Formidab L Cube, 37th Auction Results

The third puzzle we're releasing in 2026 is called Formidab L Cube. As the name suggests, it's a real head scratcher. If you think you've got what it takes, give it a shot. Anyway, you can check the product page for the details, but let me take a moment to talk about shipping.

When we make puzzles, the final weight is something we always keep in mind. When it comes time to ship, whether it stays under 500g makes a pretty big difference in cost. For expensive puzzle boxes, SD puzzles, and polyhedral puzzles, shipping is a small part of the total price. But for cheaper puzzles, shipping can end up being a much bigger chunk.

When we made Cubic Fusion, we tried to cut the Zebrano cube as large as we could from the timber we had on hand. As a result, the shipping weight went over 500g, and the shipping cost ended up being higher. Formidab L Cube is in the same category, so this time we wanted to keep it under 500g. We made it smaller than Cubic Fusion. But the Australian Chestnut we used for the box turned out to be heavier than expected, so the shipping weight went over 500g again. We could maybe just barely get it under 500g by using a lighter box and cutting back on packing materials. But compared to when we started our business, puzzles getting damaged in transit has become much more common these days. So we've gradually had to increase the shipping weight to better protect the contents.

If shipping costs are on the higher side, we can hold onto your ordered puzzle instead of sending it right away. Then, when we release another puzzle in the future, we can ship them together. That way, the shipping cost per puzzle becomes more reasonable. If you'd like us to hold your puzzle, just let us know when you place your order.

This is also why, as mentioned above, we decided to sell the second grade Formidab L Cube. There are people out there who don't really care about minor imperfections and just want to buy a puzzle to enjoy for as cheap as possible. Since the second grade version comes without the box and fits under 500g, we can keep the shipping cost from being too much of a burden on the customer.

Before launching our new product, we held our 37th auction and listed four puzzles. The total winning bid amount this time was AUD $3,388, so we donated about half, AUD $1,700, to Backpack Bed For Homeless Australia. We're really happy that the funds raised through your generous bids can be delivered to people in need.

Happy Puzzling!

Snub Star - polyhedral interlocking puzzle

Today is the release date for the Snub Star. This blog post is being published just before the launch, but we anticipate that by the time many people see this entry, the Snub Star will already be sold out.

Polyhedral puzzles with a high number of pieces require a great deal of time and effort to produce. The Snub Star consists of 60 pieces, and the work and time needed to create a single puzzle far exceeds that of making ten typical 6 piece burrs. Furthermore, due to its large size, it occupies considerable space during manufacturing. Consequently, no matter how hard we try, the production quantity is inevitably limited. In the early days of our business, it was common for polyhedral puzzles to remain in stock for months after release. However, in recent years, it has become impossible to produce enough to reach everyone who expresses interest in owning one. If anyone reading this blog is interested in creating and selling the Magnus 60 or Snub Star themselves, please contact us. After consultation, if both parties' conditions are met and an agreement is reached, we will provide the data necessary for licensed production of these puzzles.

The Snub Star is crafted from stock pieces with a design length of 222mm. We start by preparing stock timber of about 50cm to 1 meter. Even with a 1 meter length, only four pieces can be obtained. If there are imperfections like knots or chips in the timber, the yield becomes even lower. Discarding the leftover material, pieces shorter than 222mm after cutting out the basic shapes, would be very wasteful. So, to reuse this surplus material, Juno designed the Trick Opening 6BP. From the remnants left after cutting pieces for the Snub Star, there was enough material to make several dozen Trick Opening 6BP puzzles.

The notches on the Snub Star pieces are all combinations of multiple angles. The jig is tilted and rotated, and the dado blade is also tilted to cut the notches. With pieces processed this way, it is difficult to verify if the notches are at the correct location, with the precise angle and depth. Even when using calipers, hooking the tips onto pointed or angled surfaces or edges makes it uncertain whether the measurement is accurate. As a workaround for this problem, a mirror image piece created with a 3D printer proved effective. Matching the processed piece against its mirror image makes any imperfection immediately obvious. Despite these refinements, accurately carving the total of 180 notches across the 60 pieces requires intense concentration.

This project presented many challenges, so we felt immense relief when the manufacturing was finished. We believe the completed puzzle is something that will satisfy the collectors' desire to own it. We hope that those who receive this puzzle will be pleased with it.

Happy Puzzling!

Cubic Fusion

We have released a put-together puzzle called Cubic Fusion. It is a puzzle that uses ten rectangular pieces to construct three cubes (3x3x3, 4x4x4, 5x5x5) and one larger cube (6x6x6).

The use of distinctive wood gives it an attractive appearance, and we believe it is an item that will satisfy the desire to own something special.

Since Juno's interview was published in The New York Times just before last Christmas, the number of visitors to our shop and new account registrations has increased. Considering this, we made a concerted effort to produce enough Cubic Fusion puzzles so they would not sell out instantly. Having our puzzles sell out in a flash is not what we want. We believe it is ideal for first time visitors to our shop to find some puzzles in stock, allowing them ample time to consider whether to make a purchase.

Predicting puzzle demand has become very difficult, and we are often surprised by actual sales results. While this blog entry is being published immediately after the Cubic Fusion launch, how will things actually turn out? We hope our puzzles reach customers who will cherish them for a long time.

Happy Puzzling!