Monday, January 18, 2010

Shoji


I finally got around to putting together a shoji screen that I had rough milled months ago. I actually rough milled quite a bit of rails and stiles, as well as kimiko from some 3" thick redwood I bought in bulk ( Some over 15' long and all old growth) from a man in Stockton that hoped to use the wood he bought nearly 30 years ago to make some furniture. He actually only used some for the bottom of his fence around his house - 12" wide boards...

The kimiko into the frame were just a little to loose for my liking. I did not do a "weave" just a simple half lap, but it still should have been tight. I cut on my marking lines this time and I should have left a bit to pare away. The problem is more the kimiko fitting to the shoji paper as the lap joints do not want to sit perfect ( wood and its movement). I wedged the frame with some doug fir wedges I made in bulk a while back. The only glue is on the paper.

I also had some problems with the rice glue I had ( new stuff) that had a ratio of water to powder that was wrong. I had to throw away some paper and try again. After thickening up the mix I used a small paintbrush to wet the frame. I then stretched shoji paper across the screen and taped it down with blue painters tape. After it is dry you then mist it with water and the paper tightens up like a snare drum. It was rainy and cold today and my paper did not tighten though.

I sat it next to my furnace though and it quickly dried out and tight. It is hanging in my window and I wedged it in the frame. I plan to drill holes in the sides and place earth magnets in the frame. It will stay locked in by the magnet.

Jay Van Arsdales class begins (see daikudojo.org) again this weekend. I thought I needed to get ready for it by doing some work anyhow and I saw how rusty I have become with my hand tools after not using them for the last month - I work for UPS... I was busy.

Ill have to get a camera too these photos are terrible.