| Project by puzzled | posted 1959 days ago | 8071 views | 9 times favorited | 19 comments |  |
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This was the gift I gave my Dad this past year for Father’s Day. I have a fascination for mechanical puzzles and locking devices and after watching two movies, The Illusionist and the Da Vinci Code, I decided to build a puzzle. I got the idea from a picture I saw on the internet, http://www.encryptagifts.com/encrypta_side_view.jpg. The first one I built was a present to my Mom for Mother’s Day and after my Dad saw my Mom’s he just had to have one. These two puzzles were my first and second wood projects ever, not to mention I am working out of an apartment, so I was pleased with the way this one turned out. It is made from Cherry, inlayed with African mahogany and has brass hardware.
To open the cryptex, you have to line up a 6 characters vertically between the two brass studs. Once the combination is correct, only 13,060,694,016 different combinations, the inner tube will pull out revealing nothing. Next the top locator pin has to be removed, which will allow the top to unscrew, revealing a hollow tube to put things in. When I gave it as a gift I put a wooden bar, inside the tube, that had 8 very strong magnets strategically imbedded in it. One piece of inlay has a metal back and is held in place by 2 magnets. When the wooden bar is placed correctly on that piece of inlay it will release, revealing a hidden compartment in the base plate. Without the correct combination or breaking the cryptex, it is next to impossible to open and without the wooden bar or a very very strong magnet, the secrete compartment will not open.
Sorry for the poor picture quality.
-- -- Remember, a chip on the shoulder is a sure sign of a woodturner.
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19 comments so far
rpmurphy509
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288 posts in 2022 days
#1 posted 1959 days ago
Very interesting project. Puzzles have always fascinated me, specially the puzzle boxes.
Have never seen one quit like yours though, thank you for sharing it with us.
-- Still learning everything
GaryK
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10263 posts in 2156 days
#2 posted 1959 days ago
Pretty cool!
-- Gary - Never pass up the opportunity to make a mistake look like you planned it that way - Tyler, TX
cpt_hammer
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133 posts in 1980 days
#3 posted 1959 days ago
I was just thinking about building something very similar. Would you happen to have more detailed plans on how this works? Also, have you thought of a way to hide the brass rod ends so that it looks like you can’t take it apart?
TreeBones
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1797 posts in 2191 days
#4 posted 1959 days ago
Very cool, this could be on one of the recent treasure movies. well done.
-- Ron, Twain Harte, Ca. Portable on site Sawmill Service http://westcoastlands.net/Sawmill.html http://westcoastlands.net/SawBucks2/phpBB3 http://www.portablesawmill.info
Tomcat1066
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942 posts in 1963 days
#5 posted 1959 days ago
OK. That’s just plain cool. I might have to build one of those someday!
-- "Give me your poor tools, your tired steel, your huddled masses of rust." Yep, I ripped off the Statue of Liberty. That's how I roll!
rikkor
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11296 posts in 2042 days
#6 posted 1959 days ago
Nice. That’s a pretty complex undertaking. Well done.
RobS
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1331 posts in 2474 days
#7 posted 1959 days ago
Incredible project, impressive accomplishment, thanks for sharing.
-- Rob (A) Waxahachie,TX
cheller
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254 posts in 2277 days
#8 posted 1959 days ago
Nice work.
-- Chelle http://artsgranddaughter.blogspot.com
John Minnick
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3 posts in 2188 days
#9 posted 1959 days ago
Amazing work. Good to see a very creative project coming from somebody that lives in the Hill. I grew up there and went to RHHS.
Napaman
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5015 posts in 2245 days
#10 posted 1959 days ago
wow…very creative!!!
-- Matt--Proud LJ since 2007
nickman
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27 posts in 1962 days
#11 posted 1959 days ago
whoa that’s fantastic, great idea
lclashley
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244 posts in 2282 days
#12 posted 1958 days ago
This is one of the coolest projects I’ve seen! I’d love to see how it’s made.
CharlieM1958
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14855 posts in 2386 days
#13 posted 1958 days ago
That’s fantastic!
Of course, even though there are 13 billion possible combinations, all us Lumberjocks now know the combination is “KANSAS”. <g>
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
Dadoo
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1763 posts in 2158 days
#14 posted 1958 days ago
Where did you come up with the plans? Bet your dad just loves it too.
-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!
MsDebbieP
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18320 posts in 2328 days
#15 posted 1958 days ago
sweet….
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
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