07-Nov-2024
In the past few days, the mornings and evenings have become noticeably cooler, and the season now feels a bit chilly. Today, November 7, marks “Rittou” in Japan, which is considered the start of winter. Traditionally, the weather from this day onward begins to feel more wintery, which is why it’s called “Rittou.”
By the way, in Japan, there are 24 such names throughout the year, each marking changes in the season.
Today, I continued work on the triangular Japanese puzzle box. I focused on preparing materials for the Aruki panels, creating parts, and assembling components (photo). The mechanism’s size—specifically, the thickness of the Aruki panels—is the same as that of a 4-sun puzzle box, but since the mechanism moves at an angle, the movement distance needs to be greater for the lid to open. As a result, the standard 4-sun parts can’t be used, so I crafted parts specifically for this triangular box. Although it’s not visible in the photos, I’ve adjusted the height slightly. To put it simply, the vertical movement of the mechanism is the same as in a 4-sun box, while the horizontal (Kannuki-slide keys) movement is closer to that of a 3-sun box.
Tomorrow, I’ll work on shaping the Aruki panels using the materials prepared today. As usual, this won’t involve creating parts to set measurements; instead, I’ll make adjustments as I go, aligning each piece with the actual frame to ensure a proper fit.
Today, I also began sanding the undercoat of a nearly completed 5-sun 27-step puzzle box. Although the sanding isn’t fully done yet, it should be finished by tomorrow or the day after. This process is typically done by hand. For the corners of the box, I hold the sandpaper directly and sand manually. For the flat surfaces, I use a small electric tool called a “sander,” holding it by hand as well. Although the brand may differ, I think this tool is likely available in many other countries too.
Given that there are limited traditional Yosegi sheets specifically made for these 5-sun boxes, production may slow down a bit in the future. These sheets are typically available only once a year, so I use them sparingly. In light of this, I may shift more towards producing solid wood 5-sun boxes. But I genuinely enjoy this work, and crafting new designs is always exciting for me 😄
