reactions/itching. My mentor at the time who introduced me to the technique affectionately referred to me as weed-hopper rather than grasshopper..

 

[mike mineral spirits]

Sounds more like a process rather than product. Was the Japan (Jap) Drier used in the process?

In the 80's and 90's in SE Florida, the construction boom was running wild. Hundreds of thousands of homes were built from the Florida Keys to West Palm beach. Builders, being the capitalist they are rush construction. Freshly stucco walls were painted within 2 days, loon wasn't invented yet. The appearance of an alkyd versus an acrylic latex was not even a close debate. Most home builders went with alkyds. a typical new construction paint supplier sold 30 to 50 gallons almost daily. Jap Driers were required to speed up the curing process. 2 or 3 gallons were sold on al weekly basis. I was fortunate enough to always handle the complaints, and there were many. Using an alkyd minimized these complaints. Exterior metal doors were also an issue. One manufacturer allowed oil only over their previously primed doors. The remainder of course used latex.

My dad painted high end houses for Custom builders and decorators, in the 50's to the early 70's. A homeowner wanted to reoccupy his house ASAP. Thus Jap driers were used in the interior alkyd flat and "Sami" on the doors. a cup of Vanilla extract was placed in each room to absorb the odor and speed up the process. Prior to becoming a contractor in Florida, he was a job foreman for M Eicher in Chicago, the worlds largest paint contractor until the mid eighties. As a foreman in the 30's and 40's his job was to take the deuce of white lead, add the linseed oils and spirits. match the color with tints all bottles and prepare the paint to be used for the day for the painters. My step dad was German, during WW!! he went to Hawaii for 2 years to paint the camouflage on the hangers in 1942 to 44. Maybe that is why he called it JAP driers. Naptha is another solvent that assists the flow and dry time of many alkyds. Paint varies according to the humidity and heat/cold.

 

[mike mineral spirits]

In the 80's and 90's in SE Florida, the construction boom was running wild. Hundreds of thousands of homes were built from the Florida Keys to West Palm beach. Builders, being the capitalist they are rush construction. Freshly stucco walls were painted within 2 days, loon wasn't invented yet. The appearance of an alkyd versus an acrylic latex was not even a close debate. Most home builders went with alkyds. a typical new construction paint supplier sold 30 to 50 gallons almost daily. Jap Driers were required to speed up the curing process. 2 or 3 gallons were sold on al weekly basis. I was fortunate enough to always handle the complaints, and there were many. Using an alkyd minimized these complaints. Exterior metal doors were also an issue. One manufacturer allowed oil only over their previously primed doors. The remainder of course used latex.

My dad painted high end houses for Custom builders and decorators, in the 50's to the early 70's. A homeowner wanted to reoccupy his house ASAP. Thus Jap driers were used in the interior alkyd flat and "Sami" on the doors. a cup of Vanilla extract was placed in each room to absorb the odor and speed up the process. Prior to becoming a contractor in Florida, he was a job foreman for M Eicher in Chicago, the worlds largest paint contractor until the mid eighties. As a foreman in the 30's and 40's his job was to take the deuce of white lead, add the linseed oils and spirits. match the color with tints all bottles and prepare the paint to be used for the day for the painters. My step dad was German, during WW!! he went to Hawaii for 2 years to paint the camouflage on the hangers in 1942 to 44. Maybe that is why he called it JAP driers. Naptha is another solvent that assists the flow and dry time of many alkyds. Paint varies according to the humidity and heat/cold.

Loxon, not loon, damn spellcheck