Make a CRAZY Wood Puzzle Box! | Step by Step Instructions

I made a 12 step, 4 Sun wood Japanese Puzzle Box! It took a lot of tricky woodworking techniques to pull off. It takes 12 moves to open this small puzzle box and I think it's pretty crazy to think about all of those components into a wood box that is so small. I've always wanted to make a Japanese style puzzle box. Puzzle boxes are usually described in "suns", with 1 sun equaling about 3cm. My wood box is approximately a 4 sun puzzle box. This is the kind of woodworking that I love, making something fun and creative. Woodworking doesn't need to be utilitarian or serve a specific need. This project requires a ton of woodworking techniques and it is one of my biggest woodworking challenges in terms of precision. Each wooden part has to fit snuggly, yet still move freely. Making a wood box already requires a mix of woodworking skills, but trying to make a wood box with moving parts is a whole other ordeal. That said, while it takes a lot of patience it is completely doable when broken down into a series of small steps. Take it one step at a time and next thing you know you have a cool Japanese puzzle box.
My puzzle box requires 12 steps to fully open. When all said and done, it has a traditional interior compartment and a secret drawer that pulls out from underneath. To make this happen, the puzzle box has keys that move side to side, allowing parts to move up and down.
DOWNLOAD PLANS FOR THIS PROJECT HERE: newtonmakes.com/shop/p/puzzle...
--⏱️Timestamps⏱️--
0:00 Designing a Japanese Puzzle Box
0:28 Cutting Joinery for the Box
3:48 Creating the Locking Mechanism
7:31 Making the Box Lid and Bottom
9:12 Making the Box Front and Back
10:52 Building a Secret Box Drawer
11:37 Applying a Wax Finish
12:17 How to Open a Japanese Puzzle Box
•• About NewtonMakes••
I'm Billy and I make fun things. Sometimes, it's something I need like tool storage ideas. Other times it's silly or nerdy stuff that I want to build. If you want to get ideas for making stuff, or just want to watch something entertaining then make sure you subscribe.
Like that sweet t-shirt I was wearing? Check it out here: newtonmakes.com/merch
•• My Links ••
Patreon: / newtonmakes
Website: newtonmakes.com
Instagram: / newtonmakes
Facebook: / newtonmakes
Here's a list of tools and materials that I used to make this project. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
•• Tools & Materials ••
My Amazon Store: www.amazon.com/shop/newtonmakes
• Brass Setup Bars: amzn.to/3hDT350
• Table Saw: amzn.to/2RwQTJa
• Ripping Blade: amzn.to/30ZOJEV
• Cross Cut Blade: amzn.to/3kezMHf
• Grr-ripper Push Block: amzn.to/3IBPOrT
• Feather board: amzn.to/31C7d3m
• Compact Router: amzn.to/2RSJa7k
• Japanese Pull Saw: amzn.to/32YgD5C
• 1/8" router bit: amzn.to/36ibp8k
• Drum sander: amzn.to/2MyjpKG
• Planer: amzn.to/38LarPW
• Jointer: amzn.to/310uabK
• Drill Press: amzn.to/36yRj5U
• Double Sided Tape: amzn.to/3sOtnbd
• Narex chisels: amzn.to/36dM4dk
• Titebond Glue: amzn.to/3pjRPAu
• Combination square: amzn.to/3aPMN6n
• Random Orbit Sander amzn.to/2RxjkXo
• 120 grit sandpaper: amzn.to/2QW835c
• 180 grit sandpaper: amzn.to/39y5kVM
• Briwax: amzn.to/321dxxp
•• Graphics ••
Candles video clip by Samphan Korwong
Record video clip by Matthias Groeneveld
#finewoodworking #puzzlebox #boxmaking #howtomakeabox #woodworking #woodworkingfun

[@NewtonMakes]

Plans are available for this project. Check them out here: newtonmakes.com/shop/p/puzzle-box-build-plans

[@survivalsearcher]

I like the double compartment aspect of this puzzle box. Very nice

[@droogsurgeon1440]

So awesome to see one made, I have such respect and admiration for these little trick boxes!

[@austensperry4163]

Very very cool mechanisms! Imaginative and well-executed!

[@Karl-Johan]

Great video! Inspiring and full of insights. Impressive stuff!

[@brandonwoodworkersclub4097]

Awesome project! That's a mind bender to figure all that out to design it.

[@RobAFChat]

Loved seeing your safe working practices, just 3 mins into the video and felt I had to drop a comment. Great work 👍

[@gyro_9600]

Love the project! I just bought the plans for this. Can't wait to try em out and add some features of my own. Subscribed!

[@ericsaumier1224]

Thoses boxes are the exact reason I got into woodworking 20 some years ago... I never made a single one to date as I think I still havn't aquired the required skills. Your video make it look easy and gave me the kick I needed ! will purchase your plans and give it a shot! thanks new best friend!!!

