February 2023 Update Preview

Sher-Lock - A Notched Trifecta is a very exciting new design by IPP award winning designer Girish Sharma. This design is a part of his Sher-Lock series of padlock-shaped interlocking puzzles. The name alludes to the three different configurations of the key-shaped burr piece within the solved puzzle. We hope to offer more designs from the series in the future, and we are proud to offer this unique and challenging puzzle. 

Each assembly has not only a unique solution but a distinct arrangement of the pieces. The design takes advantage of subdivided voxels and angled half-unit pieces to achieve this impressive feat. An intimidating level 19, 24 & 25 solution for each configuration further adds to the complexity.

Fit of the puzzle is precise, and care must be taken to keep the points of the angled pieces from chipping. The quartersawn cherry cage features precision mitered joinery and the pieces are made from a dense board of purpleheart to give a satisfying operation, solid feel, and a nice color contrast. The puzzle is slightly larger in scale than our normal burr size to accommodate the triangular-shaped stock.

Sher-Lock - A Notched Trifecta ships in an assembled configuration. Approximately 65 copies were made for this release, each signed and dated.

Six Doors by Yavuz Demirhan is a variation on the classic six-piece burr shape. The added rings around the endgrain resemble a stile and rail door once the puzzle is assembled. Each ring complicates the movement of the pieces to reach a formidable but approachable level 14 solution.

Yavuz had originally released this design in 2012, and since then has optimized the puzzle to increase the level from 12 to 14 moves to remove the first piece. The simple shaped pieces conceal a tricky dead end that must be discovered and overcome in order to prevent circling back to the assembled shape.

60 copies, 30 of each variant, are available for this release, each signed and dated. Six Doors ships in an assembled configuration.

Tube It In is a classic assembly puzzle by Wil Strijbos, which we last produced in March of 2021. The solution involves packing small rectangular pieces inside each other - an original and fun idea that remains unique. Wil's original design was in metal and used different wall thicknesses. We applied our woodworking knowledge and skill to redesign it with uniform thickness proprietary to Cubicdissection. Tube It In is moderately tricky, with many collectors reporting multiple solves just for the fun of it.

Tube It In's construction is laborious. Each piece is strengthened with shouldered edge joinery, then beveled on all faces - a tricky task with such small components. This release offers an outer box made of quartersawn European beech and walnut. The internal pieces are made from a variety of woods, including:

• Ash
• Black Limba
• Bocote
• Bubinga
• Canarywood
• Canxan
• Cherry
• Lacewood
• Marblewood
• Padauk
• Peruvian walnut
• Purple heart
• Quartersawn sycamore
• Quartersawn white oak
• Schedua
• Wenge

While we cannot offer specific combinations, we can promise that there will be no repeated wood types within each puzzle and that they will all look stunning no matter which arrangement you receive.

Approximately 170 copies are available. Each puzzle is signed and dated. Tube It In ships assembled.

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 usable space inside, Aha Box is a great puzzle to share with friends and non-puzzlers.

We first produced Aha Box in wood in October 2019. Because of its popularity and approachability, we had two subsequent wood versions in October 2021 and then December 2021, but this is the first time we've released it in metal. Made of CNC-machined aluminum with a lovely and pleasant-to-handle sandblasted and anodized finish, we added laser-cut zebrawood veneer inlays to the sides to make it stand out in your collection. The result has the same impervious feel as our previous versions, with a new retrofuturistic look.

Aha Box ships in an unsolved configuration.