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How do I Build a Wood Lock Puzzle?

Wooden puzzles are classic toys that still amuse children today. They can provide hours of entertainment as the kids figure out the different ways to assemble a cube from five different-shaped pieces. There are many possible solutions to this puzzle, too, so children are free to challenge themselves and use their imagination to discover them all. Fortunately, it is much easier to make this puzzle and all of its pieces than to assemble it.

Things You'll Need

22.5 feet of square wood rod with a 1.18-inch edge
3 pieces of 6-inch-by-6-inch wood, .64 inch thick
Tape measure
Jigsaw
Wood glue
Clamps
Sandpaper

Instructions

- 1
  Using the jigsaw, cut the wood rods into 36 1.18-inch-long pieces and 96 2.36-inch-long pieces.
- 2
  Glue two 2.36-inch-long pieces of wood on top of each other, leaving an overhang of 1.18 inches on each end. The piece will look like a stair step. Clamp the pieces together until the glue sets. Sand the entire newly glued unit until it is smooth to the touch, but do not round the corners and edges. Repeat 11 times.
- 3
  Glue one 2.36-inch-long piece to the end of an identical piece to form a long L. Clamp the pieces together until the glue sets. Sand the entire glued unit until it is smooth to the touch, but do not round the corners and edges. Repeat 11 times.
- 4
  Glue one 1.18-inch-long piece on top of one 2.36-inch-long piece to form a square L. Clamp the pieces together until the glue sets. Sand the entire glued unit until it is smooth to the touch, but do not round the corners and edges. Repeat 11 times.
- 5
  Glue one 2.36-inch-long piece on top of an identical piece so it forms a square L no matter which way you look at it. Clamp the pieces together until the glue sets. Sand the entire glued unit until it is smooth to the touch, but do not round the corners and edges. Repeat 11 times.
- 6
  Glue two 1.18-inch-long pieces to opposite sides of one 2.36-inch-long piece to form a T. Clamp the pieces together until the glue sets. Sand the entire glued unit until it is smooth to the touch, but do not round the corners and edges. Repeat 11 times.
- 7
  Glue together the three square pieces of wood to form one corner of a cube. Clamp the pieces together until the glue sets. Sand the entire glued unit until it is smooth to the touch, but do not round the corners and edges.
- 8
  Assemble the pieces into a cube using the container you made in Step 7.

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