[@NewtonMakes]

You'll be surprised at what you can accomplish once you try. 👍

[@isaak30]

Impresionante ¡👍 muy bonito trabajo.

[@steenfraosterbro3268]

Great build. Just bought your plans

[@davechenier123]

I downloaded the plans for this puzzle box and made one out of scraps that looks great and works well. I'm planning to paint it with authentic Japanese patterns to better conceal the joints.

[@1954compass]

You had me at "12 step"! Thank you so much for creating this - just what I was looking for. Just got my sides done which gives me confidence that I can do the rest. What an awesome project and very little wood is needed!

[@NewtonMakes]

It takes very little wood. But the project makes the most out of it! 🤣

[@1954compass]

@@NewtonMakes I completed 2 of these (one for each of our children) and was pretty happy with how they turned out. I used walnut and maple.

[@felixgarcia4001]

This is a great first I've seen that is in more depth than what i've seen online. I would search for what seemed forever to find these puzzle boxes and find plans or videos to try to make one. This is a huge help in the right direction. Great video and thank you!

[@NewtonMakes]

Same, Felix. It's exactly what I did. I couldn't find how to make one so I had to figure it out on my own.

[@SawdustmakerLori]

The box turned out AWESOME!!! Very precise and would be fun to give as a gift to see if others can figure it out. Love the Wenge and Maple together. Gives it such a sharp contrast. You do beautiful work!!!

[@NewtonMakes]

The contrast was a last minute decision but I'm glad I did it. Plus it may have been difficult for viewers to see how it was made if everything was dark.

[@moehoward01]

Terrific job. You might want to consider a less figured primary wood for the next one. The table saw kerf leaves a visible break in the figure. The puzzle boxes I've seen are either an unfigured wood or are highly decorated japanning, leaving the seams between moving pieces hidden.

[@Kosh42EFG]

Nice intro tune 🤘

[@madbomber40]

WOw. Nice

[@briangray5067]

Bought the plans and built this. Amazing design and it turned out wonderful. Thanks so much for sharing!

[@JB-tb1rq]

This is awesome! I have never seen one of these before. You made it look so easy, but I can’t even imagine how you came up with the plans! Well done man, phenomenal project & video!

[@NewtonMakes]

I'm not an engineer so it required a lot of head scratching and trial and error to plan. But after making the plans, I was able to build the project with no problem.

[@darrenbuckney6683]

Nice i like it. thank you

[@davidcaverly9659]

Puzzle box is on my bucket list as well, but I've been putting it off because I feel like it's gonna be a pain. This video was very confidence inspiring! 👏 👌

[@NewtonMakes]

Thanks for the kind words.

[@michaelbradford4444]

By far the coolest box I've ever seen !!

[@NewtonMakes]

It's one of my favorite projects!

[@rickvanhooren548]

This is your best one yet…incredible and truly functional art! Cheers from Ontario!

[@NewtonMakes]

It was one of my favorite projects. I loved making this thing!

[@xylocraft222]

Nice! I've always wanted to make a puzzle box. Maybe now I'll start this week!

[@NewtonMakes]

Give it a go.

[@arthurgriffin8358]

Dude, Billy, this is incredible. Thank you so much for sharing this. WOW. I went to your website and purchased a copy of your plans for the box. Proud to support your work, man!

[@arthurgriffin8358]

Would you ever consider a follow-up video showing how you created the design for the puzzle itself? Or showing how you would design another one?

[@NewtonMakes]

Thanks! If you run into any trouble email me on my website. I could possibly put together an extra video on how I designed it. Let me think on how I would go about it.

[@arthurgriffin8358]

@@NewtonMakes Will do, sir! Thank you!

[@jhspeer]

You should def sell these! I would buy one for sure. Hand crafted and small business supportive.

[@NewtonMakes]

While that would be fun, there's way too much labor for me to do it. I would have to sell each box for $1 billion. That's an approximation of course.

[@petehafner1659]

Finally, someone made a puzzle box! I ordered the plans before I finished watching the video. Can't wait to get into the shop and build this. Thank you woo-hoo

[@NewtonMakes]

Great at here. Hopefully you get a chance soon to make it.

[@billysworkshop]

This is some real cool piece of work! Thank you

[@NewtonMakes]

Appreciate it 👊

[@andykg73]

such a great looking box. Not sure im quite up to making puzzle boxes just yet.

[@NewtonMakes]

Never know until you give it a shot. It certainly doesn't have to be a 12 step box. 🤣

[@metzessible1271]

Awesome work. I'd love to see the design thinking process behind how you came up with this idea.

[@NewtonMakes]

I talk about it in my Patreon video and in the plans on my website. Basically it came down to playing around with stuff until it worked.

[@socscholar14]

Really epic! Well done!

[@NewtonMakes]

Thanks!

[@stephenrecknagel1099]

Well done!

