Since I started unleashing some of my puzzles here, and am planning to drag across a whole lot more that I have previously posted at Lumberjocks, I hear too many “too hard”, “too complex”, “out of my league”, etc. comments. Don’t get intimidated by my dulcet words, gentle keystrokes and colored pictures… they are no-where as complex as they appear.
Most puzzles take a standard measurement (eg. 19mm)… and if that mm confuses you, try the mouthful of three quarters of an inch. From then on, 99% of the following measurements are multiples of that same base (‘x’)… kinda reminds ya of those maths days… dontcha wish you hadn't goofed off and paid attention, especially to the times tables.
So for all you budding prestidigitators, let’s bolster your puzzling life with this simple crawl, leading to this discombobulating item.
While the number of 12 pieces may seem intimidating, it is an imperial friendly number and all pieces are the same… well, nearly… as in all groups there is a black duck sheep… one piece is different, however an extra “notch” (dado) is cut into the 12th ("same") piece,
For those too lazy (or scared) to look at the 3DW model above, here are the measurements (for political correctness… in both races)
As this has not been posted before, no happy snaps were taken, so it’s time for the hero uniform
and a trip down my teleporter to the workshop.
Cut a piece of 19mm pine to 76mm width and long enough for at least 12 pieces (and maybe a few test pieces),
Having established the base measurement at 19mm, it was time to set my dado to 19mm (DOH!)... or use the router (table)... I didn't so...
Mounted my pecker’s dado stack setup jig,
which is set out in the MFT style measurements... unboxed my dado set,
and used the included thickness gauge to set the timber thickness,
Didn’t have to be exactly 19mm as the thickness was taken from the gauge,
Removed my TS blade… this orange Bench Dog Blade-loc and ratchet 22mm spanner made the job a tad easier,
,minimising the terror of the dropped nut, and mounted my "pre-configured" dado stack (dialed) using the Freud supplied nut wrench, designed to get into the dial’s crevice,
Set the fence at 9.5mm from the edge of the dado set, run the length of the board, flip horizontally and hog out the other side. Just two overlapping passes (with fence adjustment) will hog out the centre. Sorry, but I didn’t take a photo before I started to butcher it at the mitre saw,
Now this is where you need to decide whether you want an easy, loose fit or a tight fit. For an easy, loose fit, you can plane out the dado to make it a tad shallower (and even out the overlaps if there was some... or better still, set the dado depth more accurately), or you can laboriously sand each piece down later, to hone up/customise the fit.
Then it’s over to the mitre saw (or the TS Dado Sled, which I gave away and I didn't want to drive 160km) to cut off "19mm strips",
One more dado cut to make... in one of the pieces. Take your favourite looking piece and after setting up the fence to 19mm, you have one more decision to make. Do you want to make a 9.5mm packer to prevent tear out, when making the cut as per instructions?
If you can’t imagine the issue from the above picture, you’ll understand it if you didn’t make a packer. I used a “backing rod” rather than hacking a dado into my mitre gauge’s ZCI fence.
Now if you’re as lazy as I am (in redoing the SketchUp solutions) you can choose to deviate from plans and cut the dado on the other "end" of the piece as the “backing rod” will prevent tear out,
which would not be an issue with a sled.
If you make this cut, the assembly will need to be re-oriented and as mentioned, I’m too lazy to change the SU solution.
For those confused, when looking at the solution, you will be working with the complimentary moving pieces on the right hand side and the key will need to be pushed left to right after inserted. If your still confused… make that bloody 9.5mm packer.
After the initial test fit, I had to shave some off "the dado". I ganged up 6 pieces and used a block plane to take off about 0.3256mm (metric is more user friendly),
followed by 0.1744mm sanding with 100G and 240G, reducing the girth by 0.5mm for a snugger fit.
QED!... anyone can do it… though I like the accuracy and efficiency of my laser (no setup required),
though it require assembly… unfortunately human intervention is required… patiently waiting for Fe$tool to release a robot.
Couple of cautionary suggestions. Tight puzzle makes it easier to hold while assembling, but may need an extra effort to get the pieces to slide into place. Too loose will make assembling (not solving) easier but each piece seems to turn into a slippery sucker and you'll think you'd need 4 hands to hold. Also consider wood movement. Choose to display during high humidity and offer to solve during low.
It may be beneficial if the key piece is subtly marked for easy identification, as trying to find it to start disassembly may prove more frustrating to some than trying to assemble.
Assembly... only cause I have the pictures,
Try it and enjoy! Or give to a "friend" and enjoy their struggle...
If your first cut is too short... Take the second cut from the longer end... LBD
Hey, is that a "left over" piece in the last photo????
I like the greater complexity of this versus the simpler designs. Really amazing to me is how all the pieces are identical save the spare part above. One could make a million of them 🤠
Thanks all for looking. With the simplicity of this puzzle, I was hopping a few more people would join me if only to piss pottzy and his puzzle nemesis off.
I like the greater complexity of this versus the simpler designs. Really amazing to me is how all the pieces are identical save the spare part above. One could make a million of them 🤠
I couldn't read the improvised solution, so I made a bloody 9.5mm packer and the non standard key was left over.
You could make a million of them and collate/assemble 83,333.333333333333333333333333333 stocking stuffers for next Xmas.
The next 12 piece BURR I have on the drawing board are all the same. Unfortunately its not as easy to cut...
If your first cut is too short... Take the second cut from the longer end... LBD
Pottz commented about 5 hours ago new im here duckie.......... grimacing !!!! maybe if i made a big bowl to put all your puzzles in that might help ? 😣
You'd have to turn... literally. Your swing is not good enough and W might object.
Steve Rasmussen ....age of your projects is by the vintage of your shop aprons.
Or the lack there of,
If your first cut is too short... Take the second cut from the longer end... LBD
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