Part 18 (1/2)

A further variation of the puzzle is seen in Fig. 387. Here the joint is much simpler, and can easily be followed from the ill.u.s.tration.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 388.--Six-piece Joint Puzzle.]

CROSS PUZZLE.--Fig. 388 ill.u.s.trates a six-piece puzzle joint, similar in some respects to Fig. 369, but very much simpler. Both a back and front view of the piece D is shown for clearness of ill.u.s.tration. The method of a.s.sembling the pieces is as follows: Hold piece B upright, and fit piece D across; at the same time note that the small _x_ marks are opposite each other. Take piece E and, holding it as shown, slide it up the piece B (see arrow) until E engages D and the small _o_ marks are opposite each other. Piece C is now fitted behind D, and then piece F will slide in position and push downwards. The key-piece A is now put in position, and the puzzle is completed.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 389.--Mortising Puzzle, showing how the Parts Fit.]

MORTISING PUZZLE.--The ordinary mortising exercise is, after the first two or three attempts, generally voted as uninteresting, but, although the simple puzzle shown in Fig. 389 is practically an exercise in mortising, yet, forming as it does a puzzle, it becomes a fascinating piece of work.

The puzzle is composed of three pieces of wood, each 4 ins. long, 1-1/2 ins. wide, and 1/2 in. thick. In each piece a mortise 1-1/2 ins. by 1/2 in. should be cut as shown at 1, Fig. 390. In one piece, marked 2, a groove is cut on one side, 3/8 in. wide, and in another piece (3) a similar slot, but 1/2 in. wide, is cut, and this is continued on the other side of the groove to a depth of 1/8 in. The three pieces should be set out on a 13-ins. by 1-1/2-ins. by 1/2-in. length of wood, as shown at Fig. 391, and when ready sawn apart.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 390.--The Three Parts, with Sizes marked.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 391.--How to Cut the Parts.]

The puzzle is put together as shown at Fig. 389. In the first place, hold No. 1 piece upright as shown at A, then take No. 2 piece with slot uppermost and push it through the opening in No. 1 piece until the nearest side of the slot projects 1/8 in. as indicated at B. Next place No. 3 piece on with the slot at the back as shown at C, and push it down until it touches the bottom of the opening in No. 2 piece as ill.u.s.trated at D. The only thing to do now is to push No. 2 piece as far as it will go to make the figure as shown at E.

In this puzzle the parts should fit together fairly tight, but should not be too stiff.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 392.--Chinese Cross Puzzle.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 393.--Method of Putting Together.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 394.--The Six Pieces, each 4 ins. by 1 in. square.]

CHINESE CROSS.--Fig. 392 shows a variation of the Chinese cross, which is perhaps the most fascinating of all woodwork puzzles. Take six pieces of hardwood (Fig. 394) and accurately plane and saw them so that each piece will measure 4 ins. by 1 in. by 1 in. Bearing in mind that all the cuts are multiples of 1/2 in., set out, saw and chisel five of the pieces to agree with the sketches 1, 1A, 2, 2A and 3. Leave the key piece intact.

The puzzle is of course to fit all the six pieces together so as to form the Chinese cross or block given at Fig. 392. As a clue to the method of a.s.sembly we give another sketch (Fig. 393) showing four of the pieces fixed together. The reader can, if he so desires, make the puzzle to a smaller scale by using six pieces of wood each measuring 2 ins. long by 1/2 in. by 1/2 in.