Imperial Scale Puzzle

Objective:
Remove the ring.

Materials:
1 – 4” x 4” x 1/4” plywood
3/8” drill bit
1 meter of 1/16” braided string
4 – 1/2” beads
One ring 1” to 1 ½” diameter

How to Make:

Draw the square’s diagonals on the wood. On each

diagonal mark points ¾” from corner and ½” from center
point. Drill a hole through all eight points.

1. Attach a 1-foot length of cord to the base by threading

the ends through two adjacent corner holes, and
knotting each under a bead beneath the base.
2. Repeat Step One on the 2 remaining holes on the
opposite side of the base.
3. Tie the two loops of these cords at the top.
4. Tie one end of the remaining piece of cord to this knot, and thread the other end as in the
diagram: down through the adjacent hole and the ring, around the descending strand and
through the ring and the hole diagonally opposite to the first, up through the remaining
hole, and its own loop.
5. Tie to the top knot.
 Imperial Scale Puzzle
Solution:

1. Thread the central loop C down through Corner hole A.

2. Pass the loop over the bead and pull it back to the top
side. Corner A
3. Pass the loop through Corner hole B, pass it over the
bead and pull it back to the top.
4. Pass the loop over the knot from which the base hangs
and bring it down around threads D and E.
5. Repeat step 3 for the remaining two holes.

Corner B

Loop C

Corner D Corner E
 Block and Tackle Puzzle
Objective:
Transfer a ball from one side to the other.

Materials:
1 – 1” x 1” x 4” block
3/8” drill bit
1 ½ meters of 1/8” braided string
2 – 1” beads or rings

How to Make:

On one long side of the block mark a point ½ inch

from the long side and ¾ inch from one end.
Center the 3/8 inch bit on this point and drill a
hole through the block. Rotate the block 90°.
Drill a second hole on the opposite end, ¾ inch
from the bottom and ½ inch from the long side. Note: the holes are drilled at right angles
to each other. Sand and finish the block, either paint or clear coat.

Thread the block. First take one end of the cord and thread it through the top hole from
back to front. Next, pass it through the right-hand bead. Pass the thread through the
lower hole from right to left. Now pass it through the left-hand bead. Thread it through
the top hole, from front to back, and counter clockwise round the top of the block. Sew
the ends together.
 Block and Tackle Puzzle
Solution:

Before using this solution, be sure to place the puzzle before you with the cords arranged as
in the picture.
1. Pull the top loop out toward you, and then
pass it back over the top of the block.
2. Run the left-hand bead up the cord until it
passes through the top loop.
3. Now, pull the two cords which run through the
top hole, bringing them toward you. Pull
them until the loops which carry the two
wooden beads emerge through the top hole
enough for the left-hand bead to pass through
the loops.
4. Move the left-hand bead along the cord and
through the loops.
5. Pull the loops back through the hole, pulling
on the cords at the back of the block.
6. Slide the left-hand bead up the cord and
through the loop at the back, until both balls
are at the same side.
 African Ball Puzzle
Objective:
Transfer a ball from one hanging loop to the other.

Materials
1 – 1.5” x 10” x 1/8” board
½” drill bit
60 cm of 1/8” braided string
2 – 1” beads or rings

How to Make:

Drill a hole one inch from each

end centered from top to bottom.
Find the exact center of the board
and drill a hole at that point.
Sand the board, and paint or clear
coat it.

Thread the beads on the cord as shown. Secure the ends by stitching.

Alternate Construction: Use an 1/8 inch bit to drill the holes at the ends. Put the string
through the holes and knot the free ends behind the small holes in the board.
 African Ball Puzzle
Solution

1. Begin with the central loop lying in

front of the bar as in the picture.
Pull the loop toward you.
2. Slide the left bead up the cord, and
pass it through the central loop.
3. Keeping the bead in place, pull the
left and right sections of the cord
toward you through the hole in the
bar by pulling the central loop.
4. Slide the bead along to the right
and through the two central loops that are now at the center.
5. Pull the central loops back through the hole.
6. Let the bead slide onto the right-hand section of the cord.

