How to Solve the Hardest Hanayama Puzzle - Detailed Explanation!

[@joanvaughn2391]

My husband Eldon Vaughn invented the Enigma back when he was in high school in the 1950s. Originally it had the two tail pieces only. Years later after he graduated college a friend at work solved it. This upset Eldon so he created the third piece. When I met him in 1973 he was in the process of getting the Enigma patented. My hands were the ones holding the puzzle in the various steps in its solving. He -- and all of us had lots of fun with it for many years in the Enigma's manufacture and in selling it. It was a solid member of our family as all four kids grew up with it -- it continues to be a marvel to many people today. The Enigma was surely one of the very loves of Eldon's life.

[@emilinebelle7811]

Joan Vaughn what made him think to design it? Was he a genius or just really smart? And what was his favorite school subject? I imagine folks that create these things are probably really good at math

[@vapeurdepisse]

He was an evil genius because this has caused many a headache !

[@vapeurdepisse]

Btw I don’t know if the patent still holds but I have a Chinese knockoff of it

[@Thanzilo]

I had this as a kid and i am now 20 and my dad bought it in the 90s and now i finally have peace of how this can be done. Thank you

[@GAMEROFALLFLOOGULLS]

This was so well explained and I dont know if I ever could have figured this one out without your help. Thank you!

[@Micklemoose]

This is definitely easier than the giraffe puzzle.

[@Mr.Puzzle]

Everything is easy compared to the giraffe puzzle...

[@AK-eu1gz]

Michael Williams XD

[@saturxn7262]

Lmao

[@gopalakrishnaavadhanula5817]

E

[@soxnation1000]

I don't agree. The giraffe puzzle was definitely easier.

[@ChevyBalt87]

Hey Mr. Puzzle 😃 First off, you are a very kind person. I’ve read comments that aren’t very nice, but you are never rude to people. Secondly, in another video (I think it was the Hanayama Chain puzzle) you mentioned how the pieces are assembled differently in the picture on the box, than the actual puzzle. Have you noticed on the photo on the Enigma box? It’s in a different position than how it comes newly assembled. This caused me to never be able to solve the puzzle, until I finally gave up and watched your video. Then I realized that I was correct the whole time, and got the same outcome as you. Would you mind looking at the picture on the box, and comparing it to the finished puzzle? Thanks for your awesome videos! 🙂

[@ChevyBalt87]

Ok, I just looked up another puzzle in the box, and the picture is correct, meaning that both of our final positions are incorrect 🤔

[@EricPetersen2922]

Justin Herzog that’s what I thought

[@greenmanreddog]

You are definitely the puzzle master!!!

[@Mr.Puzzle]

Haha, thanks! :D

[@jollydiabolos8374]

Every1 has his experimented domain. If it wasn't for beer, I would be even better in sound quality where Im working it at home. I know a guy that would have solved this puzzle too.

[@skunky1-1]

Robert DeZERO Libtards show us your talents

[@andregon4366]

I don't think this puzzle needs a spoiler warning.

[@bryanstewart94]

This Enigma puzzle is very challenging! You did a great job explaining it Mr.Puzzle. You make great videos! Keep on puzzling!

[@Mr.Puzzle]

Thanks Brian!

[@thinkcivil1627]

This reminds me of why I was never good at chess. You have to think several moves ahead and my attention span isn't that long. Probably why I appreciate someone who can do it so well.

[@mefilmmaking]

wow, very complex. it's feels tedious, just watching it being solved. nice job

[@Mr.Puzzle]

Try it yourself, the solution is hard to remember. :)

[@zleggitt1989]

Just bought this puzzle yesterday and it took me probably a total of 6 hours too disassemble and reassemble. I'm brand new to puzzling and wanted a challenge and this was definetly challenging

[@angelisone]

I am still lost with the giraffe puzzle.

[@Mr.Puzzle]

:)

[@CMonsta]

I got lucky and was able to get the puzzle apart on my own... seriously, just fiddling with it, but there was NO WAY I could have figured out how to put it back together without the tutorial. THANKS.

