/r/mechanicalpuzzles

Photograph via snooOG

All about mechanical puzzles like burr puzzles, wire puzzles, dexterity toys and much more. Part of the Puzzle Network of subreddits.

Welcome to the world of mechanical puzzles. Please tag your posts. For spoilers you can use

>!write something here!<

which results in this. Please do not post any spoilers without good reason, and if you do make sure you use an appropriate warning and spoiler tagging.

In the following we present you some great resources for mechanical puzzles. If you know other links that should be listed here, let us know!

We also have a chat on Discord moderated by /u/Mq1982

Even though twisty puzzles are allowed here too there is a dedicated subreddit /r/Cubers/ If you like logic puzzles checkout /r/puzzles, for more lateral-thinking ones check out /r/riddles and if you're into /r/Jigsawpuzzles/ check it out:)

Fist of all I want to point to a very nice piece of software for puzzle enthusiasts:

BurrTools a program for solving various mechanical puzzles, made by Andreas Röver. If you have trouble with this program or just need someone to help you solve a puzzle, the following people will gladly help you out:

General Puzzle Links:

Puzzle collectors' websites:

Puzzle shops:

Puzzle Books:

Links to other puzzle-related subs:

Please PM the Mods if you know a site/information to be added (or removed).

Rules:

  1. Please use (appropriate) flair All posts should use appropraite flair. Any posts that might lead to a (financial or other) gain of a party (be it the poster or someone else) must clearly be marked as "Advertisement". They are allowed as long as they are on topic and in the interest of the general community. Posts advertising (youtube and other) videos must be marked as "Video".
  2. Clearly mark spoilers verbally and with spoiler tag
  3. Only show spoilers when absolutely necessary for a discusion
  4. No more than one video per week

/r/mechanicalpuzzles

10,869 Subscribers

1

What is the cat hunting for? How to open this puzzle box? Hunter by Yoh Kakuda #toys

https://youtu.be/rmsF4wL4Wy0
Hunter puzzle is from the Karakuri 2024 Christmas Puzzle collection by Yoh Kakuda. This is the third puzzle solve video of this puzzle series, and it an interesting one! Always enjoy Kakuda san's animal themed puzzles and cats are certainly his favourite motif!

0 Comments
2025/01/31
16:23 UTC

0

Looking for similar puzzles

Hello! I’m looking for practical puzzles like Maiers two strings or this one I saw where you get several tools to reach a ping pong ball in a cylinder, but you just have to put the heavy things in the cylinder to use water displacement to reach it.

Also small puzzles like the marble canoe would be of interest, if someone know similar things.

Thank you so much!

0 Comments
2025/01/30
10:12 UTC

7

Dzine Stumped level 24

This game is “dzine stumped” it’s level 24 & I have spent an unhealthy amount of time trying to figure it out. The purple & orange pieces HAVE to be in the current positions they are in, they can’t be moved. The rest of the pieces have to fill the board. Please help I’m losing my sanity 😂🤦🏼‍♂️

5 Comments
2025/01/29
17:45 UTC

1

Puzzels that are fun to play over and over again.

I have noticed that most of the stacking and burr puzzels are basically done once you solve them. To me at that point they become clutter.

Not quite the same, but tangrams have hundreds of abstract images to copy and you can solve a couple and put it away for later.

Hopefully this gives an idea of what I am looking for.

5 Comments
2025/01/29
16:33 UTC

5

help with this burr puzzle

hey guys! I can’t solve this burr puzzle. i‘ve been trying for 2 years now ): would be really grateful for help!

4 Comments
2025/01/27
11:22 UTC

1

How to open the drawer of this Secret Box? Box with a Tree and a Star by Hiroshi Iwahara

https://youtu.be/m6zJ0Qnb768

Secret box with a tree and a star is from the Karakuri 2024 Christmas Puzzle collection by Hiroshi Iwahara. This is the second puzzle of this puzzle series, and it an interesting one! Super fun and pretty!

0 Comments
2025/01/18
02:01 UTC

3

I have no idea what this is supposed to be

Idk where this puzzle came from and idk what the final shape is supposed to be. I tried scanning the bar code but that didn’t really help. And im not even sure if i have all the parts tbh

5 Comments
2025/01/16
18:00 UTC

2

Is there anywhere I can buy the rhombic maze burr used, for cheaper

If anyone was selling a used ine at a discounted price, let me know. Or tell me where to look, if there's a marketplace for used puzzles, already checked eBay but didn't see any. It's too expensive for me, I would love to find a deal if it's possible.

