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Production technique and process
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The process of the comb-making divided into 4, "Preparation for the comb board", "Cutting of the comb board", "Making of comb teeth", and "Finish of the comb", and consisted of the process of about 15.
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 After lost of the wholesale store system, the comb craftsman came to do up to the stage of "Finish grinding of comb" and "Total finish". The craftsman will complete the comb of one per about 20 process now.
Fabrication process of comb (specimen)
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Index of fabrication process
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Details click each photograph.
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1.KEZURI
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2.HABIKI
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3.HADOHSHI
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4.NAKANUKI
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5.MIMITSUKI
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6.MIGAKI
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7.ABURAHIKI
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8.SAYASASHI
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The material of Oroku comb: What is MINEBARI?
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MINEBARI
Betulaceae
Betula
B. schmidtii Rege
(ja): ono-ore-kanba
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The Oroku comb is chiefly made from the tree of "MINEBARI". Because a lot of MINEBARI grew in the Torii pass in old times, it has been said that YABUHARA came in the main production ground of the Oroku comb.
The material is very firm, and is called "ONO-ORE" from the meaning with "The ax breaks". Moreover, a local name of MINEBARI originates in growth on the rock ground in the mountain like "Stretch out of the ridge".
It grows fat only by 0.2mm a year because the tree of MINEBARI grows up in a severe environment. Because growth is extremely late, it becomes an exact organization with high density. And, there is a specific gravity of sinking in water.
MINEBARI doesn't break easily compared with boxwood/boxtree. And, it is sticky only hard, and doesn't distort easily. It is as the best as Oroku comb for materials of combs of detailed teeth.
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The other wooden material for comb
[ISU-Tree]
Family : Hamamelidaceae
Distylium racemosum
(ja):Isunoki,Yusunoki,
"ISUNOKI" is chiefly distributed from a Japanese southern part in Okinawa. Accumulation other than Kagoshima Prefecture decrease, and good wood is seen only in the place where national forest and the Shinto shrine and the temple, etc. were limited now.
In the diffuse-porous wood where the annual ring is indistinct, the color in the central portion of wood is bright red brown or purplish brown. Stripes of light and shade might appear at time.
It is the heaviest among the woods of Japan, and the strength is strongest. It is said that the processing of wood is considerably difficult. It is not easy to rot, and doesn't crack easily. Because the skin is extremely exact, the finish of the surface is excellent.
It was chiefly used for the comb delivered to The Emperor's family and Tokugawa shogun's inner palace "Oh-Oku". Still, it is used for the upgraded furniture, the architectural interior material, and the wooden sword, etc.
The emperor, the empress, and Crown Prince are using the ISUNOKI comb since ancient times to today.
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Master craftsmen who make OROKU Comb
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