[@NewtonMakes]

Thanks!

[@vincents3334]

I just completed this box. What an insane build. Instructions were good and the box came out working and looking good. Double and triple check your measurements and cuts and everything will fit together perfectly. Fun project.

[@NewtonMakes]

It's a lot tiny parts. My brain hurt from designing it.

[@vincents3334]

@@NewtonMakes I can imagine. Nice job.

[@TwoMooseDesign]

Beautiful work!

[@NewtonMakes]

Thanks, it was one of my favorite projects to date!

[@older-wiser-better]

EXCELLENT, BRAVISSIMO !!!

[@NewtonMakes]

Thanks!

[@williamellis8993]

That's an amazing puzzle box, Billy. I'm curious what goes on in your mind when you design something like this. I'm probably not even going to attempt it at this time. Thanks for sharing. Take care. Bill

[@NewtonMakes]

I thought it would be cool to make one and then asked myself "how can I make this one piece move this way?" Once I figured out I kept adding movements until things got out of control! Haha!

[@justinbanks2380]

This is freaking awesome! And even though I normally can follow your explanations at the beginning, this is definitely one where I was like 'huh?' and then you went, 'don't worry about it. It will make sense later' Lol, entertaining and inspiring! Great job!

[@NewtonMakes]

It's so difficult to explain verbally. But by the end I hoped it made some sense. 🤣

[@justinbanks2380]

@@NewtonMakes lol, yeah I wouldn't even know where to begin trying to explain that. But you did an amazing job!

[@hansolo.72]

Crazy and awesome;-)

[@NewtonMakes]

Exactly my goal.

[@book1136]

New to your channel!!!! Great video and sweet box I’ll have to put it on my list of things i want to build.

[@NewtonMakes]

Thanks for checking it out 👍👊

[@user-oc6qh3xr8f]

It would help is a complete lumber list is included with plans. Not just dimensions of parts

[@Yasmina_kipling]

How much did this project cost you (excluding cost of your plan and table saw)

[@stefandookeeram1080]

Beautiful precision work. The computer animations were a great touch. My only wish is that you could put up 2-3 videos a week 😅 (I know it’s tough with the precision work you do) so I’ll have to be patient

[@NewtonMakes]

I like visuals so I figured others do too. I'd love to put out more videos. I know of very few makers putting out one video a week if they aren't full time video creators. Maybe I can throw in some live streams.

[@victorbruce5772]

Scaling the puzzle box up, a puzzle chest, or bigger yet, puzzle trunk would be cool.

[@NewtonMakes]

Yes!

[@stephenbarnett7394]

Nice project, plans purchased, though disappointing to find they are only in Imperial (Inches). Despite the provided conversion table you might want to consider providing dedicated metric plans. After all 7.5 Billion people use metric while only 400 million Americans (plus Liberia & Myanmar) still use the old system. Keep up the great work.

[@boblasley5640]

Sweet little project Billy! Definitely wouldn't want to put something in that box you would need in a hurry...........well, at least I wouldn't because after I slept a few nights it would take me 5 minutes to remember how to get into it. 🙄

[@NewtonMakes]

I would only keep highly valuable items in it such as ink pens that routinely get stolen by family or coworkers.

[@michaelprout4991]

Looks like you used SketchUp for the design and animation. Is that correct? If so, is the model available?

[@NewtonMakes]

I used Fusion 360.

[@davecurda2350]

Cool

[@NewtonMakes]

Thank you

[@Island.dweller]

Videos are starting off good for 2022. Did you get a new cam?

[@NewtonMakes]

I did! Major upgrade to the Canon R6 shooting in 4k.

[@paulfarcas4522]

Hi, great job building this box. Can you tell what tool did you use in order to design this?

[@NewtonMakes]

Fusion 360

[@josemaurer7668]

Very hard! And very welldone. Where you got it? Did you creat this?

[@NewtonMakes]

Yes, I came up with the design.

[@Berserkerbaboen]

Bricklink got software to translate this wood into..... LEGO PARTS!! So the mission is clear....

[@darrenbuckney6683]

where would i find the plans for this great little box. many thanks

[@VampBookLVR]

I don’t have this puzzle box yet. Do you make these to sell?

[@sleim754]

At 4:32 What kind of pencil do you use?

[@NewtonMakes]

Eagle eye! It's a Pentel drafting pencil amzn.to/3AJhF6T

[@Hoss_1966]

in your video it says you can download the plans for free, but go to your site and you are charging for it, where can I get it for free like you said? there is no join button anywhere, thanks

[@NewtonMakes]

They are free to Patreon members. There's a link to sign up in the description. The "join" feature no longer works; this is a dated video.

[@the_merc9918]

But first, let’s set the mood: plays chinese music (at least is sounds a lot more chinese than japanese).

[@NewtonMakes]

The music was from Japan by Japanese musicians.