Question about multi-piece board construction vs one-piece

Jujube · #1

I'm trying to decide whether an empirical best-choice is able to be reached on boards costing less than 40,000 JPY but made from different woods and different constructions.

On Mr Kuroki's site he has multi-piece construction hyugakaya boards from 20,000 JPY upwards, single-piece honkaya boards from 43,000 JPY upwards, and single-piece shin kaya from 20,000 JPY upwards.

Given that consensus dictates hyugakaya is more expensive than honkaya or shin kaya, I was surprised to find boards made from hyugakaya for so little.

There is mention of "green stains" on the cheap boards. I do not mind this. I do however regard multi-piece construction as less optimal, but I know nothing about drawbacks.

I would be interested to hear from people who either own multi-piece boards or who have come across this interesting balance between price and construction type and material.

The objective here is to see whether I have a basis for not buying a multi-piece hyugakaya board for (relatively) cheap money.

DJLLAP · #2

I am by no means an expert, but I have read that multiple piece boards are actually stronger and less likely to warp or crack than single piece boards. I believe the main drawback is aesthetic in that the grain of the wood is not consistent throughout the entire board. It is usually not very noticeable on the playing surface though.

Now that I have said my piece there will probably be a flurry of posts from more knowlegeable people that totally contradict me

Jujube · #3

Ah, that's interesting. I suppose it is the same idea of metals being stronger at the welded joins than in the structural integrity of the metal itself?

Even though the strength is better at the joins, I wonder if this increases the likelihood of splitting (since it is 'split' already - the seam becoming larger, for example?). I am fortunate in that I live in the UK and we have quite damp (well, certainly not arid) conditions here. The thing to look out for I think is the change in temperature from central heating.

I think I would not mind this multi-part construction at all, in the sense that it is simply the way it is made. It is not like a board that has an imperfection, it is a result of the way it is made, if you see what I mean.

I am still reasonably surprised that they are so reasonable. I mean, I paid £40 plus £20 postage (about 13,000 JPY) for a bamboo board, and that makes stones clack louder than high heels on a laminate floor.

Mike Novack · #4

DJLLAP wrote:

I am by no means an expert, but I have read that multiple piece boards are actually stronger and less likely to warp or crack than single piece boards. I believe the main drawback is aesthetic in that the grain of the wood is not consistent throughout the entire board. It is usually not very noticeable on the playing surface though.

Now that I have said my piece there will probably be a flurry of posts from more knowlegeable people that totally contradict me

Well a couple comments:
a) cost ---- a board made out of multiple pieces joined can be made out of much smaller trees. Trees large enough to cut one piece boards could be rare at the same time ones large enough for two part, etc. boards could be common.
b) grain and color mismatch --- this can be minimized if the two pieces used for the board were adjacent in the log and then aligned correctly. At the join, the grain will then reverse but will be aligned and of course the color will match.

sybob · #5

So, it's a trade-off of aesthetics and how you appreciate the top surface and/or whole board, the cost, your personal preference including sound for a specific kind of wood, and also reliance on the craftmanship of the wood supplier and board maker if it is to be a one piece board (properly dried and waxed or not).

To summarize: there is NO EXCUSE for NOT buying a multi piece Hyuga kaya board for cheap money if you like the look of it.

FYI: I now have several boards, both table gobans and floor gobans. Material varies from shin kaya to agathis to kaya to undetermined and from one piece to multi piece.
Multi piece is just fine.
(Unless of course if you are more of a expert/connaisseur/freak/show-off and absolutely must have a one piece. If so, choose a reputable vendor.).
My nicest board is a multi piece kaya table board, even when it has a slight warp. But I use it sparingly, because it almost frightens me so delicate and beautiful I think it is. Only for special occasions.

Question about multi-piece board construction vs one-piece

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