Two types of drawer puzzle boxes
A new week has started today. In Japan, it’s gradually getting cooler, but for the past two or three days the temperature has been around 30°C again. Since October is almost here, it should get cooler by then. Autumn is one of my favorite seasons because it’s so comfortable, though in recent years the number of hot days has increased and the autumn period feels shorter…😅
Today I continued with some work: the 4-sun 27-steps puzzle boxes and also the 4-sun 10-steps drawer type. The photo shows the frame panel structure for the 10-steps drawer puzzle boxes, which I worked on and assembled today. Since one partition board goes in the middle, these frame panels are a little more complex than those of regular puzzle boxes. One of the shafts is shortened, creating space at the bottom, and that’s where the drawer comes out. Because of this, the structure of the frame is not symmetrical like in other puzzle boxes. The frame parts are made from five parts, including the internal partition board.
This time, I made the drawer height slightly taller. Well, “slightly” means less than even 1 mm, so it’s hardly noticeable to the eye, but I did it to gain a little more space. For the front part of the drawer I used magnolia wood (hoo), and the rest is agathis. For the drawer lid panel, I plan to use sliced walnut. The making of the drawers is also progressing at the same time as the boxes.
After this, I plan to make another run of 4-sun 27-steps puzzle boxes, but somewhere along the way I would also like to include the 5-sun drawer type. This is both to fulfill a request from an overseas shop and to prepare a small amount of stock. These will be natural wood types.
Since I am now making the 4-sun drawer type, I hope I can continue in the same flow and also make the 5-sun version. Of course, even though the process is the same, the size and dimensions of the materials are completely different.
The 5-sun drawer type has been around for a long time, and many craftsmen have made it. The very first puzzle box I ever held in my hands and studied as a reference was also a 5-sun 10-steps drawer box. Drawer types are often used as samples in many places, perhaps because when they open, they feel more attractive (and maybe because they seem like a better value… 😊)
Today I continued with some work: the 4-sun 27-steps puzzle boxes and also the 4-sun 10-steps drawer type. The photo shows the frame panel structure for the 10-steps drawer puzzle boxes, which I worked on and assembled today. Since one partition board goes in the middle, these frame panels are a little more complex than those of regular puzzle boxes. One of the shafts is shortened, creating space at the bottom, and that’s where the drawer comes out. Because of this, the structure of the frame is not symmetrical like in other puzzle boxes. The frame parts are made from five parts, including the internal partition board.
This time, I made the drawer height slightly taller. Well, “slightly” means less than even 1 mm, so it’s hardly noticeable to the eye, but I did it to gain a little more space. For the front part of the drawer I used magnolia wood (hoo), and the rest is agathis. For the drawer lid panel, I plan to use sliced walnut. The making of the drawers is also progressing at the same time as the boxes.
After this, I plan to make another run of 4-sun 27-steps puzzle boxes, but somewhere along the way I would also like to include the 5-sun drawer type. This is both to fulfill a request from an overseas shop and to prepare a small amount of stock. These will be natural wood types.
Since I am now making the 4-sun drawer type, I hope I can continue in the same flow and also make the 5-sun version. Of course, even though the process is the same, the size and dimensions of the materials are completely different.
The 5-sun drawer type has been around for a long time, and many craftsmen have made it. The very first puzzle box I ever held in my hands and studied as a reference was also a 5-sun 10-steps drawer box. Drawer types are often used as samples in many places, perhaps because when they open, they feel more attractive (and maybe because they seem like a better value… 😊)
