How to Make an Escape Room Puzzle

See how I made an escape room puzzle from a globe!!
Sponsored by Lowes
See the DIY Escape room video at • DIY Escape Room: Can T...
TOOLS & SUPPLIES:
kit.co/iliketomakestuff/escap...
kit.co/iliketomakestuff/my-wo...
kit.co/iliketomakestuff/shop-...
Arduino code: github.com/iliketomakestuff/i...
A while back, a guy named Andrew reached out to me asking if I wanted to work on a secret project with Lowes. I'm a big fan of the store Lowes, so of course I said yes. Andrew came up with an awesome idea of a DIY escape room where two trade professionals, Grant Thompson (The King of Random) and myself would use our skills and experience to escape a set of rooms full of puzzles. Like I said, awesome idea :) That description was really about all we knew going into it. They intentionally kept us in the dark so we had to actually problem solve our way out of the room. A couple of months back, I found myself in Dayton Ohio, going through a giant wooden door, into a dark room.. and the door shut behind me. The video of how we did in the escape room is on the Lowes KZbin channel and you should DEFINITELY go watch it. As a way to bring some of the mystery to my own channel, I made a small puzzle box that could exist in an escape room. The idea evolved quite a bit after having gone through the DIY Escape Room and it ended up being a globe.
Check out the video above to see how I made a fun little puzzle game and see if it gives you some ideas for making your own escape room or table top puzzle game! Also, be sure to go check out the Lowes KZbin channel to see the DIY Escape Room video and a behind the scenes video about the whole project.
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How to make an Escape Room Puzzle | I Like To Make Stuff
• How to Make an Escape ...
I Like To Make Stuff
/ iliketomakestuff

[@Iliketomakestuff]

Yes, I said "LCD" instead of "LED". My bad. Any of the pieces would work in any of the locations (but the players don't know that). Regardless, all 4 locations have to be found to win.

[@maxtherrien8397]

I Like To Make Stuff woops

[@TheJWXbox]

Whoops!

[@copenhagis]

Hey Bob. Just wondering. Do the pieces have to go into their own position? Or would any piece in any correct position still win you the game? And how did you differentiate the different pieces to the ardwino if that was the case?

[@nissanslut7870]

I Like To Make Stuff that lexan non plexiglass. Plexiglass is not flexible

[@derfel08]

I am sorry if I answer out of place, but I am pretty sure that in this current set-up any pieces could be used to trigger any switches. I did an escape room puzzle that works on a similar principle. I personally used RFID tags and sensor. The problem was the price, the tags and reader come to a premium. I also have an other suggestion, but would be more tricky to explain in a quick comment

[@mineslime7766]

You should add more metal on the inside, so the player can't figure it out that simple by sliding the magnet above the surface of the globe.

[@user-gl1ls1jx3h]

I was just about to write this. This would be easy to figure out after the first piece, if you add washers all over you actually have to read the story

[@acoffeewithsatan]

Also, it doesn't take that much time to force open those 3 number combination locks. I used to have a lock with the same mechanism back in high school for when I used the gym lockers, I used to play around with it and by quickly rotating the 3 variables in opposite directions, you can get the right combination in under 20 seconds. Not really an hack-proof puzzle, but it's a very cool concept nevertheless.

[@acoffeewithsatan]

Note that you have to keep pressing the button to open the lock at the same time so it disengages when you get the right combination.

[@FitzroyCo.]

+André Fontes Why would a puzzle need to be hack proof? What kind of sociopath would participate in a puzzle game then cheat to complete it. The goal of puzzles isn't to complete it, it is to solve it...

[@Dosbomber]

Not only add washers, but update the firmware so it will give you a wrong lock code if less than 4 of the reed switches are activated. :)

[@JohnMadeit]

for Christmas i don't like to give my kids all their presents all at once (they don't appreciate them) so i was thinking to make some puzzles/maps/clues where they would find the answer to open a box and get their present.. this video has given me some ideas how to do it. Thanks

[@JohnMadeit]

Zack Lunas Thanks. I have them sometimes😝😊

[@somedude2492]

Poor kids... Simply give them the present and thats it. It's not bad if they don't appreciate the presents, Christmas is about beeing in family, not about the presents.

