4.2-sun box
Today is a very windy day, which should help the wood dry faster. On days like this, it's great when I have wood parts that needs drying, but there are also some things to be mindful of when working. That became apparent in today's work as well.In our area of Japan, the humidity is very low today-around 30% (whereas it’s usually around 60%), so the wood is extremely dry. Naturally, all the parts of the puzzle boxes are in a very dry state as well.
Today, I attached the side panels to the 4.2-sun Japanese puzzle box. After applying glue and attaching them to the main body, I let them sit for a while before clamping them with woodworking vises and leaving them overnight. However, during this short waiting time, the side panels tend to warp significantly.
Since the panels are very dry, for example, if I place one on a table, it quickly starts curving upward. This happens because moisture is further released from the upper surface. Meanwhile, the underside is in contact with the table, making it harder to dry due to less exposure to air.
This phenomenon also occurs when attaching the panels to the box. In this case, the effect is even stronger because the underside, which is in contact with the box, is coated with a water-based adhesive. This increases the moisture difference between the top and bottom surfaces, causing the panel to warp even faster.
Of course, applying pressure with a vise before the panel warps too much would solve the problem. However, since the adhesive is still completely wet at this stage, clamping it too soon can cause the panel to shift from its intended position on the box.
Therefore, I let it sit for a short time until the adhesive begins to dry slightly and the panel stops wobbling. Only then do I apply pressure with the vise. On days like this, however, it can be tricky to find the right timing—before the panel warps too much but after the adhesive is stable enough.
Ensuring the panel stays in place while also clamping it as early as possible requires experience.
Ideally, on days like this, it might be better to add a bit of humidity while working. While a dry environment is generally good, having significant fluctuations in humidity throughout the box-making process is not ideal.
In the past, I tried using a humidifier, but unless it’s a very large unit, it’s difficult to change the humidity level in the workshop. Despite these conditions, I managed to securely clamp the boxes with the vise and successfully finished today’s work.
Have a good weekend!😄
Today, I attached the side panels to the 4.2-sun Japanese puzzle box. After applying glue and attaching them to the main body, I let them sit for a while before clamping them with woodworking vises and leaving them overnight. However, during this short waiting time, the side panels tend to warp significantly.
Since the panels are very dry, for example, if I place one on a table, it quickly starts curving upward. This happens because moisture is further released from the upper surface. Meanwhile, the underside is in contact with the table, making it harder to dry due to less exposure to air.
This phenomenon also occurs when attaching the panels to the box. In this case, the effect is even stronger because the underside, which is in contact with the box, is coated with a water-based adhesive. This increases the moisture difference between the top and bottom surfaces, causing the panel to warp even faster.
Of course, applying pressure with a vise before the panel warps too much would solve the problem. However, since the adhesive is still completely wet at this stage, clamping it too soon can cause the panel to shift from its intended position on the box.
Therefore, I let it sit for a short time until the adhesive begins to dry slightly and the panel stops wobbling. Only then do I apply pressure with the vise. On days like this, however, it can be tricky to find the right timing—before the panel warps too much but after the adhesive is stable enough.
Ensuring the panel stays in place while also clamping it as early as possible requires experience.
Ideally, on days like this, it might be better to add a bit of humidity while working. While a dry environment is generally good, having significant fluctuations in humidity throughout the box-making process is not ideal.
In the past, I tried using a humidifier, but unless it’s a very large unit, it’s difficult to change the humidity level in the workshop. Despite these conditions, I managed to securely clamp the boxes with the vise and successfully finished today’s work.
Have a good weekend!😄
