10-Dec-2024
The weather continues to be beautiful and sunny today. I worked on the undercoating for the finishing process of the 14-step Mame Puzzle Box. So far, everything is progressing as planned. The photo shows the process of rounding the corners of these Mame Puzzle Boxes.
This task is typically done on side panels made of Agathis wood with traditional Yosegi or Ichimatsu Yosegi patterns attached. While I usually perform this process on each box individually, Mame Puzzle Boxes are so small that I handle several at once. Of course, each box will be individually inspected in the end😅
After this step, I smooth the surface further using sandpaper. I have to be especially careful during this process, as the Yosegi-sheet applied to the box is very thin and can be easily sanded off. The pressure used must be carefully controlled. Once a Yosegi-sheet is sanded off, it cannot be restored, so this step requires particular attention and care. Once sanding is complete, the final coating can begin.
Today, I also began working on the structural parts of the next project: 2-sun boxes. I prepared the materials and made the frame portions. While these boxes are not as small as Mame Puzzle Boxes, they are still quite tiny, making the work somewhat challenging. However, this particular design is a 7-step mechanism, which has a simpler structure and is easier to build. Although these 2-sun boxes are small in size, the mechanism specifications—such as the thickness of the Aruki (moving panel) and the movement distance—are the same as those of the 3-sun box.
In the past, I used to make 10-step versions as well, but currently, I only produce the 7-step variety. It has been several years since I last worked on these boxes, as they were removed from the product lineup for some time. It feels like quite a while since I made one of these.
This time, I plan to produce a slightly larger quantity. If anyone is interested, please feel free to let me know. The request for this batch is to use natural wood, but I will also make a small number with traditional Yosegi patterns at the same time.
