Wolf’s Z-Pentacube - Yoshiya “Wolf” Shindo - IPP 17 (1997) Exchange by Tosh “Junk” Kato

 

This puzzle has 120 ‘Z’ shaped pieces (Penta cube) with the goal being a 10 x 10 x 6 Block.  It’s obviously a very difficult packing puzzle with four solutions.

I’ve been fascinated by packing puzzles ever since I got into the puzzle sphere, there’s something about packing pieces into a box that I find intriguing.

I took a pic with a wooden truck to show how much of a large amount of pieces there are when thrown into a pile.

I’ve been meaning to make a nice presentation box for this cool puzzle and after nearly a year I finally made one, it features Roasted Bird’s Eye Maple Box with Walnut Sleeve and Roasted Ash Top & Bottom with Wenge Slipfeathers.

The Cup - Ad van der Schagt by Pelikan

I was not aware that Alfons had a hand in this design as Kevin makes note of below.

This is a gorgeous puzzle that Jakub has really outdone himself with, I’ve yet to dismantle it but guessing I’ll need burr tools for reassembly.

Kevin Sadler wrote about it:

“Ad van der Schlag designed the early version of the cup and sent the initial design to Alfons Eyckmans to see if it could be improved and made into a puzzle with a much higher level. The current version is the improved one managed with Alfons’ typical skill. This last puzzle in the current release is one that I have not had time to solve yet. It is absolutely stunning made from American Walnut and Cherry. It will be a very tough puzzle to dismantle – I love these specially shaped burrs but the combination of rings, boards with burrsticks through the centre do make for a tremendously difficult challenge. It has a level of 22.6.5.2.1.2.2 to take apart and will include quite a few sideways movements of the rings as well as the burrsticks. I always seem to struggle to find the appropriate shifts and then get lost. I look forward to trying this new one as I have never seen a burr from Ad before.”

Castle Builder Set - Tamas Vanyo by Pelikan

I’ve been anxiously awaiting this awesome puzzle by Tamas.  It’s a fantastic build from Jakub that has maximum replay value.

It is currently available as a back-order so be sure to head on over to Pelikan and grab one!

Kevin Sadler wrote about it:

“This incredible design and work of art created by Jakub and Jaroslav is a sort of freeform pattern creating puzzle (I am not actually certain how it should be classified). I saw this design from Tamás back in January when he published it on his FB page and it intrigued me. The beauty and intricacy of the pieces were unusual and I was hopeful that it might be produced in large numbers for the puzzling world to try. I was not surprised when Jakub showed it to me – he is probably the only craftsman that I know who would take on such a huge production challenge like this. The aim is to build a castle with a path from the bottom level to the top that doesn’t involve jumping. This sounds easy and just a matter of lifting the pieces out of the frame and placing them where you want them. BUT…whilst each of the pieces trapped in the frame seems to have a 2×2 footprint and looks like they should lift out, they won’t actually come out easily. There is a gap in a corner and they will slide around but this was not helpful in my early casual play. I remembered the previous framed puzzles that Pelikan had made and realised that the frame comes apart allowing the pieces to be slid out and also shows why they are trapped – The pieces have protruding feet! From here, it can be seen that the pieces are based on a 3×3 footprint with the consequence that they cannot lift vertically out of the frame and also means that constructing your castle requires more thought than just placing the pieces just where you want them for the stairs and paths to line up. This will need a fair bit of space to spread out and then some considerable thought to design your own special castle. I have not tried to solve it yet due to time and space constraints but can’t wait to get to it – it will be a fun new challenge and when finished will look absolutely stunning on display! This will need to go on the sideboard in my dining room – don’t tell Mrs S!”

Closterman 5x5x8 Cage #6 by Don Closterman (2006)

I was really surprised by the size and heft of this beautiful framed burr puzzle by Don.

Until I got this puzzle I’m sad to say I wasn’t aware of Don’s work so of course I turned to google to glean the following along with the original listing in Paradise.

Please message me if you have any other info to add, as I’d gladly add it here, thanks John 

“Closterman 5×5×8 Cage #6 designed and crafted by Don Closterman in 2006.

