Finishing process
A new week has begun, but the heat continues as always 😂
This morning, while the temperature was still relatively low, I started the finishing work on the square puzzle boxes. This kind of work needs to be done when both the humidity and temperature are stable, because high temperatures can damage the boxes.
I made about 40 boxes this time, and all the side panels are made of solid wood. So I used a sanding machine designed for woodworking to smooth them out.
It’s quite difficult to do this kind of sanding by hand. Of course, if it were just one or two boxes, it would be manageable — but with this many, using a machine is necessary. The machine also gives a cleaner and more even finish.
After sanding, I trimmed the corners of the boxes. For this batch, I chose to cut the corners at a 45-degree angle.
The wood I used this time is relatively soft, so I could have rounded the corners instead, but I personally prefer the slanted-cut design for these square boxes.
Later in the evening, once the sun had gone down, I applied the base coating.
In addition to that, I also began working on a new project today — a batch of Mame Himitsu-bako (1-sun puzzle boxes). I started by making the inner frame parts.
In this type of Mame Himitsu-bako, the inner frame and the outer Yosegi panels are combined into one structure. So once I assemble the frame, the Yosegi panels are already attached to the outside.
This time, I’m making the 14-step version.
I’ll continue with all of these tasks tomorrow.
This morning, while the temperature was still relatively low, I started the finishing work on the square puzzle boxes. This kind of work needs to be done when both the humidity and temperature are stable, because high temperatures can damage the boxes.
I made about 40 boxes this time, and all the side panels are made of solid wood. So I used a sanding machine designed for woodworking to smooth them out.
It’s quite difficult to do this kind of sanding by hand. Of course, if it were just one or two boxes, it would be manageable — but with this many, using a machine is necessary. The machine also gives a cleaner and more even finish.
After sanding, I trimmed the corners of the boxes. For this batch, I chose to cut the corners at a 45-degree angle.
The wood I used this time is relatively soft, so I could have rounded the corners instead, but I personally prefer the slanted-cut design for these square boxes.
Later in the evening, once the sun had gone down, I applied the base coating.
In addition to that, I also began working on a new project today — a batch of Mame Himitsu-bako (1-sun puzzle boxes). I started by making the inner frame parts.
In this type of Mame Himitsu-bako, the inner frame and the outer Yosegi panels are combined into one structure. So once I assemble the frame, the Yosegi panels are already attached to the outside.
This time, I’m making the 14-step version.
I’ll continue with all of these tasks tomorrow.
