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Stitchawl · 01-14-2013, 05:09 AM

Rant mode: ON

Sometimes, older is better.

Today, being that a rainy day canceled our plans to go into Kyoto, we decided it would be a good day to re-paper the shoji leading to the veranda. The old-style shoji paper is a rice paper that is sold in a re-papering kit form, with paper cut to the exact size of the shoji, including a bottle of glue with a very handy applicator that you just run along the wooden cross rails depositing the correct amount of glue. The applicator has a right-angle bend in it so that you don't even have to worry about it sliding off the rail. Then when the glue dries (quite quickly) you just spray some water on the paper, it shrinks as it dries, (just like covering a model airplane wing.) and makes a nice tight fit. Sometimes a little messy, but all in all, fairly easy. But time marches on...

The NEW and IMPOVED re-paper kit has a thicker paper, not so delicate, that doesn't need glue. You just lay it down on the shoji frame and IRON it on! Quick and easy, right? WRONG!!!

We ironed, and we ironed, and we ironed... and that damn paper refused to stay stuck to the frame! Finally we went out and bought some glue. Unfortunately, the local shop was out of 'special shoji glue' so we bought some ordinary mucilage. Basically the same thing but without the 90 degree bent applicator... mistake.... glue everywhere! And the new paper is heavier and doesn't want to stay down on the frame... It was like an Abbot and Costello wallpaper hanging movie in the house today... And to make things worse, this paper doesn't shrink when wet, so we had to pull it tighter while laying it, but the glue wouldn't hold it because it was too thick.... ARRRRRGGGGGGGG!!!!!!! Run for the pins, tape, tacks..... A 30 minute job took us close to four hours... My wife is calling the lawyers for a divorce, I'm calling the Yakuza for a hit man, Felicity hasn't come out of the closet for the last hour, and it's past my dinner time!

But the shoji are back up, and don't look too bad. They'll stay until we poke too many holes in them again. We still have to re-paper the shoji in the dinning room but next time we will purchase the OLD style re-papering kits!

Rant mode: OFF

Stitchawl

01-14-2013, 05:09 AM	#21883
Stitchawl Opsimath Posts: 12,344 Karma: 187123287 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand Device: Sony PRS-650, iPhone 5, Kobo Glo, Sony PRS-350, iPad, Samsung Galaxy	Rant mode: ON Sometimes, older is better. Today, being that a rainy day canceled our plans to go into Kyoto, we decided it would be a good day to re-paper the shoji leading to the veranda. The old-style shoji paper is a rice paper that is sold in a re-papering kit form, with paper cut to the exact size of the shoji, including a bottle of glue with a very handy applicator that you just run along the wooden cross rails depositing the correct amount of glue. The applicator has a right-angle bend in it so that you don't even have to worry about it sliding off the rail. Then when the glue dries (quite quickly) you just spray some water on the paper, it shrinks as it dries, (just like covering a model airplane wing.) and makes a nice tight fit. Sometimes a little messy, but all in all, fairly easy. But time marches on... The NEW and IMPOVED re-paper kit has a thicker paper, not so delicate, that doesn't need glue. You just lay it down on the shoji frame and IRON it on! Quick and easy, right? WRONG!!! We ironed, and we ironed, and we ironed... and that damn paper refused to stay stuck to the frame! Finally we went out and bought some glue. Unfortunately, the local shop was out of 'special shoji glue' so we bought some ordinary mucilage. Basically the same thing but without the 90 degree bent applicator... mistake.... glue everywhere! And the new paper is heavier and doesn't want to stay down on the frame... It was like an Abbot and Costello wallpaper hanging movie in the house today... And to make things worse, this paper doesn't shrink when wet, so we had to pull it tighter while laying it, but the glue wouldn't hold it because it was too thick.... ARRRRRGGGGGGGG!!!!!!! Run for the pins, tape, tacks..... A 30 minute job took us close to four hours... My wife is calling the lawyers for a divorce, I'm calling the Yakuza for a hit man, Felicity hasn't come out of the closet for the last hour, and it's past my dinner time! But the shoji are back up, and don't look too bad. They'll stay until we poke too many holes in them again. We still have to re-paper the shoji in the dinning room but next time we will purchase the OLD style re-papering kits! Rant mode: OFF Stitchawl