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Simple Christmas Gift - Melting Block Puzzle

Project by GaryK posted 343 days ago 1482 views 25 times favorited 17 comments Add to Favorites Watch

Christmas is coming soon so I thought that I would make some gifts. Here is a simple little puzzle that is very easy to make. It took me about 1 hour minus glue and finish drying time.

The first picture shows the full box with an extra piece sitting on it. The object of the puzzle is to fit it in.

Doesn’t look possible, huh?

Well, the second picture shows all nine pieces inside the box. The third picture shows the nine pieces.

I have drawn the blocks up in Sketchup along with the solutions

You can find the file here .

I made the blocks from Swiss Pear and the box with Hard Maple with Mahogany splines.

You can make them from what ever wood you have laying around. You could even make every block a different type of wood.

The only important thing is to make sure the sizes are the same as in the drawing.

The box is best made after you make the blocks. Fit them together and then make the opening in the box slightly bigger.

Have fun.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.


17 comments so far

View lew's profile

lew

4475 posts in 648 days


posted 343 days ago

Great idea, Gary!

Thanks for the Sketchup file.

Lew

View brunob's profile

brunob

1469 posts in 1062 days


posted 343 days ago

Very cool Gary. I think I’ll try this.

-- Bruce from Central New York

View sIKE's profile

sIKE

1094 posts in 646 days


posted 343 days ago

As always, very nice Gary!

-- //FC - Round Rock, TX - "Experience is what you get just after you need it"

View rikkor's profile

rikkor

11338 posts in 767 days


posted 343 days ago

This looks like a fun project.

View Bill Akins's profile

Bill Akins

236 posts in 590 days


posted 343 days ago

I have always loved wooden puzzles and have been wanting to make one. I think I’ll try yours!

-- Bill from Lithia Springs, GA I love the smell of sawdust in the morning.

View DaveR's profile

DaveR

1517 posts in 612 days


posted 343 days ago

Neat.

Are these dimensions correct?

Photobucket

-- Until you spread your wings, you'll have no idea how far you can walk.

View GaryK's profile

GaryK

9521 posts in 880 days


posted 343 days ago

DaveR – They look correct.

Just to play it safe here are the dimensions. Also for those who don’t use Skecthup.

Look the third picture above to see all 9 parts.

The short blocks are all 19/32” thick. The tall blocks are 1 3/16” thick.

Just cut one tall and short piece for each size below. Then make one extra of the smallest piece.

For those who are Imperically challanged :-)

2 3/4 = 69.8500 mm
1 3/4 = 44.4500 mm
1 3/8 = 34.9250 mm
1 3/16 = 30.1498 mm
7/8 = 22.2250 mm
19/32 = 15.0813 mm

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

View pommy's profile

pommy

948 posts in 583 days


posted 343 days ago

guys when are you going to go metric please lol…......

andy

-- cut it saw it scrap it

View CharlieM1958's profile (online now)

CharlieM1958

7601 posts in 1111 days


posted 343 days ago

Very cool, Gary!

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

View Woodhacker's profile

Woodhacker

1145 posts in 615 days


posted 343 days ago

Gary, Nice idea….and thanks for the dimensions and sketchup drawing.

-- Martin, Kansas

View sharad's profile (online now)

sharad

704 posts in 697 days


posted 343 days ago

Very innovative puzzle for Christmas. It will keep people busy for some time.
Sharad

-- patanjali

View DaveR's profile

DaveR

1517 posts in 612 days


posted 343 days ago

Gary, is the 19/32” and 1 3/16” correct for the dimensions across the back in my view of your drawing? That’s how they dimensioned out when I looked at your model.

-- Until you spread your wings, you'll have no idea how far you can walk.

View GaryK's profile

GaryK

9521 posts in 880 days


posted 343 days ago

DaveR – Yes those are the correct dimensions.

In my drawing above I just call that the thickness.

The drawing you display just have them standing on edge.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

View scottb's profile

scottb

3403 posts in 1219 days


posted 341 days ago

Wasn’t it Dewey (of the Dewey Decimal system that was pushing us to go metric? Obviously it took) This is another great puzzle. and I still have time to knock one out this year if I so choose. This and the next have been favorited. Thanks!

-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso -- http://blanchardcreative.etsy.com -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/

View GaryK's profile

GaryK

9521 posts in 880 days


posted 341 days ago

I got a PM asking how I safely cut these small pieces. Thought that you all might be interested.

Click for details

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

View YorkshireStewart's profile

YorkshireStewart

782 posts in 793 days


posted 322 days ago

Neat puzzle Gary. But the eight ten-thousanths of a millimetre is certainly beating me and my Incra Rule! <g>

A happy and safe 2009 to you and yours!

-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business. http://www.folksy.com/shops/TreeGems

View TopamaxSurvivor's profile

TopamaxSurvivor

2994 posts in 568 days


posted 267 days ago

Lookin’ good. I have to try this. Got grandkids coming up to work on it when I get done wtit it :-))

-- Debt is nothing more than the 21st Century's form of slavery.

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