The extra care of mame box
Today marks the beginning of a new week, and it is also the first weekday of March. Time goes by quickly. We can already feel the signs of spring. This month as well, I would like to move forward step by step with several planned projects.
Today, I started making the parts for the 10-steps Mame (tiny 1-sun) puzzle boxes. The boards with yosegi sheets were glued and stored a few days ago, and now they are ready to use. Today, I began by making the frame parts and assembling them.
It has been a while since I last made the 10-steps version. Basically, I use the same frame panels and materials as the standard 14-steps Mame puzzle boxes. The difference is that the number of steps in the mechanism is smaller, which makes it the 10-steps version. Among the Mame puzzle boxes, this type has a wider movement for each step, so it is relatively easier to make. In the photo, I am making the long-side frame panel. At this stage, I am about to cut the groove for the side Aruki panel of the box. This may be one of the most characteristic steps in making this Mame puzzle box. Unlike the grooves in other puzzle boxes, I cannot cut several grooves at the same time. This is because the groove in this long-side panel stops in the middle. So while cutting the groove, I have to stop the machine at a precise point. I must do this one panel at a time, which means I cannot process several panels together. I repeat this work for both the left and right panels. When you look at the finished box, it is easier to understand, but the direction of the groove must be reversed between the left and right sides. Because of this, these panels are different from those in other puzzle boxes. Each one becomes either a right-side panel or a left-side panel only. You could say this stage is not very efficient in terms of production. However, this process creates the unique structure of the Mame puzzle boxes. By the way, the 18-steps version has the same structure, but with a more delicate and detailed mechanism.
https://www.japanesepuzzlebox.jp/product/98
In the afternoon, I assembled the frame panels of the Mame puzzle boxes. Another difficulty unique to these boxes is that they are very small and hard to assemble. There is a small technique needed for this step. The inside space of the box is only large enough for one finger to fit, so I carefully hold and press the parts from inside while assembling. If my hand touches the wrong area even slightly, the axle parts can shift, or glue can spread to places where it should not. Because the space is so tight, I have to be especially careful about glue overflowing. If glue gets into the wrong place, it can block the movement of the Aruki panel. From tomorrow, the weather is expected to turn bad, but if possible, I would like to work on making the Aruki panels.
Today, I started making the parts for the 10-steps Mame (tiny 1-sun) puzzle boxes. The boards with yosegi sheets were glued and stored a few days ago, and now they are ready to use. Today, I began by making the frame parts and assembling them.
It has been a while since I last made the 10-steps version. Basically, I use the same frame panels and materials as the standard 14-steps Mame puzzle boxes. The difference is that the number of steps in the mechanism is smaller, which makes it the 10-steps version. Among the Mame puzzle boxes, this type has a wider movement for each step, so it is relatively easier to make. In the photo, I am making the long-side frame panel. At this stage, I am about to cut the groove for the side Aruki panel of the box. This may be one of the most characteristic steps in making this Mame puzzle box. Unlike the grooves in other puzzle boxes, I cannot cut several grooves at the same time. This is because the groove in this long-side panel stops in the middle. So while cutting the groove, I have to stop the machine at a precise point. I must do this one panel at a time, which means I cannot process several panels together. I repeat this work for both the left and right panels. When you look at the finished box, it is easier to understand, but the direction of the groove must be reversed between the left and right sides. Because of this, these panels are different from those in other puzzle boxes. Each one becomes either a right-side panel or a left-side panel only. You could say this stage is not very efficient in terms of production. However, this process creates the unique structure of the Mame puzzle boxes. By the way, the 18-steps version has the same structure, but with a more delicate and detailed mechanism.
https://www.japanesepuzzlebox.jp/product/98
In the afternoon, I assembled the frame panels of the Mame puzzle boxes. Another difficulty unique to these boxes is that they are very small and hard to assemble. There is a small technique needed for this step. The inside space of the box is only large enough for one finger to fit, so I carefully hold and press the parts from inside while assembling. If my hand touches the wrong area even slightly, the axle parts can shift, or glue can spread to places where it should not. Because the space is so tight, I have to be especially careful about glue overflowing. If glue gets into the wrong place, it can block the movement of the Aruki panel. From tomorrow, the weather is expected to turn bad, but if possible, I would like to work on making the Aruki panels.