Every year I try to make a gift for amusement purposes.  This year I decided on a wood block puzzle.  The Soma Cube got the nod.  I had some used fir cabinet doors and cut strips of wood 5/8" square.  The puzzle is based on cubes and the size doesn't matter.  To make the pieces I had to cut 72 pieces three cubes long.  288 pieces two cubes long and 180 pieces of a single cube.  540 pieces in total which was enough to make 36 puzzles. Then those pieces had to be glued together to form the seven puzzle pieces.  Quite the endeavor I say.  Here is the shapes of the seven puzzle pieces.

 

 

Here are the pieces I made.  One piece of the puzzle involved gluing three blocks and the other six pieces had me glue just two blocks together.  Never did piece work in a factory but now I know what it is like.

 

 

 

Here is the assembled puzzle.

 

Cool!

 

Some years back, I helped out at school when they started a new program- Pre-engineering. The kids were learning isometric drawing and used this type of puzzle for practice. They had to draw it and then make it from wooden blocks. They used magic markers to color each assembly.

Dan you must be a glutton for punishment. That must have filled a couple weeks. Good job

3 hours ago, Gerald said:

Dan you must be a glutton for punishment. That must have filled a couple weeks. Good job

 

Actually only a few hours a day over three days.

Those look like an excellent bandsaw project.  They look really good.  Somebody is going to have fun.  You'll be surprised how many can't do the puzzle.  

8 hours ago, FlGatorwood said:

Those look like an excellent bandsaw project.  They look really good.  Somebody is going to have fun.  You'll be surprised how many can't do the puzzle.  

NO I WOULDN'T!!!! 

I see approximately 36 somewhat frustrated people in your future Dan!  How old are the recipients?

Great work on them, very cool gift.

55 minutes ago, Cal said:

I see approximately 36 somewhat frustrated people in your future Dan!  How old are the recipients?

Great work on them, very cool gift.

 

Took them to our family Christmas dinner yesterday and came home with four left in the bag so it is safe to say  "Fun for All Ages"

Everyone enjoyed giving them  try.  Some got them right away and others took awhile and there were those who were frustrated.  

All in all it was great fun and a bit of competition and some bantering ensued. 

Edited December 22, 20196 yr by HandyDan