[@scotthuff2793]

I have recently discovered your channel and other channels that show solutions to these puzzles. And I cannot stop watching, even though I don't do the puzzles I am enthralled by it I have to say you are nothing short of a genius. I can't look away it's amazing. I would love to watch you do one of these puzzles in real time. you could fast forward , sections at a time ,after you videotaped it. Obviously it would be hard to watch a hour long video. but it would be a lot funner to watch you as learn as you go

[@AlteraLin]

How do people even design something like this, lol.

[@grantcivyt]

It was done in the 70s. Probably not computer-aided.

[@XtreeM_FaiL]

grantcivyt Acid?

[@traceyotsuji8988]

grantcivyt-Hello! Mr. Puzzle’s info is off a bit-this puzzle was invented by my dad when he was in high school, in the 50s. I grew up with this puzzle my entire life.

[@edwardhuang1502]

Maybe you'll find this page in the Hanayama webside informative: www.hanayamatoys.co.jp/huzzle/designers/eldon-vaughn/index.html

[@subject204ghost3]

I got this puzzle for Christmas in 7th grade. I didnt solve it until 9th grade. Since then ive gotten a few puzzles and none of them have stumped me quite as bad as this. This thing is a perfect gift for that younger relative who wont stop bragging or that annoying significant other.

[@ashketchum8517]

yes! this was exactly what I was talking about! thanks! we need more puzzles like this one

[@Mr.Puzzle]

Glad that you like this one more!

[@adamorenstein2732]

there is a point at the end of the puzzle where you only have the last two pieces still intertwined. There is a move where you slightly force one tail past the other to get it in position to remove through the slot. In fact, almost everyone I've seen does this. Well... there is a wonderful and elegant way to achieve the needed position with NO force at all! This movement must be the intended solution. Can you find it?¿

[@kethernet]

5:55 This force is unnecessary. There's a way to manipulate them apart from that position without any force. For anyone stuck reassembling: you might have the oval piece on backwards. You can get quite far in reassembling before that becomes a problem. Try backing up, taking that off, and turning it around.

[@alltee5002]

My God You really know what you're doing How on Earth did you remember all of those steps?!

[@Mr.Puzzle]

all tee I had to do it many times before recording this video.

[@curiosityzero2151]

good work mr puzzle!!! That seemed so complicated but you made ever step coherent

[@TiberianFiend]

all tee Just imagine being the guy at the factory who has to assemble these all day.

[@traceyotsuji8988]

Tiberian Fiend-Haha! This puzzle was invented by my dad in the 50s, when he was in high school. My brother grew up assembling these in our garage. He can do it in about 10 seconds.

[@ahorserunning]

That's incredible. Has Eldon made any other puzzles that are available to the public(or otherwise)?

[@jerryfrugoli3339]

Yes I’ve seen a variation of this puzzle as a young man of 15 years old. I lived with it for an entire weekend, until I was able to figure it out.. I really felt it was a breakthrough, in my puzzle solving mind. This is a very nice rendition of that puzzle from my youth. I thank you for bring back into my life. You did a very nice job of explaining the solution. BTW: Do you also tie knots?? I have found knots to be very similar to puzzles, second question as a follow-up, have you tried your hand at the art of paper folding “origami”? I find this art of origami to use some of the same “mind tools” as puzzle solving.. I hope it brings you joy!!!

[@peach8438]

The inner machinations of my mind are an enigma…*milk spills*

[@mauriciooertel7348]

xd

[@fizixx]

Threats!? lol. . . . .you have a great sense of humor.

[@hermdude]

A puzzle that make topologists cry.

[@RacingMeyer8]

I never got it back together...... it was tough. cause I spent weeks taking it apart.

[@will.I.AmonYT]

I know I’m late to the party on this puzzle, but I picked one up from the store yesterday and no lie…had it apart in 10 minutes! And no cheating, lol…very proud of myself! The cyclone took me a year!!! Now I just have to figure out how to get both of them back together!!!

[@sgurjeet99]

Well you solved their toughest puzzle! All your solutions are nicely explained. I was just thinking if you are professionally a puzzle solver?

[@Mr.Puzzle]

Haha, is there someone who does this professionally? :)

[@sgurjeet99]

Haha! Well I heard that there are competitions that are held for specifically these type of puzzles.