[@duon44]

Juan Sambucetti yea, poor kids getting a super fun experience and presents after

[@claynite2784]

I would of loeved to have this experience when I was younger, having to search for gifts and look at clues! It would make it so exciting and I would remember the gift much better!! It wouldnt seem as disposable

[@RandomGamerzGR]

nice idea

[@SpecificLove7]

That is an awesome globe puzzle. I also watched the Lowes video and it was awesome to see you and Grant working together to help solve it.

[@DeltechMun]

Wife: Hey bob, do you remember when I sacrificed my favourite globe to help you with your lifelong dream of making KZbin videos? Bob: Yes honey, it was 4 hours ago. And I thought it was spare. Wife: No it was my favourite. Irreparable and irreplaceable. Bob: What can I do to make it up? Wife: Globe sized diamond. As a start. Next video : Hi I'm bob. And I like to mine.

[@Iliketomakestuff]

+akshat garg hahaha

[@memisgigas1780]

akshat garg ΜΑΛΑΚΑ κλαιω

[@ygross6576]

I had to put a LCD into a box and had to mesure it with digital calipers then draw a box with the same measurements and then cut it out. Now i learnt to just use a piece of tape. Such a smart idea! Thanx Bob

[@henrikvtcodes]

You should make a little worktable cart that you can bring places where you're working. It could have a sizable work surface, nice wheels, extension power. cool stuff like that. I think this would be a good project, and you could really put some thought into it. I was that beaming kid with a backpack and sunglasses who you said hi to after the Making on KZbin panel. You are in my top three favorite youtubers.

[@mrmartinimo2299]

Nice Work! You can add some springs behind the drawer, so the drawer popps out automatically.That would be a nice effect. :)

[@mrfaffley4479]

What a brilliant thing to build! A great project for schools to use as it combines electronics and DIY. Teams of kids could each build a puzzle for an escape room in the school.

[@Iliketomakestuff]

Great idea!

[@famitory]

concept: a maker-centric escape room. the puzzles are all incomplete mechanisms and to solve the room, you have to build the rest of the mechanism using the parts and tools in the room

[@I3urton]

famitory Sounds a little like Crazy Machines, one of my favorite video games growing up

[@jmakes3745]

what about if the aim of the game was not to escape the room but to build 'x' thing and in order to get the things you needed to build 'x' thing you needed to unlock a series of puzzle like you would normally do in an escape room game?

[@caldasReport]

That's pretty much what Lowe's did! Have you seen the vid?

[@jmakes3745]

Santiago Calderón I’ve watched the video - lowes used tools to make/fix things to escape. Where saying what if in each room you had to solve puzzles in order to get tools and then make a part of something, to be allowed into the next room - once you’ve made the thing you can escape completely. So for example, room one you solve a puzzle to get a tape measure, another puzzle for a pencil and another puzzle for a circular saw and then another puzzle to tell you, you have to cut 4 2x4s to length to make table legs. & then In the next room you could get metal tools to be able to make a table top and so on until you’ve made the thing

[@adamengland6609]

This is my new favourite video from you Bob. Original, very cool and nicely executed.

[@BobtheBuilder0]

That’s amazing dude! Keep it up!👍🏻

[@user-wq9rq1tt8x]

Bob de Bouwer Kunnen wij het maken😂😂

[@erikanimations1367]

Lol

[@superescaperoom991]

We also make such riddles. The video is an excellent example of how much work can stand behind a single riddle) The result is really shaky, but how much effort, knowledge and fantasy you have to spend - and so almost with everything in the escape room.

[@cammie9766]

simply amazing!!...but what if you put some magnets as a trap to make the clock go faster? you would do it more exciting.

[@77martinv]

Realy cool. It makes for a great surprise gift packaging too...

[@TommyDBZ]

'Bob 3:16 says I just clamped your ass!' Great build Bob! My best friend actually just got a job as a Game Master for a Titanic themed one over in Belfast here :)

[@timsway]

Super cool, Bob!

[@jeblottes7838]

tim sway I

[@anabcloete5877]

Nice

[@matt_williams1015]

Cool project! I'm loving the new camera work with the addition of Josh!

[@sentinelmoonfang]

Awesome to see a video on this sort of thing. Literally what I do for a living.

[@rhoula]

Now that is a great project. Thank you for sharing.

[@whynotlabs6320]

Loved the puzzle! Thanks for sharing. :)

[@ChippedBuilds]

This is so cool. I’ve always wanted to do an escape room. Also nice surprise to get a video on a Monday. :) great job as alwaysl

[@stephencaldwell1123]

WOAH!! Im in love with this project. Perfect thing to try for someone wanting to work with Arduinos! Very Cool!!!