Make corresponding movements, but working from right to left, to transfer the ring back to
the left cord.
 African Ball Puzzle 1
Objective:
Transfer the balls from one hanging loop to the other.

Materials
1 – 1.5” x 10” x 1/8” board
½” drill bit
80 cm of 1/8” braided string
7 – 1” to 1 ½” beads

How to Make:

Drill a hole one inch from

each end centered from top to
bottom. Find the exact center
of the board and drill a hole at
that point. Sand the board,
and paint or clear coat it.

Thread the beads on the cord

as shown. Note the central
bead must have a hole large
enough for 4 strands of the
string to pass through. Secure
the ends by stitching.

Alternate Construction:
Use an 1/8 inch bit to drill the holes at the ends. Put the string through the holes and knot
the free ends behind the small holes in the board.
 African Ball Puzzle 1
Solution

1. Loose the central loop. Slide

the central bead and the first
right-hand bead up through it.
2. Pull the two adjoining
sections of the cord so that the
central loop is forced through
the hole in the bar, toward
you.
3. Draw the newly appeared
double-stranded loop through
the central bead.
4. Pass the first bead through the
double-stranded loop as it
comes through the central
ball. Pull the double loop
back through the holes in the
bead and the bar.
5. Loosen the loop that is now at
the center, and pass the first bead through it and onto the left-hand cord.
6. Pull the central loop over the central bead and let the bead drop into place.
7. Repeat this series of movements, each time transferring one bead.
 Victoria Puzzle
Objective:
Separate the pieces.

Materials
1 – 2” x 2” x 1/4” board
2 – 2” x 4” x 1/4” board
1 meter of 1/8” braided string
½: drill bit

How to Make:

Drill three holes, equally

spaced, in the 4” long board.
Drill two holes, equally spaced,
in the 2” square.

Connect the ends of the string,

either by melting the ends
together or stitching the ends
together.

Thread the cord through the

pieces. Pass cord through the
center hole in one of the 4”
pieces. Return to the top through one of the end holes, passing the end through the loop
formed by the other end of the cord. Weave the cord through the 2” square. Pass the end
down the first hole of the second 4” piece. Return it to the top by passing it through the
hole at the other end. Pass the end through the center hole. After you have pushed all the
loop through the hole, pass the other pieces through the loop. Now, pull loop tight by
pulling the extra cord back through the center hole.
 Victoria Puzzle
Solution:

Take the loop at the center of

one of the 4” pieces, and pull
it out of the hole. After you
have pulled 5 or 6 inches of
the loop through the hole,
push it away from you
through the hole closest to the
2” square. After you have
pushed all of the loop through
the hole, pass it over the other
two pieces of the puzzle. Pull
the loop back through the
hole, and it will be possible to remove the cord.
 Triplets Puzzle
Objective:
Remove the cord from the wooden pieces.

Materials
3 -- 3” x 3” square or 3” circle of ¼” plywood
½” drill bit
1 ½ meters of 1/8” braided string

How to Make:

Drill three holes in the plywood in a

triangular pattern. Sand and finish
the plywood either by painting or
clear coating.

Loop the cord through the pieces as

in the picture. Bind the ends
together by stitching the ends
together.
 Triplets Puzzle
Solution:

Take the loop from one of the three disks and

pass it through hole with the string
connecting the disk to the rest of the puzzle.
Slide the other two disks through the loop.
Take care not to twist the cord at any time.
Pull the loop back through the ring to its
original position, and the first disk will be
free. Repeat these movements with the other
two disks.
 Yoke Puzzle
Objective:
Remove the cord from the puzzle.

Materials:
1 – 3” disk ¼” plywood
60 cm piece of 1/8” string
2 – 2 cm beads
½” drill bit

How to Make:
Drill the three holes in the disk. Sand
and finish the plywood.

Weave the string in the puzzle.

Thread each end of the string into a
bead and tie a knot in the end.
 Yoke Puzzle
Solution:

Pull loop toward you. Then, weave

loop through the middle hole and back
up through the bottom hole. Pass the
beads through the loop. Pull the loop
back up through the two holes and the
string should be free.
 Woodworm Puzzle
Objective:
Remove the ring from the puzzle.

