25-Sep-2024
Today, I made progress on the 5-sun 27-step Japanese puzzle box by attaching the Aruki (moving panels) and affixing the top yosegi panel. Unfortunately, there was a small mistake (my fault…😅), which has delayed the production by about two days.
For each puzzle box, I carefully check the movement of the aruki as I attach all four pieces: the aruki for the top and bottom lids, as well as for the side “kannuki (slide keys)”. In the 27-step mechanism, four panels move, with each panel gradually moving to the next one on top (It moves in such a way that it overlaps with the next panel). This makes it slightly harder to move compared to a puzzle box with three moving panels. The side aruki, in particular, can be difficult to slide, so I attach it quite loosely. Additionally, the aruki in the 27-step box is thicker (8.5mm) compared to the 12 or 14-step box, which increases friction, so it also needs to be attached more loosely.
Today is a dry day, which provides ideal conditions for this work. It’s best to attach the aruki on dry days because if I do this task on a rainy day, the aruki absorbs a lot of moisture, and once the weather turns dry, the aruki can become too loose. On the other hand, if it rains after this, the aruki might become tighter, but that doesn’t have much of an impact as it usually returns to normal once the weather clears up. I will also store the box in a humidity-controlled container afterward to keep it in good condition. However, if the aruki becomes too loose after a rainy-to-dry transition, it’s difficult to restore it to its original state.
I ran out of time today and was only able to attach the top yosegi panel out of the two for the top and bottom. I will finish the other side tomorrow. Since the yosegi sheet is attached to plywood, I don’t usually need to leave it overnight (though it wouldn’t be a problem if I did). After about 4-5 hours, I can move on to the next process. That means I can attach the top yosegi panel, and then 4-5 hours later, attach the bottom yosegi panel. Because it’s plywood, it doesn’t warp easily from moisture. Usually, panels are left overnight to stabilize against warping caused by glue moisture. For the side yosegi panels of next process, I will apply pressure and leave them fixed overnight to ensure stability. I’ll probably continue this work tomorrow…
