For me, I am a through and through natural born up-cycler. In this journey I have been enjoying retrofitting old boxes, sometimes they are cigar boxes, sometimes they are vintage boxes. Every time, each box brings unique challenges, and lessons if we are able to see them. I am a playful person at heart and could never really see myself giving a gift card without making it more fun. Trick Boxes can be a fun place to explore with mechanisms and secret compartments to explore that don't keep the box locked. Generally surprise is the fun angle to explore. There is a fairly standardized vintage box out there, and they all once held playing cards. So easy to make a bunch, or a line of different ones. This particular design is the 5th in a lifetime goal of 10. Other designs were one that fired a kids gun cap when opened, 2 different spider flingers, a magic prop, and one that was a puzzle. Perhaps the part I am enjoying is the insert that locks into place once in the box. This novel idea just sort of fell together and even though this particular insert was designed to come out fairly easily, I can see how the insert could look many different ways. So young Jedi of the puzzle realm, your challenge if you decide to take it on is to find a couple of these playing card boxes and make one like this, but then for the advanced class, can you create something different, something with more challenge using the insert template? Good Luck!

This Tea Caddy is definitely one of the oldest boxes I have retrofit to date. These kinds of boxes can bring an interesting perspective to building a puzzle in that all of the compartment spaces are already provided. Drilling holes in tight spaces and make for unique challenges. Not being able to drill where metal fillagree takes up space, all part of the new intention. The Tea Caddy was once part of Winston Churchill 's estate at Chartwell. The exterior is a fine layer of Ebony, brass, and Mother of Pearl inlays. With a little research we find that Winston preferred Scotch Whiskey and that this tea caddy was likely a gift to staff back in the day. The first box I ended up making is an 18 push-button lock, where there are over 260,143 possible combinations if I don't say how many push-buttons there are. Fun clues that are written as mathematical formulas make this super challenging. What are your thoughts, experiences with retrofitting old boxes?

Hey Guys, thought I would share a fun little trick with you. While I am capable of adding nice little brass hinges to a box lid, I tend to try to find alternatives if I can. Same goes for little parts inside of a box. I recently needed a part to flex easily so the long end could engage with a post for locking sake. So, I used a fine hand saw to cut thin dados in the stock to receive the hinge plate. A little instant glue and they are held permanent for ever. As you can see, I didn't exactly get the dado in as squarely as I would like, but luckily it still works as intended. This might even work for a door, more experimenting is required. No matter the project, enjoy what is on your bench!

Hey Folks, let me know if you would like to see a module of this mechanism. It is fairly easy and won't stump anyone for long. However, like with other builds, we can certainly add more to add complexity. I do believe there was more work to creating the top glue-up from my offcuts, lol This design was about making a locking system that was influenced by the dowel pin attached to the side trim. Strong magnets hold it in, so its not super easy, or fall out by accident. This was a box swap I did with some other fellas. I think he was a happy guy at the end of the day.

It can be challenging when making puzzle boxes as there always seems to be more that you can add if there is still a lot of space inside the box. Here are two simple methods that can be used in a variety of ways. Here, on the left end of the Push Button Combination box I added a Brass Rod that easily slips one way or another, well, unless the Brass Rod is not aligned with the notch in the dial assembly poking through the back. I could have weighted this dial and dropped the knob on the outside, but that might have been too much that is hidden with no clues. By adding the Knob on the outside it definitely makes it easier to see that there is a step here. The role of the Brass Rod here is to block the Drawer from opening on the Left Side. At the right end, I used a simple Gravity Pin, but made to suit this particular situation of blocking the drawer from coming out. There is a small Pin and block that allows the Gravity Pin to rotate. By turning the box upside down and tapping, it will release. Getting the just right setting takes a bit on adjustment during final assembly. Pushing the magnet deeper into its setting can help make it not too strong. I used 5/32" here, probably would have been fine with an 1/8" magnet. Knowing what direction to go and what directions to not go is also a well served lesson. Enjoy the shop time!