Shoji Screen: Episode 5
Posted 5 August 2020
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Gluing up the Shoji follows precise fitting of the components and a dry run to endure nothing holds any of the joints off. This is the tedious part of the Shoji but so well worth watching. Paul shows the whole of the glue-up so you can see how issues are resolved. It is a peaceful effort that Paul enjoyed and, hopes that you will enjoy it too.
Love all the video content! Thank You! I believe the A-Team “loved it when a plan came together.” Kojack (Telly Savalas) loved lollipops.
I enjoy watching you Work paul but the last few projects have left me a bit flat; does anyone use a screen? Maybe i’m just too common but I’d like to see a few more useable things like a shaker wardrobe or an astmetric set of drawers, maybe some more seating??
Thanks for the feedback Allen. We try to make sure there is a bit of variety in our projects both in terms of the headline project but also in the techniques used. This project has posed some unique challenges which is why we liked it. I think you will see some of the techniques pop up in future projects.
We are highly unlikely to something like this again but we felt it was worth expanding out a little from the more traditional projects we usually focus on.
Thanks for this project, Joseph (et. al). Although I too am unlikely to build this particular project, but the precision involved and all the ‘tricky’ techniques were fascinating to watch, and I’ll be sure to store them into my own ‘bag ‘o tricks’ for use when the need arises. Oh, and BTW yes, the line Paul quotes both shows his (and my) ages and is actually (according to Google) “spoken by John “Hannibal” Smith… in the TV show The A-Team (1983-87)”, and is a line I am constantly quoting myself, to the utter confusion of my young-buck coworkers. Doesn’t slow me down a bit. A good line is a good line, whenever it originally appeared. Keep up the good work, team Sellers!
I am very happy that this was done. I have wanted to have some shoji as sliding doors on a large closet for some time now. I tried to commission the work as I felt too intimidated to try it myself. Unfortunately the craftsman I was working with injured himself prior to starting the work and had to back out.
Though I still have reservations the series has me considering doing it myself.
Great stuff.
I think this is a great project. These could easily be adapted into some sliding wardrobe doors, which is something I intend to do next year. I never actually make Paul’s projects anyway, I use the techniques and ideas and adapt them into my own. Almost every project on here has got useful and informative aspects that can be learnt from and adapted into your own work. Eg “Sofa Sever” – I scaled that up and it became the basis of a dresser top for my kitchen. The sofa server has no back, so adapted ideas from the bathroom cabinet project to put a back onto it. Etc.
I’m very unlikely to ever need to build a shogi screen, but I did really enjoy following the process. I find more and more that I’m cherry-picking small technique comments, structure comments, tool comments etc from the projects and incorporating them into my own designs for the items that I really DO want to build. From this I really got to see the impact of ‘additive accuracy’ in a piece with so many parts, and the double-tenon joint in action. My position would be that you should build whatever makes you smile, Paul, and I’ll just watch over your shoulder. I always learn something useful, and it’s my favourite part of Wednesday morning. Now that I’m fully motivated again it’s off the the shop to sink my teeth into my current (non-shogi 😁) project. All the best.
I really like this series and I’m happy you chose it. I had to watch this episode without sound and it was very entertaining including the few ‚oops that was the wrong one‘ while gluing up. The number of joints to be glued is quite impressive and still the open time of the glue seems to be sufficient shown by the squeeze-out after a significant assembly time. Thank you very much and keep those outside-the-box-projects coming on a regular basis!
Shoji screens can be used as sliding doors in cabinets as well as walls in rooms. They fit in perfectly with american arts and crafts tradition (like Greene and Greene architecture in Pasadena) which consciously drew from Japanese influences. It is no accident that 67% of modern Japan to this day is wooded. Music, painting, and sculpture are rife with examples of mixing disparate cultural traditions to successful effect. I don’t see why furniture design should be excluded from that approach. Especially when the standard of asian joinery can be so high. Achieving equivalent results with western style wood working methods is just icing on the cake!
This project seems to me a great one to training my accuracy and… my patience. Great project anyway. Thank for put it on line.
Please, do yo know where I can get the shoji paper?
You have to look for ‚taf top shoji paper‘ if you‘re looking for the one Paul said he uses. They exist plain white or with different textures from what I have understood. Prizes seem to vary greatly, so take time in selecting.
Tranks Florian
To Paul and the whole team. Thank you for choosing to spend your some of your life span sharing these wonderful, peaceful skills.