Space Balls Hold Panels in Shoji-Style Lamps

I’ve been making shoji lamps for the past few years. Most woodworkers secure the side panels in the structure with a friction fit, which is tricky to pull off. I use “space balls” instead, which hold the panel securely, even if the fit isn’t absolutely perfect. I use the 1/4-in.-dia. variety of these rubber balls, which are used in cabinet-door frames to keep panels centered and rattle-free while allowing expansion. For this application, I drill 1/4-in.-dia. holes in the lamp’s corner posts, just under 1/4 in. deep. These holes hold the balls securely while leaving just a bit of them protruding. The panels press easily into place and stay there securely.

—Phil Gruppuso, Seekonk, Mass.

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