26-Aug-2024
I’m currently working on the production of the 6-sun 54-step Japanese puzzle box Himitsu-bako. Three of these boxes will be made entirely with traditional yosegi and are scheduled to be shipped to a country in Europe. Today, I made the sliding panels (Aruki) and attached them to the main structure. Before that, the framework and the intricate internal parts were already completed. “Each” of these 54-step boxes contains 24 small parts, so if I were making a large number of these boxes, it would definitely be nerve-wracking!😂 That’s why I’m only making six this time. Usually, I make a bit more, around 10 to 20 boxes at most. The photo shows the small parts that are attached to a single box (24 pieces). They are attached in sets of 12 on each side of the box. Some of the parts are very small (around 2mm), and for pieces that are too tiny to hold by hand, I use tools like tweezers to attach them.
Each of the sliding panels on this box has four grooves, which move along the zigzag stepped inside parts. These grooves are synchronized with the movement of the sliding panel, meaning that the four individual movements are linked to a single motion of the sliding panel. Therefore, there can be no slight misalignment in any of the four grooves << This might be the most challenging part of making this box. If the four grooves, the “bocchi”, and the internal components don’t align perfectly, the mechanism of the box will get stuck midway. (For more information about the “bocchi” >> https://www.japanesepuzzlebox.jp/diary-detail/15)
I’m currently thinking about the designs for the remaining three boxes. The top and bottom panels will likely feature a natural wood design. As for the side panels, since I don’t have any other yosegi sheets with this width, they might also be made from natural wood. It will probably take a bit more time, so the completion is expected to be in September (in next week).
I have also started making a small number of 4-sun cube-style puzzle boxes. Previously, the 4-sun cubes featured a 10-step mechanism with drawers, but this time I’m making a standard 14-step mechanism. Lately, I have been thinking a lot about creating boxes that other craftsmen don’t make, similar to this cube-style box 🤔
