December 2022 Update Preview

Noodling Box is Eric Fuller's latest puzzle box creation. Its name was inspired by the art of "noodling" catfish from their underwater caves. The project began as a simple trick box, but Eric was drawn to more exciting possibilities as the design progressed. The final creation is a complex, layered puzzle appropriate for intermediate and advanced collectors.

To solve Noodling Box, you must find the prize hidden within. Doing so requires convincing a very reluctant drawer to give up its secrets. Multiple layered locks and devices stand between you and the goal. Eric has come up with some new tricks and deceptions that will keep you fishing for quite some time!

Handcrafted according to our finest standards, Noodling Box was made in two variations; African Teak and Quilted Sycamore, with the other from Lacewood and Walnut. Fit, finish, and operation are sublime...each component moves smoothly and reliably.

Noodling Box ships in an unsolved configuration and is signed and dated.

There were approximately 55 copies of each variant made.

Harun is another brilliant packing puzzle by Dr. Volker Latussek, designer of the award-winning "Casino." Volker's superpower is creating complex assemblies with simple pieces. True to form, Harun consists of six bars and six notched sticks packed into an ordinary box. The resulting challenge is quite tricky! There are two possible assemblies, a more straightforward symmetrical solution and a more difficult asymmetrical one.

Our original 2019 Harun release was crafted with ultra-premium exotic woods. We sought to replicate that desirability in our metal release, resulting in three eye-popping wood variants: Dense Black Palm, Figured Chechen, and Quilted Bocote. The twelve solid brass pieces are CNC machined to our customary tolerances. Each piece is then hand-finished and passivated to inhibit tarnishing.

Harun ships unsolved, with each brass piece individually wrapped in protective film.

Key Mazes are an extraordinary concept by the master of mazes, Oskar van Deventer. Consisting of six unique keys and their corresponding disks, this puzzle may look familiar to the experienced collector. While the Bits and Pieces version has been a favorite since I started collecting, I was unaware that Oskar had designed SIX such mazes! Even more incredible is that the puzzles work together as a set, with multiple challenges found by combining different keys and disks.

Each key and disk is a different puzzle with a unique solution. Some disks may be combined with a different key to create an entirely new puzzle. While each original pair guarantees a challenge, the other pairings range from easy to quite interesting. This matrix illustrates which combinations are possible:

The Key Mazes were precision laser cut from 3mm walnut and maple veneer, combined with a custom-crafted walnut dowel to reinforce the key. The feel is precise, yet with enough room so the puzzle will not bind.

The set is sold in adjacent numbered pairs and priced below $30 per puzzle. Those who purchase the entire collection will enjoy a discount that brings the individual puzzle price below $25.

The Key Mazes ship in an unsolved configuration.

Oskar van Deventer's Cross Keys Maze is an exciting and VERY challenging put-together maze puzzle. First released in laser cut MDF, this was James Dalgety's 2007 IPP Exchange Puzzle.

The two "Key" pieces are delivered nested inside each other. To complete the solve, you must separate them and then combine each perpendicular to the other until both reach the inside limit of their movement. Navigating the maze created by the four sets of teeth is no mean feat! The path is arduous to find and will test even the most experienced puzzler.

We have crafted Cross Keys Maze in dual contrasting layers of laser cut acrylic. Precision, fit, and feel meet our usual high standards.

Cross Keys Maze ships in an unsolved configuration.

Mondrian's Mess is an assembly puzzle created by Tom Jolly in 2021. Building on concepts from his puzzles Little Window (2011) and Open Window (2012), and with a name inspired by the abstract geometric paintings of Dutch artist Piet Mondrian, Mondrian's Mess turns those two designs inside out, putting the odd-shaped pieces on the outer layers instead of on the inner one. The result is a visually appealing piece of art that's just as pleasing to look at as it is to play with.

The goal is to find the single solution to fit the six pieces into the frame. Made of anodized aluminum and sandblasted brass, the precision machining and finish make for very satisfying movements, and the assembled puzzle has a nice weight and soft feel in the hands.

It makes an excellent companion to the smaller four-piece Mondrian's Square.

Mondrian's Mess ships in an unsolved configuration.

Mondrian's Square is an assembly puzzle created by Tom Jolly in 2021. Building on concepts from his puzzles Little Window (2011) and Open Window (2012), and with a name inspired by the abstract geometric paintings of Dutch artist Piet Mondrian, Mondrian's Square turns those two designs inside out, putting the odd-shaped pieces on the outer layers instead of on the inner one. The result is a visually appealing piece of art that's just as pleasing to look at as it is to play with.

The goal is to find the single solution to fit the four pieces into the frame. Made of anodized aluminum and sandblasted brass, the precision machining and finish make for very satisfying movements, and the assembled puzzle has a nice weight and soft feel in the hands. A hole through one corner to attach a chain locks the puzzle in its solved configuration and allows it to be used as a keychain or ornament, or it can be worn as a pendant with the included nylon cord.

It makes an excellent companion to the larger six-piece Mondrian's Mess.

Mondrian's Square ships in a solved and locked configuration.

Bomb Destroyer is Ukrainian designer Andriy Bruns's latest Take-Apart puzzle. Andriy says, "The project of this puzzle was started last year, and from 24 Feb 2022, real Russian bombs dropping on my town and my country. But if your love for puzzle making is strong, you can do them even at war."

This release speaks volumes about the suffering his country endures. Yet it also speaks to the hope and perseverance of the Ukrainian people. We are proud to support him and his community during these difficult times.

While moderate in difficulty, Bomb Destroyer has some clever tricks in store. Finding the solution requires critical thinking rather than a brute-force approach. The solution flows smoothly and is satisfying to repeat. Showcasing the ingenuity found in the best mechanical puzzles, it's an excellent puzzle to share with novice solvers.

Andriy chose a rough exterior texture to replicate the utilitarian feel of military ordnance. In stark contrast with the craftsmanship found within, Bomb Destroyer's function relies upon extreme precision, with some tricks requiring sub-thousandth tolerancing. The overall quality is superlative and startling.

Bomb Destroyer ships in an unsolved configuration.