[@Walsfeo]

That jig is fabulous. Though I would have tried to use a thinner blade, if possible, to cut the globe.

[@maxximumb]

That was a brilliant use of a micro controller for a puzzle. The globe and story was inspired. Well done.

[@jamesroach6348]

Just watched the Lowes Escape room, awesome! That was super cool

[@albertsbd3681]

It's the funniest, smartest and coolest idea !! 👏👏👏. Thank you.

[@TheHammockMan95]

Awesome project! I enjoy these secret and trick objects.

[@davebauerart]

Cool puzzle. Looks great and clever but not too complicated.

[@limuunited1532]

You should make another escape room puzzle video! I’m trying to get some ideas for the escape room I’m making.

[@epiccarpenterpro]

Wow that’s amazing . Awesome puzzle 👍

[@nosrepsuomynona7192]

this is great! first time I heard of an actual escape room puzzle, I always thought these were just video games. You learn something new everyday.

[@plantcattooliver2396]

I actually learned about your channel in the DIY escape room video! Love your videos! ♡

[@justinlee5298]

Nice project! Do you have a wiring diagram by chance? I'd love to make one

[@ExNotesRec]

For some reason I enjoyed this video more that any other making video out there. Thank you Bob.

[@YaddleGaming]

Always Happy to See that you uploaded a new Video!

[@louisestaciechester4544]

OMG....this puzzle is AMAZING.....great idea.....I will definitely be trying my best to make something this awesome in the future

[@davesuydam1730]

Bob much respect! I keep up to date on a lot of youtube diy channels and you have always done a great job with making unique interesting content that is concise and well executed. Keep it up man, Love the podcast "making it," it is truly amazing what all 3 of y'all are doing and I love hearing authentic updates and real life advice from yall that are actually doing it. Keep it up - your videos get better and better each time.

[@Iliketomakestuff]

+Dave Suydam thank you so much Dave! I really appreciate that!

[@shanedeibert8782]

That's great! I really like the combination of all kinds of different skills needed to make this. I geocache and this might come in handy for some of the cache ideas people have come up with! Great work Bob!

[@Iliketomakestuff]

Nice! That'd be awesome!

[@djAnakin]

This is a pretty rad puzzle. Nice work. Also, that escape room video was pretty cool too. Nice work!

[@Sergey-wg7ne]

This is simply awesome and made me want to build my own room like that!

[@DTHRocket]

Gives me lots of ideas, thanks

[@taroshrimp6631]

This is just so incredible mate!

[@russdixon614]

cool concept and build

[@julianvidal7361]

I've played a whole bunch of these but never one with a puzzle as cool as this!

[@emiliolujan7100]

Nice proyect! I really enjoyed it!

[@wmfranz]

such a great idea. you are super talented.

[@WymansWorkshop]

Sweet project Bob! This one is right up there with your arcade

[@MRrwmac]

Excellent Professor!

[@ecrusch]

Really cool project Bob. Your electronic projects are always cool. Thanks Eric

[@Iliketomakestuff]

Thanks Eric!

[@phicklep]

Awesome. Love it! Cool escape room video too!

[@DylansDIYWorkshop]

That is awesome! I love the jig you used to cut the globe in half! I would've hidden that switch for the globe better if you were using it in an escape room. You would'nt want the participants to be able to turn the whole thing off

[@JonathanRansom]

I love this puzzle!

[@jeremygunkel]

Super rad, my dude.... High five! I ran into the same cardboard issue when I cut a letter out of an old book. But it does sand nicely.

[@williamturner8428]

Fantastic video Bob!

[@domenicokleanthous]

Amazing builds as always!

[@CCross777]

No wonder King of Random - Grant Thompson hasn’t been in his videos lately, he’s been working on that escape room. And as always, great video!

[@itsaboomerang]

This is rad, bro! It was fun working with you on the Lowes project. -Wes the Cameraman..

[@Iliketomakestuff]

+Itsa Boomerang Wes!! Good to hear from you man!

[@fyrstorm2010]

Looks fun, thanks.

[@sgsax]

This is a really cool project idea!

[@escaperoomcatalog9811]

Nicely done!

[@MCsCreations]

Really nice! Fantastic work! :D

[@MajidAlQassimi]

Epic build!!!

