Thread: Possible method for Kintaro Yazawa's Trick Box Joint?

Hi

You may recall I've spoken with Master Kintaro before, when this new thread opened I emailed him. A couple of days ago he came back and said that he was surprised that there was still an interest in his work, that he was about to leave his workshop for an extended exhibition and that unfortunately none of the discussion was correct!

I guess all we can do is keep on, I suspect he will visit this thread again - just when I don't know?

I do recall that earlier approach to the Master. Thanks for the info. I'm glad the problem remains to be solved --- this idea was not very satisfying . . .

Originally Posted by zenwood

I'm glad the problem remains to be solved --- this idea was not very satisfying . . .

I don't often visit the box making section, but problems intrigue me and I've spent a few hours trying to nut this one out. I see that you've probably spent a bit more than that yourself.

I don't know how it's done, but like you, I'm glad that he's kept his secret.
Perhaps one day, someone will buy the box and break it apart to see what's going on.

If it's all solid, with no re-glued splits or voids, then it will obviously remain a secret that he takes to his grave. (until his resurrection that is )

BTW, I like the music on his website.

best i could do with stanley knife and hacksaw blade but the principle is therethere is a small split in photo but thats not trick ,thats just a small split.bob

Wow I'm impressed. (especially with the stanley knife and hacksaw blade method)

Are there no voids to be seen at the back, and could you put a box together with your method? (i.e. they're not pivoted together, which would make the last joint impossible.)

If so, then don't give away the secret.

no reason why it wouldn,t be possible to assemble box this way, .bob

Looks like this is the best contender so far. Nice work. You have only 3 keyholes, whereas Yazawa has 5 per corner, but I assume this isn't an issue affecting the technique.

All we need are three more like that and we have a completed box.

Will you share your knowledge?

You bugger!

Now I'm going to have to keep thinking about this one.

edit:

Originally Posted by zenwood

Will you share your knowledge?

Don't you dare robyn2839!

That's cheating!

edit2: Unless of course it has been split, and re-glued somewhere, but you say that's not the case.
That's the only way I can think of at the moment anyway.

I'd be glad to see a solution...remember, it's not necessarily the only one, nor is it neccessarily the one Yazawa used.

I looked at this post before xmas, and the master's site, and have been puzzling ever since. I was amazed at his workmanship and he incredible fine detail in his work.
My thought on the puzzle is the we are perhaps blinded by thinking that dovetail joints have to be whacked together all the way through from one side. This makes us think that the circles on the ends are indications of what is there all the way through. (The reason why it seems a trick I guess) In the picture of the box with incredibly thin fingers for dove tails only a sawblade wide, the shape of the joints behind have a zigzag form that must be put together in a more gentle way.
The finger do not go all the way through the whole thickness of the board. Why couldn't the implyed fingers be only little cone shapes. the actual dove tails are only straight, so would lock better with the locking circles.
Sorry about being so verbose. Could have explained better with a picture. Maybe tomorrow if no one gets it still.

Sorry. Still puzzled. Ignour what I said.

That looks crazy Zenwood. Fantastic work.