Puzzle boxes aka hellraiser

[Mark Williamson]

Ok, I know this is going to sound downright silly, but I'm curious.

Is it possible, or have any of you seen plans for, puzzle boxes, crypto boxes, etc.

Used to be (read this in crypto book) that there were these boxes that were like combination locks. Divinci designed one that stored a scroll inside it (or so the stupid movie suggests) and I've been fascinated by them ever since.

Also, if you have seen the hellraiser movie there is (of course hollywood fx) box that looked interesting. I wondered if one could build one (of course the movie version was all special effects) that you would take it apart by rotating halves or corners, pulling pieces out as you go.

These are close cousins



Also was thinking about a cedar jewlry box with a combination lock on top made out of wooden icons/characters that you turn to align the mechanism to unlock it. Looking for plans, etc.

[Jamie Buxton]

Do a google with "burr puzzles".

[Mark Williamson]

Thanks! I knew there had to be a name.

I found john rausch's site which is all about burr puzzles!

[Samuel Mill]

This one seems to be the best of the lot on Burr puzzles:

http://www.maa.org/editorial/mathgames/mathgames_08_02_04.html

In lukewarm defense of the "stupid movie", the Puzzle Box _is_ supposed to be magic. Clive Barker is actually a better-than-decent writer, although he was obviously more after the bucks than a cinematic masterpiece with the Hellbound Heart, et al. Quote from Barker during filming, "You can't make a horror movie without breaking heads..."

-Sam

[Paul O'Halloran]

Mark
This is an interesting site on Puzzles
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/bruce.viney/

Ap[c of a couple that I did

The one on the right is from Wood Mag. Feb. 1987, the one on the left is from American Woodworker Dec. 1991

Paul
http://paul.ohalloran.ca

[Jamie Buxton]

Paul --
How did you cut those curves? The blocks are too big for a scrollsaw, right? So was it a bandsaw? What kind of blade?

[Paul O'Halloran]

Jamie
The blocks are 4" square. I cut them on a bandsaw using a 3/16" blade

Paul
http://paul.ohalloran.ca

[James Davis]

I used to have a puzzle box that I bought at Disney World. It was really neat. You had to slide different parts of it at different stages ofd opening until you got everything in place and a drawer would open. I have not seen it in years and no chance of finding mine now but others might have bought one and still have it.

James Davis

[James Davis]

If you google "puzzle box" you will get a great many links to the subject.

James Davis

[Mark Patoka]

The Summer 2007 issue of Scrollsaw Woodworking and Crafts has a Puzzle Vault on the cover. Looks a lot like the DaVinci boxes you mentioned. You can get the back issue here: http://www.foxchapelpublishing.com/p...7&disccode=SSW