20-Jun-2025
It’s the rainy season in Japan, but in our area, we’ve had no rain at all—just a stretch of very hot days.
Since it was cloudy this morning, I worked on finishing the 4-sun 14-steps box. On days this hot, I’m a bit concerned about taking unfinished boxes out of their cases before painting, but I decided to work quickly and get it done. After the finishing process, I secured the box with rubber bands and returned it to its case.
Unpainted boxes can absorb or release moisture when exposed to air, and this causes changes in the wood. If the outside air is hot and dry, moisture can escape from the surface of the panels, causing them to warp outward. This creates gaps between the main body and the surface panels. Once that happens, it can’t be undone. The only options are to give up on the box or shave off the warped panels and replace them with new ones.
To avoid this, it’s important to carefully select and dry the wood, but just as important is choosing the right conditions on the day you work. Wood is alive in a way, and it doesn’t always behave the way we want.
After that, I worked on attaching the yosegi side panels to the 5-sun 36-steps box. I trimmed the edges of the top and bottom surfaces so that the glue surface is nice and flat. Actually, the measurements for these cuts need to be very precise. If you cut them too short, shorter than the internal structure, a gap will form between the side panel and the lid.
So you aim for a perfect length—but the trick is to cut it just slightly longer, so it sticks out by the smallest amount. Different craftsmen have their own methods, but this small overhang helps ensure a snug, gap-free fit. However, if it sticks out too much, it creates a gap inside the box when the lid is opened, and more importantly, the side panels won’t adhere properly. and also, That makes the lid harder to slide.
This kind of subtle adjustment can’t be measured with a ruler or tool. It has to be felt by hand—something only experience can guide.
Once the panels are attached, I clamp them with a woodworking vise and let them sit overnight.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend!
