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Panels in traditional Japanese lamps are made with rice paper but plywood is strong and easy to carve with the cherry blossom motif.
Step 1: Make the Wood Frame
Step 2: Plane the Uprights
Step 3: Cut the Housings
Step 4: Make the Half-Lap Joints
Step 5: Assemble the Frame
Step 6: Finish the Frame
Step 7: Make the Panels
Step 8: Finish the Lamp
Written by Gun Arvidssen
The frame is constructed without using fasteners as the parts are secured with half-lap joints and adhesive.
Make a jig to mark around three faces of the wood in one action. Use 3/4" panel pins to secure two 1" x 3/4" x 3/4" wood offcuts to a 10" x 2 1/2" x 1/2" piece then add a 2" x 3/4" x 1/2" top piece.
When the cuts are marked, add a 2" x 3/4" x 1/2" stop piece to the end of the jig to mark the half-lap joints.
On the uprights mark a line lengthwise on two adjacent faces 1/5" from the edges, clamp and use a block plane to shave the corner down to the marked lines.
At the top of the uprights mark two 3/4" x 1/4" housings in the two faces opposite the planed corner. For the base housing make 1/4" deep cuts with a series of relief cuts then chisel out the waste.
On the supports and rails make 1/2" deep cuts at the half-lap joint positions, make a series of relief cuts and chisel out the waste, paring the cheek down to a flat surface. Clean the half-laps and housings in the uprights using a square-edged file.
Apply wood glue to the joints then assemble the support frame and the rail frames. Slot the base frame into the base housings of the uprights, position the supports onto the base of the uprights and add the top frame then reverse-clamp and leave to dry.
Sand the frame all over with 180 grit abrasive paper and use an orbital sander to make the base and top flush. Use a cloth to apply black stain and leave to dry. Insert the panels and position the table light in the frame.
Cut the plywood panels to size using a utility knife.
1. Transfer the motif by enlarging the template using a photocopier set to 200% then position it with double-sided tape and trace using carbon paper.
2. Carve the design using a rotary tool with the included 191 carving bit. Position the panel on a plywood offcut and set the speed to about 70%, working over the design slowly.
3. Drill holes for the stamens using a 1/20" twist bit then slot the panels into the frame, securing with wood glue.
Sand the frame with 180-grit abrasive paper then use a cloth to apply a black stain, slide in the panels and secure with wood glue then position the lamp in the frame.
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