X Puzzle

2139 Views 15 Replies 8 Participants Last post by Chaincarver Steve, Jun 15, 2013

Chaincarver Steve

Discussion Starter · Jun 14, 2013

Here's a simple two piece puzzle that I made this past weekend. Actually, I made 10 of them. A few are spoken for. The rest will be for sale. I've been slowly working on building a stock of stuff to sell and I needed a break from the Baileigh build I'm [still] working on. I needed a break from a creative road block, as well as father's day gifts, so I dipped into my ever-growing pile of things I want to make and got busy.

The puzzles consist of two pieces. Each piece has a pair of captive but loose dowels floating around. Each piece also has a hole drilled below a notch. The pieces interlock at the notches. Once the two halves are assembled and shaken, the dowels fall into the holes drilled through each piece. So there is always at least one of the four dowels inside of one of the holes. This locks the two pieces together.

The trick is to take the puzzle back apart. It is possible to get lucky on occasion and rattle the pieces enough to get them apart. But when unlocked correctly the pieces will lift apart effortlessly.

Here's some pictures of the build process. The four locking dowels are cut from bamboo chopsticks. Watch the short video for the solution.

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Chaincarver Steve

Discussion Starter · #2 · Jun 14, 2013

This method is used on some Japanese puzzles boxes. But I never knew how they worked until I saw the video by Steve Good of Scrollsaw Workshop on making this puzzle. I forget what Steve calls his. He says he got the idea from elsewhere, but I'd still like to credit him for posting the video of this project. It's easy to make and it seems to amaze people. Thanks Steve Good. :thumbsup:

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The solution:

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Smith Brother

· #3 · Jun 14, 2013 (Edited)

Video????

Dale in Indy

P.S. now it's there, neat.

Reactions: 1

rayking49

· #4 · Jun 14, 2013

That's cool Steve. I like it.

Reactions: 1

bigcouger

· #5 · Jun 14, 2013

Love it so neat to do :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

Reactions: 1

cabinetman

· #6 · Jun 14, 2013

Very clever puzzle. Would make a cool gift. BTW...who does your nails?
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Scale model Wood woodworking Plywood

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Taylormade

· #7 · Jun 14, 2013

cabinetman said:
Very clever puzzle. Would make a cool gift. BTW...who does your nails?

:laughing::laughing::laughing:

Good stuff Steve! I'm getting caught up on all the build threads but it's good to see you in the shop still!

Reactions: 1

Chaincarver Steve

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jun 14, 2013

Here's a cool variation I just saw on YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=wtFiLwnFAXc&NR=1

clpead

· #9 · Jun 15, 2013

We always have a bunch of kids in and out of the house so I thought I'd give it a try. It turned out ok, I rushed it a little but if I do it again it should be a lot better.

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Chaincarver Steve

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jun 15, 2013

clpead said:
We always have a bunch of kids in and out of the house so I thought I'd give it a try. It turned out ok, I rushed it a little but if I do it again it should be a lot better.

I'm sure you've figured out that the hole wasn't supposed to be there :huh: I built mine by the seat of my pants. I didn't follow any plans to get dimensions from. I just tried to scale it to the size of some square cedar rods I had that were scrap cut off from another project. Luckily, it worked out for me (but I'll tweak a few things if I ever make another batch).

Yours looks cool. The kids are going to love it. :thumbsup:

clpead

· #11 · Jun 15, 2013

Haha, yep, I probably should have slowed down.

Art Rafael

· #12 · Jun 15, 2013

Neat puzzle, Steve. Great idea. This will make a nice gift, and I need one. Think I'll try to make one in brass. Thanks for sharing. Ralph

Smith Brother

· #13 · Jun 15, 2013

I think I will make mine in LEAD, EPA will enjoy, don't you think??? Will also make it harder to SPIN, hehehe.

Dale in Indy

Chaincarver Steve

Discussion Starter · #14 · Jun 15, 2013

Art Rafael said:
Neat puzzle, Steve. Great idea. This will make a nice gift, and I need one. Think I'll try to make one in brass. Thanks for sharing. Ralph

That would be neat. I've like to see it when you're done.

Art Rafael

· #15 · Jun 15, 2013

Well, here it is. Wasn't as easy as it seemed. Not sure I'll do another one, but glad to have this one. Neat idea. Now we need to see the lead one. Ralph

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Chaincarver Steve

Discussion Starter · #16 · Jun 15, 2013

That didn't take you very long, Art. I'm surprised you didn't use solid square bar stock. Good job though. And I should have known it would be a miniature, though, somehow I didn't expect it.

Thanks for posting a picture. It's very cool.

Also, I'm glad to see some of you making these. They're very simple. Yet they pack a decent punch for your efforts.

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