5 sun 36 steps
One of my past works. This is the 36 steps 5 sun Japanese puzzle box Ko-yosegi design type. The main feature of this box is that, despite being a 5-sun size box, it has 8 sliding keys. I made this box four or five times about 20 years ago. Currently, I make a 5 sun box with 36 steps, which has "four" sliding keys. The 36 steps box has four sliding "panels". In the current version with four sliding keys, for each panels to move once, requiring a total of eight operations, including the sliding key steps (haha...it's like a quiz😂) However, this type with eight sliding keys requires 12 steps.
I haven't made this box (old type) since then. The reason lies in its structure. Indeed, as far as I know, there was no 5-sun size box with eight sliding keys before this. So, I took on the challenge. Of course, it worked well, the mechanism functioned properly, and it was sold as a product. However, creating a mechanism with four sliding keys on one side panel of a 5-sun size box was somewhat difficult. In other words, the structure of the box became fragile (weak). Especially, since four grooves are made in the sliding panel (aruki), it is structurally very weak. The vertical dimensions of a 5-sun box structure are approximately 6 cm. If this were, for example a 6-sun box, the structure would be around 7 to 8 cm, providing sufficient space to create those four grooves.
Also, because of this, the dimensions of the sliding keys on the outer panels had to be very thin, and I struggled to ensure enough internal surface area for gluing the sliding keys.
For these reasons, I discontinued making boxes with eight sliding keys of 5-sun size. Instead, I made them with 6-sun and 7-sun sizes. However, this box is very intricate and visually beautiful, so at the time, I made it a centerpiece and sold it at markets, sometimes I used to set up direct sales event booths (I made a poster of this box- photo). It was very well received 😊
I haven't made this box (old type) since then. The reason lies in its structure. Indeed, as far as I know, there was no 5-sun size box with eight sliding keys before this. So, I took on the challenge. Of course, it worked well, the mechanism functioned properly, and it was sold as a product. However, creating a mechanism with four sliding keys on one side panel of a 5-sun size box was somewhat difficult. In other words, the structure of the box became fragile (weak). Especially, since four grooves are made in the sliding panel (aruki), it is structurally very weak. The vertical dimensions of a 5-sun box structure are approximately 6 cm. If this were, for example a 6-sun box, the structure would be around 7 to 8 cm, providing sufficient space to create those four grooves.
Also, because of this, the dimensions of the sliding keys on the outer panels had to be very thin, and I struggled to ensure enough internal surface area for gluing the sliding keys.
For these reasons, I discontinued making boxes with eight sliding keys of 5-sun size. Instead, I made them with 6-sun and 7-sun sizes. However, this box is very intricate and visually beautiful, so at the time, I made it a centerpiece and sold it at markets, sometimes I used to set up direct sales event booths (I made a poster of this box- photo). It was very well received 😊
