3 Post Puzzle

This is a fun puzzle that is pretty easy to make. The goal is to remove the ring from the post. The solution is similar to a few of my previous puzzles shown here and here. I'm not sure who the originator of this puzzle is but similar styles are commonly sold online or in gift shops. A video of the solution is shown as the last step.

Tools:

• Miter Saw
• Drill Press
• 3/8, 3/4" and 7/8" Drill Bits
• 1.5" hole saw
• Sander
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Lighter

Materials:

• Wood - 5.25" Square by 3/4" Thick
• Wood - 2" Square by 1/4" Thick or a Ring (ID larger than 3/4")
• Dowel - 3/4" Diameter by 6.5" Long
• Paint/Stain (optional)
• Paracord (24" Long)
• Wood Beads (3/4" Diameter)

You will be building to this drawing. The overall size is arbitrary. You can scale the design up or down based on your materials.

Cut the equilateral triangle (all sides equal / 60 degree internal angles) as shown. I used a miter saw to make these cuts.

Mark the hole locations by drawing lines 3/4" from the sides. The intersections are where you will drill the holes. I used a 3/4" diameter Forstner drill bit and went about half way through the base.

I rounded all the edges (besides the holes) with a hand sander.

Mark the 2" and 1.5" locations on a 3/4" diameter dowel. I practiced on scrap by drilling the 3/8" diameter hole in one shot. This method tore the back face of the dowel and looked pretty bad. I went back and drilled a 1/8" hole through the dowel. I then drilled the 3/8" bit from both sides. This produced a very clean cut.

This step is optional. I added a dark walnut stain to all the parts followed by a couple coats of polyurethane.

Align the three post as shown in Step 3. Glue into place.

You can either purchase a ring or make your own. I made this one from a 1/4" thick piece of pine. I used a 1.5" diameter hole saw to cut the circle. I then used a 7/8" diameter Forstner drill bit for the center hole. Note that you can use the original piece of wood for a guide. I just wrapped a piece of duct tape around the 1.5" slug to make a tight fit in the original piece.

I made a couple of rings. I finished one in light oak. The other was painted with yellow spray paint.

I used a 3/8" drill to add counterbores to one side of each bead. These are needed to capture the knot in the paracord. Note that this picture is showing both sides of the beads.

You are now ready to assemble the puzzle. The following steps give away the solution. Don't read any farther if you want to try to solve it mentally. Start by cutting a piece of paracord to 24".

Place a ring on the top post as shown. Feed the paracord through the bottom post. Add the beads to the ends of the paracord. Tie a knot on both ends. Add glue to the knots and pull them into the counterbores.

Feed the paracord through the top post as shown.

Feed the paracord through the bottom right post as shown. Place the bead through the loop as shown above. Pull the loop back through the post.

Repeat this process on the bottom left post.

Pull on the beads to tighten the loop around the top post. The puzzle is now ready to be solved.

Final pictures of the puzzle.

If it wasn't clear from the pictures, hopefully this video helps.