[@lesterkok8819]

Hi Mr. Puzzle, let me commend you for the above excellent, concise solution presentation to the Enigma, but...that critical bit part later. No doubt it is a very challenging brain teaser and rightly deserves the highest level 6 rating for difficulty. It took me many hours and a couple days to fully get the hang of it -- so much so that I can now almost do it blindfolded.🙂 In fact, initially I watched another solution vid but was frustrated by its less than precise tutorial until you came along. Thank you too for the mention of its originator history which I have but to wonder just how long it must have taken Eldon Vaughn back then in the early '70s to perfect his masterpiece creation without the benefit of CAD/CAM then. Finally, IYDM, here's a few pointers for presentation improvement. 1) For improved clarity, it's advisable that you 'freeze' or slow down your demonstration at various critical jiggle pts throughout the presentation for viewers to properly follow along; yes, I did freeze the vid frames many times in order to catch up. 2) The final version of the vid as presented should have edited out any inadvertent mistake of yours. 3) Again for instructional clarity, for starters, it's helpful to identity the various key parts of the puzzle with catchy names to aid with the point-by-point navigation... naming them for example, the Slide/Slot, Gap/Gate 1, Gap/Gate 2, the Big Hole and the Small Hole.

[@drhula]

We just needed you to show us how it works keep it up

[@s-saloon8985]

The starting position and the reassembled position is wrong compared to how the puzzle comes assembled, picture on the box and folder inside. The middle piece is positioned wrong.

[@pauldj6]

wow!!! how long did it take you to solve this?

[@Mr.Puzzle]

pauldj6 Minimum 2-3 hours to disassemble. Reassemble also more than one hour.

[@Draconamous]

Question on when taking it apart. During the last move when rotating the one with the stem around that removes it, is that necessary? Because the slit was already inside and looked like it could slide off with out that final move.

[@Mr.Puzzle]

Draconamous Yes it is. You cannot slide it around the corner if you don't do it.

[@PlatinumTales]

I'm more impressed that someone was able to make this, like, they gotta be smarter than Einstein to make something like this!!!

[@tabaks]

D'onut, you clearly have no notion just how smart Einstein was.

[@IronicHavoc]

tabaks It's hyperbole dude

[@IllegalHerb]

Einstein wasnt smart at all.

[@Just-Ross]

Although he probably used better grammar than you.

[@angelisone]

Einstein was not that smart. He cheated on his wife & was caught. He had fornication with his cousin. The end results- he killed his cousin, wife, with diseases to her heart and kidneys. USA and later Germany covered it up so the world would not know. Then decades later, it was declassified. And only stated that his cousin (wife) died of heart & kidney. His first knew & caught him cheating. But she needed the * money to feed Albert's children. He had a bastard, which he forced the baby to see God, so he can studies. He, sins to God, wife, baby & his children, as well as the government paid *hush money.

[@BenHC]

fantastic puzzle and solution

[@dallasopelt4717]

+Mr.Puzzle Position is a better word than Condition. Condition = present state compared to past (the old car looks just like new). Position = one thing compared to another (The Apple sits next to the Orange).

[@Mr.Puzzle]

Got it, thanks!

[@torydavis10]

'Condition' is appropriate as condition is a superset of position. Condition = state, which includes position, orientation, and configuration.

[@EricPetersen2922]

Condition is a more precise word. American English is lazy and not as precise as German. So when Germans use English they tend to use more words and are more precise than our sloppy lazy American English.

[@gary1412]

yes!let me get some coffee mr puzzle before i start.i been struggling with this.thank you!

[@Mr.Puzzle]

Gary Dioquino Good luck! Let me know if you did it!

[@MiniLemmy]

Love the background music! Sounds like what I might hear in an Amsterdam coffee shop!

[@Sam_on_YouTube]

This one took me about 6 hours or so, on and off, to solve. Another 4 hourse or so to reassemble. Second solve was faster, but by no means quick. It is still challenging for me even after solving a dozen or so times. I don't practice it, as then it would get too easy. The Hanayama level 6 that don't have hidden mechanisms are my favorite puzzles, along witg twisty puzzles. I don't like puzzles with hidden tricks. I like a puzzle that shows you what its got and you still can't solve it easily.

[@I-Sharted1]

Which ones?

[@CarnivoreMeatEater]

Amazing puzzle, I love this one, took me a few hours to disassemble, and could not reassemble. Very difficult.

[@semolinapilchard2555]

this one is so eye pleasing, great solution too, thank you.

