Puzzle

[3_M]

On an other forum there is a tread about some nice puzzles. Thought that it would be nice for some on this forum to try this:

It is 1-3/4 x 1-3/4 x 3inches. It can be done with a scroll saw but you need very good rention on the blade. The table has to be 100% square with the blade and let the blade do the cutting.
Mike M

[BobD (Archive)]

Neat!I really like that!!!

Bob

[PiALaModem]

I've been doing those for a while. I found the basic idea in a little book called "Wonders in Wood" that dates back to the thirties, I think. I have some others (not shown) that use shapes other than the abstract jigsaw puzzle.



I tie them up with ribbon and stick a hook into the ribbon so they can hang on a xmas tree. The ornaments become puzzles when you take off the ribbon. I call them "Puzzlements" I definitely second Mike's comments about tension, squareness, and not pushing. However, if you do it just a little off-square, then the pieces will only fit one way. If it's too slightly off-square then it *seems* like it can go either way and the pieces jam and get broken.

[Carter-Johnson]

I've posted this elsewhere but not here. This Furniture Puzzle is simple to make - and really pretty easy to put together. It's not so much a puzzle as an intriguing novelty with eleven pieces of furniture that fit together.

Carter

[sheltiecarver]

Wow, Carter!!
Way cool. I'm guessing you're cutting first one way, then the other, right? Really nifty. (You would know how really impressed I am with that if you could see how many times I've had to go back and correct excited mis spellings)
Sandy

[Carter-Johnson]

I put step-by-step photos of this "puzzle" under the heading "Furniture Puzzle Plan" on the following forum...........

http://wmyoung.proboards23.com/index.cgi?board=saw

Have phun.....Carter

[3_M]

Here is the instructions how to cut the doll furniture puzzle:

Mike M

[wwalker47]

Great puzzles

WOW! Steve your "Puzzlements" are great. I make the basic puzzles for my Granddaughter, but these would be good for her dad. Would there be anyway I could get my hands on the patterns or do you just make them up?

- Bill

[PiALaModem]

As far as the jigsaw cubes are concerned, I just freehand two pencil lines (defining three jigsaw pieces) on each of two adjecent sides. That way each puzzle is unique. I cut them from 1-3/8" cubes, so the cutting is slow and I find I need a line to focus on, rather than trying to free saw. It makes it look neater if you divide the top and bottom edges into thirds and start and end your line at those marks. That makes the top and bottom an even tic-tac-toe pattern.

The puzzlement on the left in the picture is a 4-piece made by drawing just one line down each side.

In either case, make sure you make the bulb or tab sufficiently wider than its neck that the kerf doesn't erase the difference. With such a thick block, you'll want to use a hefty blade, but don't go too far that way or the block will "jingle" because the pieces fit loosely with each other.

[PiALaModem]

By the way, the furniture puzzle is also featured in "Wonders in Wood" (1946), which is still in print and available. In addition to a lot of those multi-piece geometric "burrs", the book features "impossible" joints and other fun stuff. Only some items are relevant to scroll sawing, however. The same author is responsible for a similar book entitled "Puzzles in Wood" which is even older, and appears to be out of print.

[wwalker47]

Thanks Steve, I'll try one and see how I do. Would a FD#12 balde be too big or should I use a #9?

Thanks again,
-Bill

[PiALaModem]

I've never used bigger than a #5, on these. I prefer a #2. You don't want a big kerf, or the thing wants to fall apart.

[wwalker47]

OK, a #5 balde. I'll try that, thanks.
-Bill