This series was built and designed by Jonny from Jonny Builds.
It features five woodworking illusions that play with perspective, geometry, and clever engineering — ranging from classic tricks to kinetic sculpture.
Each piece looks impossible at first glance, but they’re all built using standard woodworking techniques and tools, combined with Jonny’s creativity and troubleshooting. It’s a fun, mind-bending lineup packed with visual surprises and practical takeaways.
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Why These Illusions Work
Every illusion Jonny builds relies on controlling how the viewer sees grain, joinery, shadow, and motion. These tricks highlight key woodworking fundamentals like precision layout, clean glue-ups, and planning for visual alignment.
From a simple split board that hides a pencil, to a water ripple automaton powered by rotating cams, each project is both visually impressive and packed with technical insight.
Illusion 1: Pencil in Wood
This project reimagines the “nail in wood” trick with a modern twist. A standard yellow pencil appears to be fully embedded through the center of a solid hardwood board.
The secret lies in splitting the board cleanly along the grain, creating a nearly invisible seam. After carving a channel for the pencil and rejoining the split, the grain alignment hides the modification almost entirely.
It’s a low-risk build with big visual payoff. Jonny recommends using straight-grain hardwood for best results and taking care to minimize glue squeeze-out during reassembly.
Illusion 2: Penrose Triangle
The Penrose Triangle is a visual paradox: three beams arranged to appear as a continuous triangle from one specific viewpoint. Jonny creates it using mitered hardwood pieces, assembling them into a rigid stair-step form.
The key is camera alignment — the triangle only appears correct from one viewing angle. To achieve that, parts are taped and adjusted, then the final cut is made only after verifying the illusion through the lens.
This build scores high for visual impact and moderate for difficulty. Patience and test fitting are crucial for getting the angles just right.
Illusion 3: 3D Mosaic Cube
This piece is a flat panel that appears to contain a three-dimensional cube. Using contrasting veneers, Jonny assembles a tessellated geometric pattern that tricks the eye into seeing shadow and depth.
The cube illusion relies on grain direction, color contrast, and tight alignment. A walnut frame helps emphasize the shadow effect while hiding any minor misalignments.
Although veneers are delicate and require careful handling, they allow complex patterns without bulk. Clamping blocks or vacuum-bag setups help keep the layers flat and stable during glue-up.
Illusion 4: Four Towers Cutting Board
This functional piece creates the illusion of stacked towers rising from the cutting board’s surface. Through careful angled glue-ups and contrasting wood tones, the pattern emerges as a set of raised forms.
Jonny ran into alignment issues during his first attempt, which forced him to rebuild the board. It served as a reminder of how small setup errors on the saw or jointer can multiply across a project.
The success of this piece depends on patience and precision. Dry-fitting each section before glue-up is essential, and a clean finish helps the pattern stand out.
Illusion 5: Water Drop Automaton
The most complex project of the series, this automaton uses stacked rings, offset cams, and moving feet to simulate a water ripple. As a crank is turned, the rings move in sequence to create the illusion of motion radiating outward.
Jonny faced several engineering hurdles — from cam weight to dowel flexibility — and solved them with creative solutions like lighter materials, 3D-printed collars, and square dowels for stability.
This expert-level build combines woodworking with mechanical timing. While not for beginners, it offers insight into motion design and the value of templates, jigs, and iteration.
Shared Lessons from All Five Projects
Jonny’s illusion builds reinforce a few recurring lessons:
- Visual alignment matters — especially for illusions. Test views through a camera before committing to final angles.
- Tool setup is critical. Even minor misalignments on the table saw or jointer can derail complex glue-ups.
- Flexibility pays off. Swapping materials, re-cutting parts, or adapting with 3D-printed solutions helped Jonny recover multiple times without starting over.
- Illusion builds train your layout, planning, and attention to detail — all essential skills for leveling up in woodworking.
Final Thoughts
These five projects show how creativity and problem-solving can turn ordinary materials into something extraordinary. Whether it’s the surprise of a pencil hidden in a seamless board or the smooth motion of a ripple carved from wood, each illusion adds a new layer to the craft.
Jonny from Jonny Builds brings humor, honesty, and real shop experience to each design. He’s not afraid to show what goes wrong — and how to fix it — making each project as educational as it is impressive.
Please support Jonny by checking out his website here: https://www.jonny-builds.com/.