Since today is Saturday, I came to the workshop a little later, around noon. Due to the strong cold air, it was very cold in the morning, but by around midday it felt a bit more comfortable. Today, I spent the whole day gluing the outer panels of the Mame puzzle boxes that are currently in progress. Because the panels for Mame puzzle boxes are very small, they do not need much time to set, and I can move on to the next step fairly quickly. First, I glued the top and bottom panels, then let them rest for about two hours before gluing the side panels. As a result, I was able to complete all of the outer panel gluing today.
The recent cold wave has also caused the air to become very dry this week. The humidity has been quite low, probably around 30%. In conditions like this, the panels for Mame puzzle boxes are strongly affected, and this time it reminded me of that once again. Some of the very thin panels became slightly warped. I believe this happened because of the direction of the wood grain—certain grain patterns are more likely to warp. In weather like this, extra care is necessary. For Mame puzzle boxes, the top and bottom panels are not pressed down after gluing, so if a panel is warped, it cannot be glued properly. If a panel does warp, I first restore some humidity to correct the warp, and only then proceed with the gluing.
On the other hand, for the side panels that are glued last, it is actually better if they are slightly warped. Of course, the direction of the warp matters, and I prefer panels that are warped inward toward the box. Especially for the panel that is glued on top of the Aruki moving panel that moves in the first step, I always choose one that curves inward. If the panel is warped outward, a gap will form between the box and the panel. In Mame puzzle boxes, there are not many areas where the panels are not glued, but because the boards are very thin, they can warp quite easily. If a panel warps, those unglued areas can quickly turn into visible gaps. That is why, when gluing the outer yosegi panels, it is very important not only to choose the right yosegi pattern, but also to carefully check the direction and degree of warping. Because these panels are prone to warping, unlike the top and bottom panels, I firmly hold several Mame puzzle boxes together with rubber bands after gluing the side panels. I then leave them like this for at least one night, until the glue fully dries and the panels become stable.
