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Puzzle Box

Project by scottb posted 579 days ago 1722 views 0 times favorited 42 comments Add to Favorites
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scottb

2855 posts in 769 days


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puzzle box wood davinci

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Puzzle Box Puzzle Box Puzzle Box Click the pictures to enlarge them

A few years ago, I gave this box to my wife for Christmas. A simple six-inch cube built out of pre-milled 1/4” pieces of aspen. I built it to hold one of the items on my wife’s wish list.

Recent Lumberjocks forum talk of prototypes versus just diving into a project… here’s the diving in. The prototype was all in my head. Or perhaps this is the prototype that became the project.

The locks internal components were cut and fitted by hand. If only I had better tools at the time, I could have milled better lumber. Or at least I wish that I hadn’t stained it.
Some Howards Wax (love the orange smell) over the stain improved the finish a bit. Oh well. I did the best I could with what I had. Besides, the box wasn’t the gift, but rather the means to get to the gift.

Inspired by the puzzles in The DaVinci Code, I wanted to make one of my own. My wife picked up the book before it became an international phenomenon. We both enjoyed it so much that I thought she’d be a good sport about cracking the code when I presented this to her.

Lift the lid and find three pins that align with numbers. The text reads: ”Daedalus unlike Knossos. Road to Jerusalem. How Many Yards is The League?”

This riddle could more easily be solved if you knew the box’s contents, for it hints at the answer. Once you’ve figured out the answer, line up the numbers, and open the box (or cheat and try “000, 001, 002, 003…” and so on. There’s only 1,000 possibilities). Notches on the bars align with notches on a dowel you have to remove in order to access the inside of the box.

I want the next one I make to be even more challenging (or with enough combinations to dissuade thoughts of cheating), and for it to have as small a locking mechanism as possible.

Here’s the opened puzzle, sans contents (which my wife now keeps at her work to help her de-stress – hint, hint). Researching the solution took my wife about 7 frustrating days of hard work. But when she finally got the gist of the clues, her renewed excitement pushed her on to work out the solution pretty quickly.

Do you know the answer?

-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Vincent Van Gogh


42 comments so far

View Don's profile

Don

2586 posts in 619 days


posted 579 days ago

Great story, Scott. And an unusual project. Trust you wife is on the mend or we’ll have to change your name to “Sheila”. LOL

-- CanuckDon "I just love small wooden boxes!" http://www.canterburybaptist.org/

View scottb's profile

scottb

2855 posts in 769 days


posted 579 days ago

Thanks Don, this was really challenging to conceptualize. I’m trying to figure out a way to make the next one smaller.

My wife is doing well thanks, but I’ll be playing both parenting roles for a while still.

-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Vincent Van Gogh

View Shawn's profile

Shawn

226 posts in 595 days


posted 579 days ago

That is an amazing idea, great post Scott, keepo them comming, I look forward to seeing more similar projects

-- Cheers

View MsDebbieP's profile

MsDebbieP

11547 posts in 602 days


posted 578 days ago

haha excellent!!!
is the box sitting in the living room waiting for unsuspecting guests???

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

View Mark DeCou's profile

Mark DeCou

1262 posts in 847 days


posted 578 days ago

I love it. What an invention! I’m not good with puzzles (lack of intelligence), and this is so complicated I couldn’t figure it out, with a prototype, or not. I hope you will enter this one in the creativity contest.

Hoping for your wife’s 100% recovery.

If there is a way you could show the plans for how to build this, I would buy a set of plans from you.

Isn’t it nice that “Don” started using his handsome brother’s photo now?

hang in there, we are pulling for you.

-- Mark DeCou - Kansas Flinthill's Artisan

View dennis mitchell's profile

dennis mitchell

2913 posts in 756 days


posted 578 days ago

View scottb's profile

scottb

2855 posts in 769 days


posted 578 days ago

Thanks for the positive comments, and well wishes.

This was a fun and challenging one to conceptualize, I have a couple that I’m trying to fine tune on the back burner, so yes, I hope to have more to share.

That really is a high compliment Mark. Thank you. I’ll see that I can’t at least get this one down on paper or perhaps fill the void out there with this plan and many others.

-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Vincent Van Gogh

View MsDebbieP's profile

MsDebbieP

11547 posts in 602 days


posted 577 days ago

my question is—- your wife had to hold her gift for a week, while she figured out the clue?? cruel… cruel… cruel .
I love it.

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

View Karrie's profile

Karrie

12 posts in 715 days


posted 574 days ago

I think these are the kind of things that keep a marriage alive. Whether it is the “fun” in the relationship or keeping you out of the house while making it – I am not sure, but anyway…..

Great Job and love the idea. Keep up the creativity!

