November 2020 Update Preview

Blah Box is the result of the accumulation of ideas I had while trying to design a simple mechanism for the box containing the DDD Burr Puzzle. I wanted to make a simple trick opening mechanism for DDD, but in the end discarded the idea because it would overly increase the price of the puzzle. I did come out of the design session with some solid ideas, which, when combined, turned into a rather interesting box on their own. I was feeling rather "Blah" about my failure with DDD and decided to name this new box after that feeling.

Blah Box 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 damage. No external tools are allowed, and no force should be applied to moving parts. Please read the Caring for Wood Puzzles guide to ensure proper fit and operation.

95 copies released in November: 50 copies in Black Limba/Maple, 25 copies in Zebrawood/Maple, 20 copies in Iroko/Holly.

55 more copies will be released in December with the same wood selections available. Each box is signed and dated. This puzzle is shipped assembled.

Uri Three Bars is a beautiful three-piece interlocking puzzle. This will be our second release after an earlier, very limited batch in 2015.

This is a VERY unusual puzzle and a lot of fun to solve. The goal is to manipulate the three open-ended pieces such that they intersect flush to their base and create a symmetrical assembly. Dario has improved the puzzle; the previous design was solvable in 10 moves, while the new release has a level 14.2 solution. It's quite a tricky task to figure out how the various notches and blocks interact.

Construction is strong, with a fully shouldered base milled from solid stock supporting each piece's stick portion. Notches are precisely located, with blocks glued into dados rather than flush glued to the outside. The result is a strong, attractive addition to your collection.

64 copies were made for this release. This puzzle ships disassembled.

Darryl’s Dense Dozen is a collaboration we've been looking forward to!

This set of twelve notchable interlocking burr pieces was analyzed by Darryl Adams, then precision milled in aluminum and brass to perfect tolerances by Bryan Turner. An exotic wood box crafted by Cubicdissection ties it all together.

We engraved ten different puzzle combinations inside the lid in order of ascending difficulty. The final result is a small, pocket-sized puzzle that reflects our obsession for quality in a convenient and portable package. When combined with Darryl’s written analysis, the set can be used to make up to 530 total puzzle combinations.

70 copies of each variation were made. This puzzle ships unsolved.

The Reversible Mazes are a departure from our usual work, but the unique mechanics are so much fun we just had to make them.

These lattice style constructions appear fairly straightforward. The goal is to introduce the shuttle into the maze and maneuver it to the solved position. The shuttles are connected by a crossbar on one end and have a wider "dot" on the other end. When the dot slides into the rounded cutout of the lattice, you know you've accomplished your goal.

Typical of Ohno's designs, there are a ton of twists, turns, and surprising moves. The shuttle may be maneuvered inside the maze as well as around the sides. At various points, you must rotate the shuttle; because of its asymmetrical build, the maze completely changes when you do this!

Construction required a combination of traditional woodwork and laser cutting. Edges were hand-finished after assembly, and the shuttle required additional milling and fitting due to the doweled component.

Each Reversible Maze is sold separately. Pricing is similar, as the smaller maze was nearly as much work to make as the large. Around 75 copies of each were made. Each is signed and dated. This puzzle is shipped unsolved.

Sanib is Rex Rossano Perez's latest sequential discovery puzzle. Crafted by Rex in small batches, these puzzles pack a ton of discovery and deception into a small package. Hidden movements, unexpected connections and tiny tools all come into play. With a goal to "Exorcise the Ghost", Sanib is a lot of fun and has received excellent reviews from early recipients.

49 copies available, priced at $99 each. This puzzle is shipped unsolved.