2 Comments
2025/01/12
02:21 UTC

1

I need help with this burr puzzle

3 Comments
2025/01/09
20:26 UTC

1

Keychain Metallic Puzzle?

I discovered this keychain in a shelf in my house and I have been almost constantly fiddling with it for some (prefer not to say how many) days now. I have given it around as well and been told that it's not meant to be a puzzle, but I am not sure. I would be really grateful if someone could somehow confirm that it is or isn't, thank you! (In case it is not evident, one of the axes of the star (two of the "cones") is shorter than the other two axes.)

https://preview.redd.it/vsfzofjx51ce1.jpg?width=6120&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bdfc2e73eecbac2eb3c1965d503f3b7a1de66834

5 Comments
2025/01/09
19:34 UTC

2

How the hell do you open this Mimi 3d wooden puzzle 3?!

1 Comment
2025/01/08
10:46 UTC

3

Apparently these go together as a cube but I just cant figure it out. Any tips or guides?

Unfortunately I don't know much about this puzzle, it was given to me like that with no additional information

2 Comments
2025/01/07
14:11 UTC

7

Tips or strategy please

Received this as a gift. Having a difficult time solving.

2 Comments
2025/01/04
15:32 UTC

3

Karakuri Christmas Puzzle 2024 Vol.1 - Can I ring the bell? YATOTRTB by Yasuaki Kikuchi

https://youtu.be/lbkiLSghjw4

"You are the one to ring this bell" is from the Karakuri 2024 Christmas Puzzle collection by Yasuaki Kikuchi. This is the first puzzle of this puzzle series, and it was a great one! Super fun and pretty, whilst the mechanism is very satisfying!

0 Comments
2025/01/03
16:07 UTC

3

17 squares puzzle (efficient packing)

I quite enjoyed trying to find an efficient packing of 17 squares into a larger square. Here's a version you can 3D print https://makerworld.com/en/models/941489#profileId-907307

I've found a packing that is about 0.5% off optimal which I can post if anyone's interested

0 Comments
2025/01/02
16:05 UTC

1

Question about Martin's Menance piece quality?

I received this puzzle for christmas.

One question (not looking for solution).

Is the one piece (shaped like a Z) intended to be slightly "curved" - i.e. not sit flat when placed broad side down? When I do so, I can slightly rock it back and forth.

Just curious if I should be looking to exploit that fact or not.

1 Comment
2024/12/29
15:55 UTC

1 Comment
2024/12/28
19:47 UTC

1

How to put 10 cats into this tray? Fun and cute 2D packing puzzle! 10 Cats by Koichi Miura

https://youtu.be/AxJFdLoFLHE
10 Cats is designed by one of my favourite puzzle designers, Koichi Miura. This puzzle looks really cute and the solution is very satisfying!

0 Comments
2024/12/28
14:20 UTC

1

I have a Hourglass a Hanayama disentanglement puzzle. It is locked up in a position I can't get out of. Any help here. this is my first time using reddit.

7 Comments
2024/12/27
14:24 UTC

2

Tangled bracelets

No idea how this happens. This is the second bracelet that I have managed to tangle. Any suggestions on how to remove this knot? Thanks for any help!

3 Comments
2024/12/23
05:33 UTC

0

Unknown Puzzle, Can’t Solve

My coworker brought this puzzle in and we’ve all been fighting with it. He hasn’t even solved it himself. I don’t know the name of it either. help :,(

2 Comments
2024/12/22
11:35 UTC

2

I thought I have solved it 2 years ago? It looks so similar but so different! How to solve Kamelle

https://youtu.be/rJ78ZqSWWT8
When I first saw this puzzle I thought its gonna be easy as I have solved the spiritual predecessor, bonbon before. I was so wrong. The Kamelle Puzzle by Dr. Volker Latussek is so different to bonbon due to the slight difference in the dimensions of the pieces and the holes. Amazingly fun!

0 Comments
2024/12/20
16:46 UTC

2

Giiker Gray

May I ask, how is Giiker Gray compared to Giiker Black (colored tiles, original). Is it easier / less challenging? Thank you so much.

0 Comments
2024/12/17
11:06 UTC

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