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[Robert Yarger]

I've been working the for last week on a new design, and finally got most of the details panned out.  I'm stepping outside my confort zone on this puzzle, doing something entirely new.  This will be my first spherical puzzle box. 

Some of you may know that I have been working on and off on an onion puzzlebox for several years now.  Not only have I finally figured out a way to make it work, but I have also figured out a way to make it round (sphere).  You have to solve it from the inside to remove external layers (like an onion).  Like the snowflake, it also comes apart into multiple pieces that have to reassembled once solved, so it is two puzzles in one.



   

[Stephen Chin]

Wow! Me and John would like to know if it involves "turning"...please make his day. Turning moving parts is a real hazard, but there are ways.

Send a proto pic and place me as No 1 on the list. Man, you are full of it,,enough to make a grown man cry,,,get it!. I am making something that will also be a first, give me a week, not as spectacular as yours.

[Robert Yarger]

I'm still afraid to own a lathe.  I've seen the effect it has had on the rest of you addicts. 

No, I was originally planning on using my CNC carving machine to make the spheres and hollow out the centers.  I spent 2 days programming the stupid thing, only to realize that my CNC has a safeguard programmed into it that won't allow cuts deeper than 1" deep (the length of its longest carving bit).  The balls it carves are perfect, but with a 2" diameter maximum size.  This does not allow for a very large secret chamber (think Eric's Mame Box)

***Here is where John makes fun of me for being unable to disable a safety device****

I actually am now making the balls from scratch.  That is, I am cutting all the individual parts so that they produce a sphere once the pieces are assembled (thus outside my comfort zone, but also fun and challenging). 

However, sense I can stamp out 2" balls easily on my carving machine, I was thinking of also making some minerature versions that were not puzzle boxes, but rather just puzzles.  Sounds perfect as Christmas presents, but we will see if time permits me to make them as well.  IF so, I would call them my mini woo, (oh I guess that name is already taken). 
     

[Stephen Chin]

Oh, be my guest and use the Woo anytime, maybe the Woooo, which brings me to the subject of The Legend of the 3 Woos,untold

Long, long time ago,far, far, far away 3 Woos were given to the Tibetian Monks to ward off the Invading Tartars . They were called Woo Tuck Fook!, Woo Tuck Shuet! & Woo Tuck Huell! Roughly translated as The Vessels of Prosperity, Happiness $ Ability.(So far, you have been blessed with the 2 at IPP, the last one, I kinda haven't made yet)

Legend has it that he who drinks from these 3 Vessels will have emmence wealth and power, and also control the price of Oil. All 3 Vessels have since dissapeared, last sightings, somewhere in the Red Sea. It has been reported that only Buddha has seen them, hence his Enlightment!

There you have it,,,I'm full of it too....Ha
PS Get a lathe

[Robert Yarger]

Wasn't there a German vessel with similar properties long ago.  I think it was called the "ferkn der arse", and it left small puncture wounds on the buttocks of children who made up crazy stories.

[Matthew Dawson]

Robert,

  Have you checked with universities or high schools in your area to see if they have professional woodworking machines. I am sure some of those places have continuing education classes that will teach you how to safely use machines or perhaps get around the safety features.

p.s. when are you going to make the mushroom trapped in the honeycomb box?

[Robert Yarger]

Maybe I should check with James Strayer to see if there is any more room in class.

The mushroom honeycomb box is next on my list, I promise.

[Stephen Chin]

You don't need lessons, after the 5 clonk on head, you learn to duck real quick. When we meet, I'm the one with the multiple head scars,,,,OK OK I did take lessons, about 30 years later, Still no good at it, but its fun and addictive

[Canuck]

p.s. when are you going to make the mushroom trapped in the honeycomb box?

Matt, Robert's still trying to figure out how to get his mushrooms out of the hive, literally!!

[Robert Yarger]

John, It's Good to Have You Back.  You are so fun to joust with.  You may have won this one, but the war is still on.  But alas, I do need to get back into the shop, so I will live to fight another day.