Materials:
1 – 5” long 2” x 4”
80 cm of 1/8” string
1 – ¾” bead
½” drill bit
1 ½” hole cutter

How to Make:
One the 4” x 5” top, measure 3/4”
from each corner and mark. Drill a ½” hole at each corner mark. Find the center of one
2” x 5” side. Drill a ½” hole through the board at this mark. Find the center of the top
and cut a 1 ½” hole.

Sand and finish the board.

Sew a loop at one end of the string that will not allow the bead to pass through. Now
thread the string. Pass the string up through the upper right-hand corner hole. Then
thread the string down through the upper left-hand corner hole. Slide the ring under the
strings on the top. Pass the string through the upper side hole, up through the 1 ½” hole
through the ring, over the string on the top, down through the ring and through the lower
side hole. Now, pass the string up through the lower left-hand corner hole, over the ring,
under the loop formed by the string passing through the side holes, over the ring and
down through the lower right-hand corner hole. Pass the string through the loop at the
other end of the string. Finally, put the bead on the string and tie a knot to secure the
bead.
 Woodworm Puzzle
Solution:

Pull loop toward you until you have enough string to pass the loop through the lower
right-hand corner hole. Pass the loop
through the hole, through the loop in the
string and over the bead. Pull the loop
back to the top of the puzzle. Now, pass
the loop through the upper right-hand
corner hole. Pull the loop over both the
string with loop and the bead. Be
careful as you complete the next move
or you will end up with a knot,
especially when you try to reverse the
process for replacing the ring. Pay
particular attention as to the whether
you pass the loop above or below the bead. Pass the loop up through the loop in the
string and over the bead. Pull the loop back through the hole and the ring should be free.

Reverse the process to replace the ring.

 One Loop Puzzle
Objective:
Remove the string from the puzzle.

Materials:
1 – 2” x 4”
50 cm of 1/8” string
1 – ¾” bead
½” drill bit

How to Make:

Drill the holes according to the picture. Sand and finish

either by painting or clear coating.

Thread the puzzle as shown. With the string folded in

half pass the loop through one of the two holes side by
side. Pass the ends of the string through the opposite
hole and up through the loop. Pass the ends of the string
down through the middle hole and back up through the
bottom hole. Insert the ends through the bead and tie the
ends to secure the bead.
 One Loop Puzzle
Solution:

Pull loop toward you. Then, weave loop through the middle hole and back up through
the bottom hole. Pass the beads through the loop. Pull the loop back up through the two
holes and the string should be free.
 Two Loop Puzzle
Objective:
Separate the pieces of the puzzle.

Materials:
1 – 2” x 2” ¼” plywood
2 – 30 cm pieces of 1/8” string
4 – ¾” bead
½” drill bit

How to Make:

Drill two holes, evenly spaced, in

each square of plywood. Sand and
finish the plywood either by painting
or clear coating.

Pass the ends one piece of string through the holes in one square and thread the beads
onto the ends. Now, tie a knot in each end to secure the beads. Next, tie a knot in one
end of the remaining string, thread one bead on the string, and pass the end through one
hole of the second square. Pass the string through the loop formed by the string on the
first square and down through the remaining hole on the second square. Now, thread the
remaining bead on the string and tie a knot to secure it in place.
 One Loop Puzzle
Solution:

Pass one loop through a hole in the other square. Pass the bead through the loop and pull
the loop back through the hole. The
pieces should be separated.
 Slit Puzzle
Objective:
Remove the string.

Materials:
1 – 2” x 4” piece of leather
30 cm of 1/8” string
2 – ¾” beads

How to Make:

Cut the slits in the leather as shown. The two

parallel cuts should be long enough to push the center strip
through the short cut and pass the bead through the loop
formed by the center strip when pushed through the short
slit.

Thread the string on the puzzle as shown. Slide a bead on

each end of string and tie a knot in the string to secure the
beads.
 Slit Puzzle
Solution:
Pull the leather center strip forward forming a loop. Push
the newly formed loop through the short slit. Pass one bead
through the loop to release the string.