The Aruki of the square box
It’s been raining since this morning, probably due to the typhoon. Fortunately, our area wasn’t affected by it. The rain wasn’t too heavy, and the humidity wasn’t very high either, so I started working on the Aruki moving panels for the square 18-steps boxes as planned in the morning. I finished that work before noon, and in the afternoon, I attached those panels and also glued the other sliding key panel for the 27-steps boxes that I began yesterday.
By that time, the rain had stopped, and I could even see some sunshine. Also, I delivered the 10-steps Mame puzzle boxes that I’ve been working on recently. It’s been a while since I made the 10-steps version, and once again, I felt that its movement is more stable than the 14-steps version. I’m not exactly sure why — maybe because of the larger movement distance, or the balance between the thickness and size of the Aruki panels — but that’s the impression I always get.
At this stage, the square boxes will be stored in the case for a while. Partly because of the weather, but mainly because I haven’t made the top panels for these boxes yet. This time, I plan to make two types — a natural wood type and a random-grain type — but the top panels for the random-grain type haven’t been completed yet.
Tomorrow, I plan to finish the 4-sun 27-steps boxes, and I have some errands to take care of on Friday, so the square boxes will likely stay in storage for a few days. I’ll decide on the details of the random-grain pattern as I work on it — I’m looking forward to that part. Still, I also want to make the design as reproducible as possible so that I can create it again in the future.
This is my first time making the square 18-steps puzzle boxes. Since the top panels of the square boxes are smaller (shorter in length), they need to be attached with a slight amount of resistance. Otherwise, the panels tend to move too loosely.
For this 18-steps version, the thickness of the Aruki panels is the same as that of the 14-steps and 12-steps versions. Because the panels are thinner than those used in the 27-steps boxes, I need to pay extra attention to this balance. I made them in the same way this time as well.
By that time, the rain had stopped, and I could even see some sunshine. Also, I delivered the 10-steps Mame puzzle boxes that I’ve been working on recently. It’s been a while since I made the 10-steps version, and once again, I felt that its movement is more stable than the 14-steps version. I’m not exactly sure why — maybe because of the larger movement distance, or the balance between the thickness and size of the Aruki panels — but that’s the impression I always get.
At this stage, the square boxes will be stored in the case for a while. Partly because of the weather, but mainly because I haven’t made the top panels for these boxes yet. This time, I plan to make two types — a natural wood type and a random-grain type — but the top panels for the random-grain type haven’t been completed yet.
Tomorrow, I plan to finish the 4-sun 27-steps boxes, and I have some errands to take care of on Friday, so the square boxes will likely stay in storage for a few days. I’ll decide on the details of the random-grain pattern as I work on it — I’m looking forward to that part. Still, I also want to make the design as reproducible as possible so that I can create it again in the future.
This is my first time making the square 18-steps puzzle boxes. Since the top panels of the square boxes are smaller (shorter in length), they need to be attached with a slight amount of resistance. Otherwise, the panels tend to move too loosely.
For this 18-steps version, the thickness of the Aruki panels is the same as that of the 14-steps and 12-steps versions. Because the panels are thinner than those used in the 27-steps boxes, I need to pay extra attention to this balance. I made them in the same way this time as well.