Karrie

-- Karrie

View scottb's profile

scottb

2855 posts in 769 days


posted 574 days ago

I’m glad that she didn’t solve it immediately, but I did feel bad that she was frustrated for so many days before getting on the right track. One of the hard parts of this project was doing the research into the clue, and covering my tracks. Must have worked because once early on she was close but didn’t know it and went on down another route.

I already have the riddle for the next box, but the mechanics of using letters to spell out the anwer rather than numbers is going to be very different indeed.

-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Vincent Van Gogh

View scottb's profile

scottb

2855 posts in 769 days


posted 565 days ago

Still no takers on trying to solve this riddle, huh?

-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Vincent Van Gogh

View MsDebbieP's profile

MsDebbieP

11547 posts in 602 days


posted 564 days ago

oh Scott you devil….. bring us back into your little tormenting riddle… ok ok… I’ll see what I come up with…..

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

View MsDebbieP's profile

MsDebbieP

11547 posts in 602 days


posted 564 days ago

ok. 5 minutes into it (made you look) and at 5:30 in the morning my brain says “enough already… too early… too taunting…..”

I’ll pass the torch (probably someone has already solved this but hasn’t wanted to ruin it for the rest of us.)
Daedalus and Knossus both are about a labryinth and there are 5280 yards in a league. Take it from there someone.. take it from there

and my brain breathes a sigh of relief (“go back to bed” it is now saying… “it’s Sunday morning for Heaven’s Sake”)

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

View scottb's profile

scottb

2855 posts in 769 days


posted 564 days ago

I’ll let you know when/if someone gets it… The answer is a 3 digit number (combination to the lock)

Post your guess here, or send me a PM.

Keep at it. ;)...

the record to beat is one week of on/off trying!

-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Vincent Van Gogh

View scottb's profile

scottb

2855 posts in 769 days


posted 419 days ago

With all the jocks who’ve joined up in the past few months, surely somebody has solved this riddle by now?
Debbie, 5 minutes wasn’t enough,... but the buzzer still hasn’t sounded.

-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Vincent Van Gogh

View oscorner's profile

oscorner

4576 posts in 753 days


posted 418 days ago

666, right? I’m sorry, but I’m at a loss of the fact that your wife isn’t well. I’ll pray for her recovery.

-- Jesus is Lord!

View scottb's profile

scottb

2855 posts in 769 days


posted 418 days ago

Nope.

Things are going well now Os (I guess those comments came from another blog post or something at about the same time), But Thank you very much.

-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Vincent Van Gogh

View mot's profile

mot

4837 posts in 478 days


posted 418 days ago

That’s cool, scott!

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

View MsDebbieP's profile

MsDebbieP

11547 posts in 602 days


posted 417 days ago

haha it’s not 5:30 am now.. and my brain STILL can’t figure it out… sad to admit it

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

View scottb's profile

scottb

2855 posts in 769 days


posted 210 days ago

SO much beautiful craftsmanship in the box category, I figure the only shot I have is with creativity. – Was thinking a similar line in the 2×4 contest until i found out that pine just isn’t supposed to bend.

-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Vincent Van Gogh

View YorkshireStewart's profile

YorkshireStewart

624 posts in 343 days


posted 210 days ago

I hadn’t seen this before Scott. What a fascinating box. I’ll need to revisit it and apply a bit more thought. Wouldn’t mind doing something like this.

-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business.

View Dick Cain's profile

Dick Cain

4807 posts in 741 days


posted 210 days ago

I’ve looked at this many times before.

I guess it’s about time I commented.

Pretty smart, you let your wife figure it out for you. LOL

-- Dick Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

View DAN's profile

DAN

2845 posts in 425 days


posted 210 days ago

sweet gift !

-- ..... art for lifes sake

View Andy's profile

Andy

296 posts in 350 days


posted 209 days ago

I am glad you entered this one.Its quite different,and shows a unique level of skill.I agree with Mark though,and I would have a claw hammer helping me figure it out pretty quickly.Well done Scott.

-- " Stubborn tenacity substitutes for natural ability" ANDY

View CedarFreakCarl's profile

CedarFreakCarl

319 posts in 495 days


posted 209 days ago

That’s really cool Scott! Like the Yorkmaster says…”fascinating”.

-- Carl Rast, Pelion, SC

View scottb's profile

scottb

2855 posts in 769 days


posted 209 days ago

well yes a claw hammer would certainly know the correct “password” but at the expense of the contents inside.

-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Vincent Van Gogh

View Obi's profile

Obi

2147 posts in 679 days


posted 209 days ago

1 league = 6 076.11549 yards how do you get three anythings out of this?

-- http://ye-olde-cabinet-shoppe.com/

View scottb's profile

scottb

2855 posts in 769 days


posted 209 days ago

it makes perfect sense once you figure it out… it took my wife about a week, of off and on trying.