[@diogeneslantern18]

Can you imagine watching this video whilst trying to solve this, and then you lose your spot completely and have to compare the steps to yours to find your spot again 😓

[@Mr.Puzzle]

PartiZAn18 Better use pause between each step. :)

[@technirvana4199]

Love the way you say Condition instead of Position !!

[@ozone7]

Well; he is talking of the condition of the entire puzzle, not the position of one single piece.

[@hainish2381]

great puzzle. incredible that it was made before there was computer modeling and 3d

[@traceyotsuji8988]

hainish- Thank you...this was invented by my dad in the 50s, when he was in high school. I grew up with this puzzle my entire life. My dad would be very appreciative of your comment.

[@zavieridarraga6516]

It took me like an hour and a half to finish this puzzle. Now to put it together!

[@xzxclan8674]

Estupendo,claro, concreto y sobre todo lento. Ahora a practicar hasta memorizar los movimientos. GRACIAS

[@blackink8709]

Back in high school, I got this puzzle and managed to disentangle it but then got stumped. now I can finally get it back together.

[@todorkolev1615]

1 more proof that aliens exist

[@Steampunk360]

I love this puzzle it is one of a few Hanayama puzzles I have. The only thing I dislike very much about it is that it stinks. Not in a porrly made or it's too hard or easy, it actually smells and makes your hands smell after it has been handled a lot over a few years. Even after soaking it in vinegar I still find it regains that nasty metal smell after a while. I wish there was a chrome finish on it like that of the Vortex. I know it would probably chip with certain finished but something a little glossier would help in keeping it clean a lot better.

[@Kerstin...]

English translation below... Weil ich es komisch finde, wenn sich zwei Deutsche auf englisch unterhalten, auf Deutsch: Deine Startposition ist nicht die, ind er das Puzzle geliefert wird. Vergleiche dazu am besten das Video-Thumbnail mit dem Photo auf der Huzzle-Box. Das rechte und das linke Teil sind bei dir und auf der Box identisch orientiert. Das mittlere Teil ist allerdings bei dir um 180Grad entlang der Längsachse verdreht. Es müsste (Box) von oben nach unten durch die Schlaufe des linken Teils ragen, bei dir (Video-Thumbnail) ragt es aber von unten nach oben durch die Schlaufe des linken Teils. Hoffe, das ist verständlich erklärt. Daher gab es auch in den Kommentaren mindestens eine Meldung, dass es der Hersteller in der Box des Kommentators falsch zusammengebaut hätte und besagter Kommentator es nicht mit deiner Lösung auseinander bekommt, dabei hast du es versehentlich falsch zusammen gebaut. Es wäre schön wenn du den Fehler noch berichtigen könntest, da das zu einiger Verwirrung führen kann wie bei besagtem Kommentator. The position you show in the beginning and in the end is NOT the correct starting position. Compare the video thumbnail with the photo on the huzzle box. The left and right pieces of your puzzle are in the same position as in the box photo, however, the middle piece is rotated along its long axis by 180 degrees. The tail of the middle piece is supposed to go down through the loop of the left piece. With your starting position it comes up through the left piece.

[@GingerBreadSed]

This puzzle made me want to cry, 10/10

[@luna9829]

I solved it in about 90 minutes, which made me think I was either lucky or I might have forced a piece, but then I reassembled it in the following hour and came to see the solution.. Looks like I probably just got lucky on the solution because this was exactly how I solved it haha!

[@luna9829]

Oh also, when you separated the last two pieces, you don't need to force the long rod over the small one, there is actually a way to bring it over by lowering the curved part of the long piece inside the small piece! (Sorry if my explanation is not very clear, my first language is french)!

[@jeremysiron9622]

It’s been sitting on my shelf looking good for a while, I think it’s worth the price(pretty cheap)...just to have it sitting on your shelf because it looks so pretty, but I’ve pretty much given up trying to solve it it’s brutal

[@renorock3411]

You Sir are extraordinary !

[@chuck90504]

I swear this is the toughest hanayama I've done.... lol @ level 4, this is like level 10

[@a.f.1587]

Crazy, i think i would need months to solve this puzzle on my own... But in my opinion, that giraffe thing is even more insane.

