Woodworking Puzzle Projects

Preparation

• Start with a square or rectangular sheet of lumber that is approximately 1/2-inch to 1-inch thick. Make the length and width any size you desire but consider keeping it around about a foot long and a foot wide. The puzzle is intended for a child so you do not want to construct one that is too large.

  Sand down all the wood's surfaces and edges so you are starting the project with a smooth, clean piece of lumber. A uniform surface is also better for accepting paint or stain.

Standard Puzzle

• Apply the stain and then the characters if you want to include a dark surface. You can forgo the stain to make the bright paints pop. Put figurines and shapes throughout the piece of wood and try to use pictures that the child will recognize or enjoy. Make the shapes around a few inches tall by a few inches wide so they are easily spotted and space them out approximately an inch from each other. Use a paint that is lead-free because small children tend to put their playthings in their mouths. Seal the paint with a nontoxic glaze so the paint does not chip away after extended use.

  Use a pencil to draw faint lines over the entire surface. Start on one side and draw a squiggly line all the way to the other. Repeat this step to make vertical lines. Avoid making the squiggly marks within the lines too close together because then they are hard to cut. Space the lines a few inches apart to create large puzzle pieces. Cut along all the lines with a small electric saw. You do not have to follow the lines exactly to make a successful puzzle. Lightly sand the edges of each piece to create a smooth edge but not take away too much wood.

Shape Puzzle

• Use a piece of wood with the same dimensions as you would use for a standard puzzle. Follow the same steps by adding characters or shapes and a coat of glaze. Instead of making lines throughout, cut around each shape using an electric hand saw with a thin blade so you can cut as close to exact as possible. Sand down all the cut edges and insert a wooden peg into the middle of each shape so the child can easily pick it up to set it into the correct opening from the sheet of wood you started with.