How do I solve my 6 block puzzle?

July 19, 2015 4:15 PM

More than 10 years ago, I got a 6-block wood puzzle at a market in Portland,OR. It's NOT the standard Burr puzzle, even though it results in a similar shape, with a meatier core and less sticking out on each side. I used to be quick to solve it but alas, I no longer can figure it out. I think it's beautiful but also don't have use for 6 pieces if I can't solve the puzzle. Anyone know the puzzle? Can you help?
posted by jenbo1 to Grab Bag (5 answers total)

Since it's a non-standard burr puzzle, it's diabolically difficult to google a solution, and not having it in my hands, I can't try to solve it for you.

However, you can try to remake it in Burr Tools, a program for designing and solving these interlocking puzzles. Sourceforge is down so you'd need to get it from mirrorservice.org.
posted by satoshi at 5:44 PM on July 19, 2015 [1 favorite]

oh that sounds cool (google cache of web site). i am going to have to read that code... (oh, but it's c++!)
posted by andrewcooke at 5:52 PM on July 19, 2015

Response by poster: Cool thanks! Will play around on this and see where I get!
posted by jenbo1 at 6:12 PM on July 19, 2015

Sorry for the borked link on the tutorial... here's the right one.
posted by satoshi at 7:27 PM on July 19, 2015

Here's some information in depth on identifying burr puzzles - yours looks fairly standard. I wouldn't be surprised if there were more than one solution.
posted by doteatop at 10:12 PM on July 19, 2015