December 2021 Update Preview

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New Puzzles Available!

Our new work will be released Monday, December 6th at 3 pm EST (UTC -5) on the Newly Released page:

  • Letter Box by Pit Khiam Goh
  • Dovetail Burr by Frans de Vreugd
  • Small Box Two (Aha Box) by Allan Boardman

Please scroll down for detailed information and photos of the new designs.   

 

Production Notes

2021 was a tough year for Cubicdissection. Our production has been low as we struggled with challenges related to staffing and the move to our new facility. Moving into the new year we will be re-evaluating our methodology and working to improve efficiency. Therefore our output may remain low for the next several months. This is a difficult decision, but we believe the correct one to set the stage for future success.

During this time we will be expanding our offering of laser cut designs, some by external designers and some by Eric Fuller. These will be extremely high quality works, with our trademark attention to detail. We will also be expanding our resale options. We're excited about these initiatives, and look forward to sharing more details soon. 

 

Next Release

While we do not yet have a timeline for our next release, we are currently in late prototype and design stage for the following items:

  • Pennytentiary by Eric Fuller (Sequential Discovery Coin Release Puzzle)
  • Glass Puzzle Box by Benno de Grote 
  • Lock Box by Eric Fuller (slightly revised production; same functionality)

 

December Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to Michael Desilets for winning our December 2021 Giveaway! Mike scored a free copy of Slideways by Ray Stanton.

Every month we choose a random member of our newsletter to receive a free puzzle. If you'd like to join, drop your email address in the box on the lower right of any page on the site. 

 

December Sticker

Tommy Wical designed this month's sticker. We love the beautiful geometry and coloring!

 

 

 Important Note - Care, Storage and Display

Our work is handcrafted to very precise tolerances and must be kept within the range of 40-60% relative humidity at all times. Failure to do so may cause inoperability or permanent damage.

Please read the Caring for Wood Puzzles guide to ensure proper fit and operation. We recommend occasional polishing with Renaissance Wax to keep wood puzzles in top condition.

 

Now, on to the Puzzles....

 

 

Dovetail Burr Interlocking Puzzle

 
DESIGNER: Frans de Vreugd
MATERIAL: Walnut, Lacewood
RELEASE DATE: 12.6.2021
EDITION: 45 Copies Released
SIZE: 3"

Dovetail Burr is our follow-up to the Japanese Wood Joint puzzle we released last month. Both are part of the series that Frans designed nearly 20 years ago. Inspired by traditional Japanese woodworking joinery techniques, Dovetail Burr was Frans's IPP 20 Exchange puzzle.

Dovetail Burr remains an utterly unique interlocking board burr concept despite its age. The presence of matched dovetail joints forces each pair of pieces on a given axis to interact with the other. This innovation creates a distinct challenge with unfamiliar restrictions that will make you sit and think!

The construction of Dovetail Burr was complicated. The dovetail joint adds an extra dimension to crafting difficulty over and above the typical precision requirements of a quality board burr. This difficulty is reflected in the meager availability of quality copies of this puzzle.

We used solid Walnut and Lacewood for this batch, to remarkable effect. The fit and feel are sublime, making the solution as tactile a joy as intellectual.

45 copies are available priced at $145. Each puzzle is signed and dated. Dovetail Burr ships in an unsolved configuration.
 

 

 

 

  

 

Letter Box Packing Puzzle

 
DESIGNER: Pit Khiam Goh
MATERIAL: Walnut Box with Canxan, Jatoba, Ash, Zebra, Bloodwood, Purple Heart, Katalox, Chakte Viga, Wenge pieces
RELEASE DATE:  12.6.2021
EDITION: 51
SIZE: 3.625" (9.20 cm)

Letter Box is a very tricky packing puzzle. The 1x2 unit opening restricts the nine identical pieces which fill the 3x3x3 box. With multiple rotations and more than 50 steps, discovering the solution will keep you occupied for some time. This is an excellent design well-suited for the solver seeking a true challenge.

We constructed Letter Box from some of our finest wood stock. The solid walnut box shows excellent striping and deep color. Each of the nine pieces was milled from solid stock out of a different fine or exotic wood. (Canxan, Jatoba, Ash, Zebra, Bloodwood, Purple Heart, Katalox, Chakte Viga, Wenge)

51 copies are available, priced at $135. Each puzzle is signed and dated. Letter Box ships in an unsolved configuration.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aha Puzzle Box

 
DESIGNER: Allan Boardman
MATERIAL: Jatoba / Marblewood or Canxan / Wenge
RELEASE DATE: 12.6.2021
EDITION: 68
SIZE: 2.75" x 1.7" x 1.2"

We can't seem to keep this in stock, so we made one final batch for 2021!

Small Box Two (Aha Box) was Allan Boardman's IPP exchange puzzle in 2004. Allan describes it as "designed to lure your non-puzzler friends into "our" world." Seemingly solid and impenetrable, Aha Box gives very few clues upon handling. A solution does exist, and it's quite tricky to discover. Sturdy, pocket-sized, and with a surprising amount of useful space inside, Aha Box is a great puzzle to share with friends and non-puzzlers.

The construction of Aha Box puzzle is exact, with a solid fit and impenetrable feel. We made this run in two variants, one with a Jatoba box and Marblewood lid, and the other with a Canxan box and Wenge lid.

68 copies are available. Each puzzle is signed and dated. Aha Box ships in an unsolved configuration.

 

December 2021 Update Preview