Woodworkers know that some projects can present a bit of a challenge to create, but when designing and building a puzzle box, challenge is the goal. Puzzle boxes come in a variety of configurations from very simple, unlocking in two or three moves, to very complex combinations such as the Japanese puzzle boxes, some of which can take over one hundred moves to solve.
How do Secret Boxes Work?
The beauty of a puzzle box, or brain box as they're sometimes called, lies not only in the wood and patterns used in its construction, but in the ingenuity of the hidden locking mechanism. This could be anything from sliding panels, hidden compartments, hidden keys and locks, to gravity pins that, once the proper combination has been applied, often unlocks the box to reveal a secret compartment for hiding valuable objects.
While a secret compartment in a wooden box may not deter the most determined of thieves from absconding with hidden valuables (a simple hammer can smash open most boxes), it does protect items from the casual observer. These specialized boxes can be used to hide keys and combinations, jewelry, or other items that might be easily lost or misplaced.
Fortunately for modern woodworkers interested in this wooden art form there are several books available for enthusiasts that contain diagrams and detailed instructions for crafting simple wooden boxes and wood puzzles that are much less complicated than the Japanese puzzle boxes. Some of these make use of intricate interlocking shapes, while some of the more advanced books on the subject address the use of panels and pins as in traditional puzzle boxes.
Precision Measurements Transform Wooden Boxes Into Art
Even though the design of a simple puzzle box may be less intricate, there can be no less attention given to detail and precise measurement than that of the more complex secret boxes. Precision measurements are essential in creating a wooden puzzle box. Panels, pins, and edges have to work together flawlessly or the result will be an imperfect puzzle that may jam or not work at all.
Building a puzzle box is a time consuming hobby. Wood takes a considerable amount of time dry and cure properly, and once that process is complete, measuring, cutting, remeasuring, sanding, and assembling can also take a great deal of time. The precise attention to detail that is necessary in this art may be one of the main reasons that there are so few wooden puzzle box creators in the world, and why some styles in particular are becoming a lost art.
Additional Resources:
- Puzzling Puzzles
- Quagmire Puzzles
- Cleverwood Puzzles
- Puzzle Craft by Stewart Coffin, 1992. Free pdf download
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