These don't come up often and they are beautiful, fun and challenging.

in S. American Yellowheart, labeled (C-1-200-13-9)

 175 × 110 × 110 mm

Don's designs are infamous for the complexity of design and smooth operation.  Note the superb edge and corner finishing.  13 pieces.  Original solution and assembly instructions included.

Rob's puzzle page notes:

"... A beautiful series of interlocking, sequential (dis)assembly polycube puzzles in cages.

Closterman identifies his puzzles using a code of the form T-S-N-P-M, where:

T is the type of puzzle – C for cage

S is an arbitrary identifier Closterman assigns to a given design with a particular solution method

N is simply the number of cubies in the overall puzzle, which seems to include empty spaces (e.g. 6x6x6 = 216)

P is the number of pieces including the cage

M is the number of moves to remove the first piece, which seems to be omitted if it is only 1 move.

Don Closterman Bio:

Don passed away in 2010. 

A Rhode Island native he was a master of puzzle design. Each Closterman cube puzzle limited production series had its own unique design, Rare and collectible

Closterman cube puzzles, like this one, and other varieties in many levels of difficulty were made from time to time in other woods, including mahogany, yellowheart, american hickory, canary wood, bloodwood, purple heart, African padauk and kiaat”

Tetraboard by Stephan Baumegger

Stephan designs and crafts some very interesting puzzles and offers them up at his Facebook shop ‘Puzzleisure’.

This puzzle not only looks cool but is definitely a confusing puzzle to disassemble and of course very difficult to reassemble.  It takes 18 moves to remove the first piece and another 18 for the second and finally 11 for the third!

Be sure to head on over to Stephan’s shop to check out all that’s available.

Pagode by Stephan Baumegger

 

Stephan designs and crafts some very interesting puzzles and offers them up at his Facebook shop ‘Puzzleisure’.

I recently placed an order for this one which has rather high move count of 24, however it’s disassembly is doable but does have some neat moves that will have you circling your way back to the start.

After having finished with disassembly I was surprised to see the method of craftsmanship with one piece that I’ve never encountered before.. 

The fit and finish is spot on, head on over to his shop and place an order!

Brass Monkey Four by Two Brass Monkeys

 

Obviously this is the fourth design in this series, it’s a very heavy solid brass puzzle!

I’ve nicknamed this puzzle ‘Devo’…

Here's Eric's description from Cubicdissection:

“Nearly identical in appearance to Brass Monkey One, Two, and Three, Brass Monkey Four has yet again upped the difficulty. Steve and Ali's continued innovation has created a monster puzzle that is perfect for fooling those who think they have seen it before. Brass Monkey 4 looks like a standard interlocking Burr. It isn't!

The subtle differences on the end of its pieces compared to its predecessors belie the additional complexity hiding within. Like the first few puzzles, it weighs almost 800g (1.1 lbs). Each piece is 70mm long and has a diameter of 19mm.”

Vermeer by Alfons Eyckmans

I was pleasantly surprised by Alfons gift of this tray puzzle.  I’ve always been keen about tray puzzles, having made many, so I eagerly opened this one that Alfons calls ‘Vermeer’ so named after Dutch Artist Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675).

Alfons has designed many different tray designs and typically names them after Artists from days gone by.  This particular puzzle is printed but usually makes them in wood.

It’s a very difficult design that will keep you busy for some time..

Brass Monkey Two by Two Brass Monkeys/Steve Nicholls & Ali Morris

This fine brass puzzle is from the creative minds of Steve Nicholls and Ali Morris.

I’ve code named this puzzle ‘Donkey Kong’, seems appropriate!

Here's Eric's description from Cubicdissection :  (There is still copies available at the time of this writing.)

“Just a single ring engraved on the end of each piece differentiates it from Brass Monkey One. This puzzle is a brand new design by Ali and Steve; their first collaboration. While not as difficult as the brutal Brass Monkey Three, it's significantly more challenging than the original and is of course beautifully handcrafted.

Like the first puzzle, it weighs almost 800g (1.1 lbs). Each piece is 70mm long and has a diameter of 19mm.”

