04-Apr-2025
The rain that lasted until yesterday finally stopped, and it was sunny from the morning today. As I mentioned before, the day after it rains is often quite humid, but today wasn’t too bad. Thanks to the clear weather, the humidity dropped quickly, so I was able to continue the work that had been on hold.
First, I worked on making and attaching the side panels for the 3-sun 18-steps puzzle box. It’s better to do this task on a clear day if possible. If you attach the panels on a rainy day, the moisture in the panels may dry out when the weather clears up, which can cause the panels to warp outward. As a result, a gap can appear between the side panels and the top panel…😂
This time, about two-thirds of the panels are made with walnut wood, and the rest feature a checkered pattern design. It seems that the walnut design is a bit more popular. In the morning, I made the panels, leveled the surfaces of the boxes, and attached the panels just before lunch. Since there were about 40 boxes, it didn’t take too long. After that, I clamped them with a vise. Since the weekend starts tomorrow, I might keep them clamped until next week. If there’s a day with heavy rain, I’ll remove them from the vise and store them in a humidity-controlled case. In any case, I need to keep them clamped at least until tomorrow.
Next, I worked on making the Aruki panels (moving panels) for the 2-sun cube box. This time, I’m making a drawer-type 4-step puzzle box. As you can see in the photo, each box needs three Aruki panels: one on the top (the lid), one on the side, and one on the drawer face. The panels are only 4.2 mm thick, so they are quite sensitive to humidity, especially on rainy days. Luckily, the conditions were good for working today. As I mentioned yesterday, this box is very delicate—the wood panels are thin, so I have to be extra careful when attaching the Aruki panels. If I force them into place, part of the structure can crack. However, as I attach the Aruki panels and then apply the outer panels, the box gradually becomes stronger. By the time it’s complete, it has enough strength for its size. Today, I finished both making the Aruki panels and attaching them to the boxes.
In the evening, I went out for a bit—and it started raining again. People often say spring weather is unpredictable, and it’s really true. I was running low on MDF board, so I stopped by the post office and then headed to a nearby DIY shop. The plywood I usually use, made from shina wood, isn’t easy to find in regular stores, but MDF boards are available even at DIY shops, so they’re convenient when I just need a little. However, MDF is very sensitive to moisture, so I have to be careful not to let it get wet.
Next week, I plan to continue working while keeping an eye on the weather. Have a great weekend!