[@smu1129]

I like the subtle (to me) change in filming and editing style.

[@Iliketomakestuff]

+Smü 👍🏻

[@TheWoodYogi]

Great work Bob. Superb idea for a puzzle :) ॐ

[@pczoide]

WOW!!! That's cool!!! Thanks!

[@FredMcIntyre]

This is awesome Bob! 👍👊

[@MarissaFloro]

I just found you through Grant's and Lowe's videos. I'm totes now a subscriber!

[@Iliketomakestuff]

Awesome, thanks! Glad to have you on board!

[@janwijbrand]

Great project, it has everything in it! (Ok, excepted welding, but really, one could incorporate even that if you want to)

[@a4.432hz]

Really cool idea! It always puts a smile on my face when you upload a new video :)

[@Iliketomakestuff]

Thanks so much!

[@Mishaalikka]

oh man the music in the second half of the video was just amazing

[@robertwolinski7294]

Super cool, that's a great fun project idea to get non-makers introduced to the hobby.

[@felixthecrazy]

After you cut the globe in half, clean up the edge and use liquid superglue on the edges to bind the fibers and prevent further breakdown.

[@NochSoEinKaddiFan]

A clever game :) And I learned that reed switchhes exist and what they do, thanks ^^ I thing Lowe did a great job with that room, Moe was a significant help in finding the clues. And seeing you in one video with Grant Tompson was really cool!

[@MichaelAlm]

What an awesome idea!

[@xilliman]

Wow. This work is awesome. Your so creative.

[@Iliketomakestuff]

You're very kind! Thank you!

[@dubya13207]

Oh man I love puzzles like this! Now I need to go find a bunch of old globes lol

[@PHANTOMzx177]

This was really interesting & fun to watch! :D you should make a DIY camera cage for DSLRs, that would be a cool idea! Loving your work Bob!

[@gasmask9893]

brilliant idea!

[@baldcreations8044]

mate that's just brilliant, one of your best yet

[@Iliketomakestuff]

Thanks Mark!!

[@sillysausage72]

That... was pretty cool! 👍

[@forestlampcraft472]

hat’s amazing dude! Keep it up!

[@1312ara]

Lmao ”hats amazing”

[@retrofilmwork]

Aarnooozz Lmao it’s only typo

[@aidanwansbrough7495]

That's really cool!

[@vigsaminathan5910]

That's so WOW!

[@petermiller6146]

So cool! I am so inspired now. I've been trying to come up with a cool way to create interactive puzzles like this for years. You've just blown my mind. I've now had several sleepless nights after seeing this trying to think of cool ways to interpret your brilliant idea into something a idiot like me could achieve. Awesome job Bob. As always.

[@joshnigh]

Great build, I really like the puzzle. Personally, I would use hall effect sensors instead of reed switches. They tend to be more consistent and reliable in this kind of application.

[@rml015]

This is amazing!

[@DaleHawkins]

Consider adding felt to the pieces so they don't rub on the globe and give away the locations over time.

[@JunkWorkshop]

Nuts project! Love it

[@tompritch56]

Cool idea

[@ForthRight]

This is cool! I would add some more switches that are an instant lose if they are triggered that way people cant just slid the magnets around and cheat

[@jmains]

Very clever!

[@buildersmark]

That's flipping Awesome!!

[@Iliketomakestuff]

Thanks so much!

[@toraryugraphiperso3411]

A really amazing puzzle, I love it!

[@Iliketomakestuff]

Thanks so much!

[@finndriver1063]

Replace the switch on the bottom with two tilt switches on opposite sides of the equator. To turn it on, spin the globe: the centrifugal force would trigger both at the same time.

[@MrSoftwizard]

Great project!

[@semperparatus3685]

This gave me an idea for RFID based escape room for my kids. Thanks!

[@olivergilmartin]

Excellent. Really creative. I now subscribe.

[@LifehackerNEDERLAND]

This is awesome!

[@user-wq9rq1tt8x]

This is so awesome man well done👍🏼👍🏼

[@Iliketomakestuff]

Thanks so much!

[@garrettmercier2015]

Monday video release, wonderful surprise! Awesome and thank you. Great you are on board with Lowes too! The speed of the first 3 1/2 minutes felt like a race, but the rest of the video was a better fit for my tastes, if that matters. Nice to see you experimenting with the video style though. Your editor is doing a great job.