This project was built and designed by Billy from Newton Makes. These three woodworking puzzles are fun, challenging, and simple enough to complete in a single day, making them excellent gifts for friends, family, or teachers.
Each design offers a chance to sharpen woodworking skills while building something thoughtful and interactive. Billy walks through every step of the process in his video, making it easy for other woodworkers to follow along or add their own twist.
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Why Wooden Puzzles Are a Great Choice
Wooden puzzles offer a tactile, mind-bending experience that digital puzzles just can’t replicate. They’re small, portable, and perfect for stocking stuffers or quick handmade gifts with a personal touch.
These puzzles are also great for sharpening skills like precision cutting, drilling, and gluing. And since they can be made from scrap wood, they’re affordable and eco-friendly—ideal for quick shop sessions when time is limited.
Puzzle #1: The Nails Puzzle Cube
The first project is a cube-shaped puzzle that uses six interlocking wooden blocks with round dowels acting as locking pins. It looks simple, but assembling the pieces in the correct order is harder than it seems.
Billy builds the puzzle from oak, cutting and gluing smaller pieces together to form six distinct puzzle blocks. Some of the joints are reinforced with CA glue to speed up drying while keeping the assembly tight and strong.
Once the blocks are assembled, Billy drills through them using a simple MDF jig that keeps the parts aligned. Dowels are inserted into five of the six blocks, with one key dowel added at the end to lock the entire cube together.
Even when you know how it works, getting the cube assembled correctly takes a little patience and planning. Billy rounds over the edges and sands all faces to make the finished puzzle comfortable to hold and manipulate.
Puzzle #2: The Devil’s Knot
The second puzzle is a classic: the Devil’s Knot. It’s made from six interlocking wooden pieces, each with notches and cutouts that allow them to slide together in a precise sequence.
Billy begins by cutting rectangular blocks to size and attaching a printed template to guide the cuts. He uses the table saw with a ripping blade for straight lines, and follows up with a chisel to finish areas the saw can’t reach.
Each piece has a specific shape and role in the final assembly. Some pieces have large cutouts, others smaller steps or channels, and one acts as the key that holds the entire puzzle together.
It’s a rewarding challenge that tests your ability to visualize internal shapes. Once you find the correct combination, the puzzle clicks together smoothly—making it just as fun to solve as it is to build.
Puzzle #3: The Six-Cube Triangle
The third puzzle plays with perception. It’s made from four wooden components that come together to create the illusion of six cubes arranged in a triangle.
Billy starts with a perfectly square board, cutting it into evenly sized cubes. These cubes are then glued together into four specific configurations, each made up of one, two, three, or four cubes.
After the glue dries, the pieces are sanded and slightly rounded over for comfort. The modular design means the pieces lock together in one very specific way to complete the final triangular prism.
Despite its odd shape, this puzzle isn’t overly difficult. That makes it perfect for kids or casual puzzle fans who want something satisfying and just a little tricky to figure out.
What Makes These Projects Ideal for Busy Woodworkers
Each of these puzzles can be made in under a day, and they don’t require any fancy materials. With just a few basic tools—like a table saw, drill, and clamps—you can knock out one or more puzzles in a short session.
They’re also great for using up leftover material. Scrap hardwood, pine, or even plywood can all be repurposed into functional puzzle pieces, keeping waste low and creativity high.
Because the puzzles are relatively simple to batch out, you could easily make several at once for holiday gifts or party favors. A light oil or wax finish enhances the grain without making the pieces slippery, preserving their tactile feel.
Practice, Creativity, and Fun in One Project
Wooden puzzles give woodworkers a unique opportunity to blend function with creativity. Even when following a template, you can experiment with different wood types, edge treatments, or even puzzle complexity.
The process builds useful skills—accurate measuring, clean cuts, tight glue-ups—and rewards attention to detail. It’s also an enjoyable way to spend time in the shop when you don’t want to tackle a large, multi-day build.
A Great Gift With Lasting Value
Each of these three puzzle designs—the Nails Puzzle Cube, the Devil’s Knot, and the Six-Cube Triangle—is small, clever, and memorable. They’re the kind of gifts people keep on their desks or coffee tables and come back to again and again.
Billy from Newton Makes has once again delivered a woodworking project that’s approachable, affordable, and satisfying. Whether you build just one or all three, these puzzles are a great way to combine skill-building with a bit of brain-teasing fun.
Please support Billy by visiting his website here: https://www.newtonmakes.com/shop.