I have this H.O. that wants those Japanese interior doors built for her closet doors and was wondering if anybody else has done them or has any suggestion on what wood would work best?
She wants to do fabric or that opaq plexiglass instead of rice paper for the screen.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Dave
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Replies
Clear VG doug fir would be nice. Plastic sheeting will be heavy, and might compromise the feel of the door movement. There are sources for the paper, but you probably already know that.
Instead of rice paper, consider vellum or similar.
More durable with similar opacity.
Good call on the VG doug fir- I worked for a Japanese carpenter (did Buddist churches, resturants, even worked on the Consulate General of Japan's place) back in the early '80s- all our Shoji screens were of VGDF...
greg
For the "windows", drafting mylar is virtually indestructable and has about the right amount of frosting. It's available from a drafting supply company.
The vellum/mylar ideas are great! You guys must have punched out quite a few screens in your time!...that's not a mistake, it's rustic
I spent 13 years overseas in the 1960s in houses with such panels.
Paper was installed using boiled rice that was turned into the consistancy of glue.
Very simple and effective.
If there were young children, and I was one, there were the inevitable punch-throughs and repairs.
But these damages were surprisingly few considering how many such panels were around the house.
Many many years later while in college (in the U.S.) attending biz school, I got to be around the architecture school and students and discovered drafting vellum and mylar.
Although I never used them for shoji screens, I used them as privacy screening over basement windows as such and also for diffusing lights.
I have seen them used in freestanding panels featured in FWW. magazine.
Jeff,
I live in a Zen Center. I have used mylar with rice paper glued on both sides as the best puncture proof screen. Tried plexiglas with the ricepaper spray-glued on. Didn't work as the paper wrinkled when the plex expanded/contracted.
I'll try to get some pictures. We have a nice screen with hand pinted silk. $$$
Harpo
My SIL bought a rather plain 70's colonial recently. Shoji screens were installed in the finished area of the basement, and I was reminded how versatile they are. They look great with many styles....that's not a mistake, it's rustic
Finally figured out the file size was huge. Never posted pictures before. What fun.
Do a google for Shoji screens. You should get a ton of hits.
I have book on building Japaneses laterns, screens, doors, etc. Can't lay my hands on it right now, but memory tells me there was a supplier list in it. The list included a fiberglass product that would be perfect for your use.
I'll dig the book out of the shop tomorrow and e-mail you some of the sources.
Dave
Man, Bob Dylan and Dave Mason in the same thread.."The answer is blowin in the wind, " or " we just disagree" is gonna be a another flame shoot out...geeeeez, ol rockers on BT, who'da thunk it?..
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Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
And ahneedhelp spent 13 years in the 60s.
Talk about a flashback........
Joe H
re - And ahneedhelp spent 13 years in the 60s.
--------
Well..."flashback" would have been the case if I had spent those years state-side.
Except for the war raging in Viet Nam, I had no clue what went on here by the time we returned in '71 and I was a teenager.
Talk about culture shock.
I live in an old Japanese house with about 30 some
panes of shoji. A pain in the neck to re-paper, to
be sure.
Normally, shoji is made of clear unfinished yellow
cedar, Port Orford cedar or cryptomeria. These are
very lightweight woods. Fir would be a bit heavy, I
think. High grade spruce might be a good substitute.
As for the paper substitute, the industry standard is
Warlon. This product is designed specifically for this
purpose, and it's what Japanese architects invariably
specify.
http://www.shojidesigns.com/materials.html
As for the spacing of the grid in shoji, the bigger
the square the more contemporary.
Perfect! That site makes everything clear.
In fact, why make 'em if you can buy 'em? The pricing example . . . a 5x7 closet opening door arrangement at $1200 . . . sounds about right.
That webpage recommends basswood. This should
be considered an inferior substitute for Port
Orford Cedar. However, if the intention is to
paint or finish the shoji in any way, it's ####different matter.
I know a shoji maker here in San Diego who uses Alaskan Yellow, and western red cedars.
http://www.cttfurniture.com/
Dave,
Here are some of the screens we have. I believe they are clear cedar. I repaired the door with rice paper/mylar used 3M auto upholstery spray adhesive to glue the paper to the mylar then white glue to the frame.
You might have some problems with slivers/raised grain with the doug fir. I made some screens for our Chicago center and used cedar. Did the cross grain dados first then ripped the slats apart.
Good luck.
harpo
Can't get the pictures to post. :( Will try the sandbox for help.
Edited 3/18/2004 5:24 pm ET by Harpo