[@peshkin]

I managed to separate all 3 pieces and only then saw your solution. My steps were same as yours, but putting it back together was really hard for me, because I didn't remember the starting orientation of the 3 pieces...Ooops! I noticed something, which I can't explain to myself. The spiral piece in both YOUR starting and solved positions is inverted to what the original is. Please have a look at the box and see for yourself. I also only managed to put it back together using your method, but not in the intended original position (just the spiral). I'm very curious what you think about it. Greets

[@coldclearkt]

I ALSO NOTICED THIS, MY VIDEO SHOWS THE CORRECT SOLUTION, AND I EXPLAIN IT A LITTLE!

[@zachster2016]

Puzzles like this i believe are actually easier to make than to solve without knowing the solution, it obviously takes more time and thinking into making it, but all that's truly needed is making weird shapes, with possible ways out, and connecting them together twisting it around and oila, puzzle

[@GreyWind1988]

I was able to disassemble this and get about 3/4 of the way through the reassembly process, but I couldn't finish it. My wife had to look up a video to reset it. Had an absolute blast doing it though

[@phi9249]

What a great puzzle

[@EvLSpectre]

I remember getting this puzzle over a year ago now I think. Took me a few hours to solve. Although I may have forced something.

[@blaze1148]

The most difficult puzzle i've seen you do ;)

[@daleftuprightatsoldierfield]

Dark Star what about the giraffe?

[@ChurchesAblaze]

Have you ever tried the tavern puzzles from Tucker Jones House?

[@jlzen9588]

Thanks a lot guy !!!!

[@ionicafardefrica]

i think the last two pieces would make a nice little puzzle by themselves!

[@paulmerviel1617]

I'm afraid this solution is wrong, the puzzle at the start does not match the image on the box; the "middle" piece is supposed to be the other way round, with its "tail" pointing up. This actually removes the move where you need to force the two pieces through at 5:53

[@nadgobciulo]

I have almost the same solution but the main difference is that one of the last moves when you need “to press a little bit” is wrong, it could be done without it, my puzzle would need “hard press” if solved like that.

[@Ottonic6]

Agreed, If done a different way it goes past the tail with ease.

[@theemeraldgirl23]

Can you do the Hanayama Padlock puzzle?

[@marcushisevil]

naice! love your videos keep it up. 👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@Mr.Puzzle]

marcus revil Thanks!

[@marko6394]

Apparently there are two ways because the orientation of the pieces when you started and finished are not the same as what is shown on the box. I currently have the puzzle as shown on the box, which is not what you show.

[@coldclearkt]

Yeah I noticed it too, I made a video of the correct solution

[@chuckguerin8141]

I think I would have some trouble with this one. Glad i didnt buy it. But level 6 chain was easy. Thanks again.

[@bobbyp9099]

Nice puzzle

[@WhoLetTheDogOut]

Oh I really like these ones

[@nuffnonsense6677]

*Awesome*👌

[@Mr.Puzzle]

Thx!

[@zeekeek4363]

Hanayama vortex next please, It's IMHO way harder than the enigma

[@michaelliu7316]

The poor factory workers who had to put each one together to package it XD

[@GregoryC21]

Sorry to report but when separating the last two pieces, the “snap purse” or “coin purse” maneuver is NOT part of the intended solution path. There is another way to get the spiral’s tail on the other side of the paper clip’s tail.

[@jurgenhoke3393]

Das Puzzle wird nicht in dieser Konstellation ausgeliefert. Deine Startposition ist deshalb nicht machbar. Das mittlere große Teil ist so positioniert, dass es mit dem Dorn NACH OBEN ausgeliefert wird.

[@MasterMindmars]

I think there is a more easy way to do. At the last step you turn the piece in clockwise, I will rotate this up, instead. Is more easy. You employ more movements.

[@MasterMindmars]

The last step of disassembly I mean.

[@bryanevans8816]

Just bought this puzzle today at Walmart. I solved it on accident at first but this video has helped clear up the process.

[@timbosak2519]

Putting these things back to the original state always seems to be more difficult than the solving the damn thing.

[@Ottonic6]

This is one of my favorite Hanayama puzzles... You never gave it a "Mr Puzzle" rating. I would assume it is about the same as the Vortex puzzle. A 4.5 out of 5.