Piece of Cake by BAZ

Jeff recently sent me this very cool puzzle.  Once you dump out the pieces, the confusion is fully realized, even after having carefully removing the pieces it still took me a bit of time to reassemble it.  It’s a fun packing puzzle with Jeff’s usual attention to the fine details that makes his puzzle work so nice to play with.  

The bottom has his usual laser engraved logo with ‘Made in Apex, NC’

very cool touch!

Jakub’s Cube by Alfons Eyckmans

 

I sadly missed out on Pelikan’s release (it was at 5am in Nova Scotia) of this awesome design by Alfons.

Thankfully I was able to receive this wonderful version crafted by Alfons!

I’m a big fan of Cube shaped puzzles so obviously this one really caught my eye.

Move count is 18.3.1.1.1.1.2.1.1.

Kevin Sadler wrote about Pelikan’s beautiful version:

“Alfons Eyckmans is one of the best designers (and craftsmen) of burrs and interlocking puzzles in the world! Over the years, I have collected many many puzzles from him (I daren’t admit how many to Mrs S) and absolutely love them. Over the last few years he has been designing beautiful cubes made from interlocking burr pieces as opposed to classical burrs. Some of them I have even managed to solve! The process always involves a wonderful period of exploration and fun – I adore these puzzles! They are fun to play with and look incredible on the display shelves. Many of these beautiful cubes have been named for or by well known members of the puzzle community. Michel has named a few after his family, I have named some after my Burmese cats and one of the best of them was named for Pelikan’s own Jakub. Alfons made me a copy early last year and I’ve never managed to solve it despite several weeks of attempts (I must be missing a hidden move). Alfons never expected it to be produced in any significant numbers because the pieces are incredibly difficult puzzle to make – he was absolutely delighted to see Pelikan create their absolutely stunning version. To be perfectly honest I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything so beautiful from anyone! I have not had time to play with this one yet (apart from the several weeks spent on the original) but have found all the moves available to me to be extremely smooth. There will only be 35 of these made and it is extremely unlikely it will ever be produced again. Get this whilst you can even if it is just for display purposes!”

Circelei - Hendrik Haak - IPP 26 Boston

This is an exchange puzzle by Hendrik Haak for the International Puzzle Party 26 held in Boston 2006.

The goal is to place the three pieces within the three different shaped circular pieces, yeah it’s a very difficult solve!

Half Soma - Dr. Volker Latussek by Pelikan

 

I recently acquired this beautiful puzzle crafted from Pink Oak and Zebrawood by Pelikan.

As Kevin mentions in his review below it’s similar to Shrinking Soma which fall under the anti-slide category of puzzles that are very difficult to solve.

Here’s what Kevin wrote:

“This puzzle remains unsolved for me. It is another of those anti-slide puzzles that Dr Latussek has created where the pieces fit easily into the box but that is not the challenge. The beautiful Zebrano pieces are Soma cube shapes where every single cubie in each piece has been cut in half before being put together. It arrives with all but one placed and a nice smooth surface on show. The aim, very like the previous Shrinking Soma, is to assemble all the pieces into the Pink oak box so that the smooth surface is flush with the top and, despite there being many gaps underneath, none of the pieces will slide at all or drop down to a lower level. I am just about able to assemble shapes but creating assemblies that won't allow pieces to move is a logical arena that I just cannot seem to comprehend. I have actually struggled to assemble the Soma cube with the pieces cut down like this and got nowhere near solving it. It is beautifully made and well worth adding to your collection if you are seeking a seriously difficult challenge.”

Push Button Burr - Ken Irvine by Tom Lensch

A little while back I spotted someone’s post about this puzzle on the Discord and I almost immediately put a call to Tom to see if this design might be on his ‘to do list’.

As it turns out Tom was planning on making another run so..I finally got to try it out.  It’s a great design by Ken and of course Tom’s craftsmanship is superb as always.

I recommend having a look at Allard’s original Blog post to read more about this wonderful puzzle design.

Lee Valley Trick Bolt Set

I purchased a set of these really cool trick bolts years ago for my son and sadly they are no longer available.

The machining in these is what really make these shine, I likely would have purchased more back when Lee Valley offered these but I suppose I could say that for just about any puzzle I’ve ever purchased.

In case anyone comes across this set, please contact me anytime..