Fig. 388.—Six-piece Joint Puzzle.
Cross Puzzle.—[Fig. 388] illustrates 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 illustration. The method of assembling 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.
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, 11⁄2 ins. wide, and 1⁄2 in. thick. In each piece a mortise 11⁄2 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 11⁄2-ins. by 1⁄2-in. length of wood, as shown at [Fig. 391], and when ready sawn apart.