[@achaad_abernathy]

The puzzle was not put together properly to begin with. When I first disassembled and reassembled, I put it back together the way you have yours in the beginning of the video. This is not the finshed puzzle, rather a false finish since the middle piece is actually on backwards, meaning you have to take it apart and do it again. If you don’t, it will seem easier to put together and even look similar to the picture on the box, but if you look closely, you will see that your middle piece is backwards and you are not done.

[@Ottonic6]

Not to be too technical but you are making one different move than how I do it... It is at 5:55. There is a move right before then that enables you to get the two tails past each other without touching or pushing past each other.

[@wynterthebluewolf5264]

Casually solved each step before i watched the video lmao. Watched it as i went to make sure i did it right

[@oldhippy1017]

How long did it take you to work this one out?

[@Mr.Puzzle]

Hard to say since it is was long ago. I think about 1 to 1,5 hours at the first time for the disassembly and about 45 min for the assembly.

[@gryxll7164]

Hanayama really needs to keep the max difficulty of his puzzles at 6 but occasionally throw in a 7 out of a maximum of 6 just to give you an idea of how that particular puzzle really breaks the standard scale. Because let's be honest here. Some 6 rated puzzles are simply easier than other 6 rated puzzles but to be fair I'm sure it can be difficult to gauge considering every person is different in how they solve problems and some people may just specialize in certain puzzle types. But there should be a 7 category that basically represents a disclaimer that you very well may not be able to solve this puzzle.

[@zlac]

"Push it over this piece" at 7:29 is actually cheating because you can put it on without using any force! ... I did "something wrong" and then I had an almost assembled puzzle but couldn't go neither back nor forth unless I used some force and I was really breaking my head with it. This has to be THE BEST disassemble/assemble puzzle I've ever seen. I did it like 5 times and It still takes me more than 10 minutes to do it because I don't completely know what the hell is going on!

[@alexcole6262]

Magic.

[@usiro876]

It's good puzzle.

[@Daniel-vl6wy]

One of pieces is reversed

[@velvetmidnight9535]

I can't even get my shoes untied ;-;

[@harrylu9277]

Hi Mr Puzzle. This video needs an update! There are two 'Fehler' in your video. (They are actually the same thing.) First off, the original condition of the puzzle is actually different from what you were showing in the video. Just check this on puzzlemaster ---- www.puzzlemaster.ca/browse/inventors/vaughn/308-cast-enigma-metal ---- and you'll know that I'm right. Which brings us to the second little problem: when assembling the first two pieces, you 'should' do it the other way around, not the way you showed. I don't know what stops you from making it to the final assembly, and funny story, I got stuck assembling it in 'your' way and that's why I'm here. I guess in the end, we can conclude that both are ok. I've always enjoyed the quality of your videos, which makes me really feel bothered about what you said in this video. Anyway, keep up the good work man and 'keep on puzzling'. ;-)

[@harrylu9277]

Ok so I played around it a little bit more. The thing that got both of us stuck is actually how you assemble the last piece (the piece with 'Hanayama' sign). As like the first two pieces, which have two ways of combining it, you can slide the 'hanayama' piece in in two ways. Essentially there are two 'symmetrical' ways to make a complete assembly and two other 'symmetrical' formation which does not allow it to fully assemble. I think this is actually an interesting and a very important feature of this puzzle. Hopefully you will be able to see this. If not, since the video is pretty old, I will try to message you.

[@I-Sharted1]

This took me a month to figure out on my own.

[@Raattis]

I have opened this, but I don't think I ever got it back into the initial condition. :D

[@XtreeM_FaiL]

Raattis Just put it together someway, nobody knows the difference. ;)

[@samwaldorf8777]

@Mr.Puzzle I cannot start in the same starting position as yours. The piece in the middle, on mine, is upside down. Could this be a manufacturing error? I think mine may be unsolvable.

[@notahotshot]

It may be an assembly error. It was assembled however. It can therefore be disassembled. That is a simple fact.

[@Akbalaak]

any speed solving video of you puzzling?

[@Mr.Puzzle]

Might be an Idea for the future!

[@wenjunism]

imagine you're 12 and this is the first puzzle ever given to you.. that's me

[@deajani.nicolee9555]

No chino knew damn well they wasn’t gone figure this out😂

[@benjorrmin]

I got this years ago and one day was just shaking it around and it slid open

[@michaelwpannekoek]

your solution uses forcing, which is not required.