20-Dec-2024
Today, I completed the Aruki (moving panels) for the 3-sun cube puzzle box I have been working on since yesterday and attached it. This is my first time making the 18-step box in this shape, so it feels fresh and exciting. Perhaps I might have made something similar in a slightly different size about 15 to 20 years ago. I’ve been crafting these slightly larger cube boxes for quite some time, so I may have tried it before. However, I don’t have any clear memory of it. I store photos of my creations, so if I look through them, I might find something similar. That said, seeing it take shape now feels new and enjoyable.
After completing the aruki for the 3-sun cube, I continued by crafting the aruki for the 2-sun cube. The aruki for this 2-sun cube drawer puzzle box can be made in a shorter time compared to standard aruki production. This is likely because the box only has a 4-step mechanism, and one of those moves involves the drawer itself. As a result, the three aruki pieces for this box have a very simple design. The only slightly intricate work involves drilling holes to attach wooden pins and shaping the handle section for the drawer. Aside from these steps, the three aruki pieces are simple flat boards. This simplicity significantly reduces the crafting time, allowing me to complete the aruki for both boxes today.
This weekend, being the weekend before Christmas, I imagine stores are incredibly busy. In Japan too, various sales and events are taking place. Even for online purchases within the country, it seems delivery is taking slightly longer than usual. Delivery personnel appear to be working tirelessly during this busy season. With many companies wrapping up their work for the year next week, I need to make sure that I gather any necessary materials, such as supplies and paints, for the workshop by then. These are the kinds of things I’m also thinking about right now😄
