Yeah, Revomaze looks interesting, I have perused the website a bit. I'd love to hear if anybody has tried it and liked it. I am reluctant to spend that much on a puzzle that doesn't come very highly recommended

Brian

Hi Brian,

Looks like a cool puzzle.  There aren't any rules really...no problem posting interesting stuff from other sites.

Here's a quick preview pic of what I've been working on lately.  It's called "In Brackets" and is a Sam Cornwell design (his prototype on the left).

Definite items for the next update include:
-In Brackets
-Rescube
-Edge Corner Cube II
-???

I think its time for me to explain about 220 current and why it is so different from 110 volt service. First of all, it's twice as big.
Secondly, it'll shock you more. Outside of that, 220 is really two 110 volt lines coming to your house from different parts of the globe.
The up and down 110 comes from the northern hemisphere, and the down and up version comes from below the equator.
Without trying to get technical, it all boils down to the direction water flows when it goes down the drain. In the top of the earth, it goes clockwise, while on the bottom of the earth it goes counter clockwise. Since most electricity is made from hydro dams, the clockwise flow gives you an up and down sine wave, while the counterclockwise version gives you a down and up sine wave. Between the two, you have 220 volts, while either individual side only gives you 110 volts.
This is particularly important to know when buying power tools- which side of the globe did they come from? If you get an Australian saw, for instance, it will turn backwards if connected to a US generated 110 volt source. Sure, you can buy backwards blades for it, but that is an unnecessary burden. Other appliances, like toasters cannot be converted from Australian electricity to American electricity, without horrible results. I knew one person who bought an Australian toaster by mistake and it froze the slices of bread she put in it.
If you wire your shop with 220 and accidentally get two US-generated 110 volt lines run in by accident, you can get 220 by using a trick I learned from an old electrician. Just put each source into its own fuse box and then turn one of the boxes upside down. That'll invert one of the two up and down sine waves to down and up, giving you 220. DO NOT just turn the box sideways, since that'll give you 165 volts and you'll be limited to just using Canadian tools with it.

Hi Kevin, nice to have you on the forum!  I'll add you to the list.  Sorry you missed the last update.  I don't like to spam people, so I only add them if they specifically ask.

I'm very glad you enjoyed the puzzles, and hope we have the chance to send more your way down the road

My latest shop tip 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0nN5zLrWB4

Admit to me that it is hard work though.

Sure is.  Took me several years to get acceptable at it; someday I may even be great at it!  I'm still improving with every project.  Having decent tools now makes a big difference. 

Welcome aboard Chris...glad to see you made it to the forum! 

Funny, I got into making puzzles because I wanted copies for my collection.  Now I hardly collect; I have a fixed space in my living room, and when the shelves get too full I pull a few and throw them on the marketplace. 

I still have certain puzzles I won't part with, but in general I find that once you have the means to make them, there's somehow less ownership satisfaction.  I think it's probably because my fun is in designing when it comes to puzzle boxes, and in the creative process involved in implementing someone else's design. 

Starting with a design say from Ishino's site, there's a lot involved in determining the joinery, wood types, tiny adjustments in dimensions to account for movement, etc.

It's incredible to me that the dollar is strong, considering our government is spending like a drunken sailor.  I think it hit an all time low during IPP last year, right when I was buying euros 

Wow, Robert pretty much nailed it.  Total was $868.

Thanks for the kind words guys.  Believe me, I'm not complaining about packing stuff up...if that doesn't happen, we go out of business!  However, each order is completely different and you'd be surprised how much work goes into getting stuff all packed up and out the door.   

As a side not, WOW have shipping rates gone through the roof since I started doing this.  A real bummer for our customers - wish it were cheaper. 

Anyone care to guess how much postage those packages represent?  I'll post the answer tomorrow.  It surprised even me.

Yeah, I think more moderately priced items are a good idea for now.  Which is a bummer because I have a couple puzzle boxes I want to make, but they would be too pricy :/

Hurray Monday!  This is what I spent my day doing

Hi Jeff,

Yeah, I only got three entries, so it was pretty much cancelled.  All entrants got a consolation prize.  I'll probably try it again if I have time down the road, and spend a little more attention on promoting it.  I thought maybe woodworking sites owuld pick it up and spread the word, but not so much

Yeah I was talking to Dan's son in Prague and he let me mess around with the new version.  HARD!  Kicked my butt.  Cindy got a lot further along than I did with it.

Hmm, I'm a pretty big fan of lock puzzles and I've never seen that one.  Could be a new design.  Did you contact the website and ask?  I'd be interested in what they say.