-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Vincent Van Gogh

View shaun's profile

shaun

360 posts in 347 days


posted 208 days ago

Scott – I missed the original post for this. I might not have ever seen it if you hadn’t entered it here, Thanks. This has got to be the coolest ideas for a box I’ve ever seen. And I’m desparately trying not to think about the riddle, I won’t get anything done if I let myself get wrapped up in trying to solve it. ;-)

-- I've cut that board three times and it's still too short!

View Scot T's profile

Scot T

11 posts in 218 days


posted 185 days ago

Has someone been to the Notre Dame Cathedral?

Is the answer 286 or 287?

-- Scot, SW Washington

View scottb's profile

scottb

2855 posts in 769 days


posted 185 days ago

I have twice been to Notre Dame, once inside, and once I climbed up to the bell towers…

Scot – Your original (unedited) comment indicates you are on the right track – but that isn’t the answer.

-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Vincent Van Gogh

View Scot T's profile

Scot T

11 posts in 218 days


posted 184 days ago

LOL – I edited it to avoid stealing your thunder if I was right.
For the other LJ’s out there – here’s the jist of my original unedited post:

A daedalus is a floor labyrinth (similar to a maze) and is a symbolic road to jerusalem.
The paths of the Chartres (Notre Dame) labyrinth make 858 feet or 286 yards.
Great information was found in The Spirituality of Mazes and Labyrinths By Gailand Macqueen

Great puzzle and nice piece, BTW!

-- Scot, SW Washington

View MsDebbieP's profile

MsDebbieP

11547 posts in 602 days


posted 184 days ago

394 days and Scott still hasn’t given us the answer!

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

View scottb's profile

scottb

2855 posts in 769 days


posted 184 days ago

I’m not going to Give you the answer Deb… but I’ll let you know if someone guessed it here, or sends me a PM.

Full disclosure – I had to go hunting down the solution last night (online searching) just to find out if Scot had it or not. I tossed the paper with the answer on it.

-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Vincent Van Gogh

View MsDebbieP's profile

MsDebbieP

11547 posts in 602 days


posted 184 days ago

you tossed the paper with the answer on it??? my goodness that is brave .. or .. umm silly

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

View scottb's profile

scottb

2855 posts in 769 days


posted 184 days ago

oh, and the next box i’m working on… the clue’s aren’t even in English! Hows that for mean?

-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Vincent Van Gogh

View Scot T's profile

Scot T

11 posts in 218 days


posted 184 days ago

Scott,

I’m really intrigued now.
How about 572 or 574? (You must return to the start of the labyrinth to complete the meditative journey, so the length of the ‘league’ is double the number of yards).

-- Scot, SW Washington

View scottb's profile

scottb

2855 posts in 769 days


posted 184 days ago

(I”m laughing)

Good rationale, but that’s not it.

-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Vincent Van Gogh

View scottb's profile

scottb

2855 posts in 769 days


posted 184 days ago

according to the official website for The Chartres Cathedral, the Labyrinthe is 261.55 Meters.
Convert that to yards and you (should) have the answer.

Scot T had it yesterday, the rationale, the riddle solved, but not the correct combination. (I did the conversion backwards. OOPS).. But in over 1 year, he was the first to crack the riddle. So there you go.

Until I started digging, to make sure I could find the answer (and I couldn’t knowing what it was) I just thought he was at the “wrong church” and it was just a matter of time before he walked the right path.

The unnerving part, both my wife and I did the conversion backwards. (Makes me scared for our checkbook)
I’ve got a mind to crack the lock open, and recut the sliding bars so the combination is correct to the riddle…

or I can just leave it as one last security measure!

-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Vincent Van Gogh

View scottb's profile

scottb

2855 posts in 769 days


posted 184 days ago

I once did a puzzle book in college, translating a page on the rules of chess into modern english. The rules asked you to seek out the 5 mistakes in the passage. (Classmates were supposed to have read the chapter, and the change was pretty obvious if you cracked the book) But the Frustrating part – There were only 4 mistakes, the 5th was saying there were five. That’s a cruel puzzle.

My next puzzle box will be a riddle, plain and simple, with no math to unknowingly confound me!

-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Vincent Van Gogh

View Scot T's profile

Scot T

11 posts in 218 days


posted 184 days ago

LOL! How frustrating!

I think I got the Cathedrals mixed up anyhow, but I’m glad I was on the right ‘path’!

Thanks for a very enjoyable puzzle, Scott! I look forward to your next ones – and to how you impart them into wood.

-- Scot, SW Washington

View MsDebbieP's profile

MsDebbieP

11547 posts in 602 days


posted 183 days ago

funny story Scott…

can you imagine if it had taken your wife this long to solve the puzzle?? (especially if she had done it correctly in the first place… )

as for your bankbook – maybe you are just richer than you think….

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

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