Long Aruki Panel
Another large typhoon is approaching Japan from the south, and southern parts of the country are already experiencing rain and strong winds. The weather is expected to gradually get worse from today. It was already cloudy this morning, and the temperature had dropped. This morning, I started finishing the 3-sun 18-steps puzzle boxes. This time, I am making two versions: one with Walnut side panels and the other with checkered Yosegi side panels. This took a little extra time, but everything went well, and I moved on to applying the base coat.
After that, I worked on making the Aruki sliding panels for the wide puzzle boxes. Actually, I have not finished assembling all the frames yet, but I went ahead with this work a little early. Of course, I assembled a few frames first and used them as a guide to make the panels fit. The weather was not very good today, but it had not started raining, and the humidity was still fairly low, so I decided to take the opportunity to make these panels. Since they are a little different from my usual panels, I wanted to work on them while the weather was stable. The photo shows the Aruki panels I made. As you can see, they are longer and narrower than my usual Aruki panels. For comparison, I placed a regular 4-sun Aruki panel beside them.
All Aruki panels slide at right angles to the wood grain. Most side Aruki panels are fairly short in the direction they slide and wider across it. A panel that is long and narrow in the direction of movement generally slides more easily. Top Aruki panels often have this shape, which I think is one reason why side Aruki panels are harder to adjust. Even so, they can move smoothly with the right balance. The proportions of the panel matter, though. Usually, the limit is around 1:1.6 for the length in the sliding direction compared with the width across it. But this panel is about 1:2.5! If it is not adjusted properly, it can wobble and catch instead of sliding smoothly. There are a few ways to help it slide smoothly. One is to adjust it so that it makes light contact with the side of the frame panel. The Aruki panel needs some support to move smoothly, so I use the side of the frame as a guide. This helps distribute the force evenly and keeps the panel moving smoothly. However, if the contact is too tight, it can get in the way and make the movement stiff. Finding just the right balance is especially delicate and difficult with this box.
Have a good weekend!
After that, I worked on making the Aruki sliding panels for the wide puzzle boxes. Actually, I have not finished assembling all the frames yet, but I went ahead with this work a little early. Of course, I assembled a few frames first and used them as a guide to make the panels fit. The weather was not very good today, but it had not started raining, and the humidity was still fairly low, so I decided to take the opportunity to make these panels. Since they are a little different from my usual panels, I wanted to work on them while the weather was stable. The photo shows the Aruki panels I made. As you can see, they are longer and narrower than my usual Aruki panels. For comparison, I placed a regular 4-sun Aruki panel beside them.
All Aruki panels slide at right angles to the wood grain. Most side Aruki panels are fairly short in the direction they slide and wider across it. A panel that is long and narrow in the direction of movement generally slides more easily. Top Aruki panels often have this shape, which I think is one reason why side Aruki panels are harder to adjust. Even so, they can move smoothly with the right balance. The proportions of the panel matter, though. Usually, the limit is around 1:1.6 for the length in the sliding direction compared with the width across it. But this panel is about 1:2.5! If it is not adjusted properly, it can wobble and catch instead of sliding smoothly. There are a few ways to help it slide smoothly. One is to adjust it so that it makes light contact with the side of the frame panel. The Aruki panel needs some support to move smoothly, so I use the side of the frame as a guide. This helps distribute the force evenly and keeps the panel moving smoothly. However, if the contact is too tight, it can get in the way and make the movement stiff. Finding just the right balance is especially delicate and difficult with this box.
Have a good weekend!