If you're lunatic, don't try this lock

This trick lock was designed by Gary Foshee and was sold by Eureka.

No keys are provided because no keys are needed ;-)

And usually the keys provided with trick locks are sot useful (or at least not useful for the beginning of the solving process). However, with almost trick locks, some keys are provided, here it is not the case. And thus, you can wonder how to open it, and it will definitely surprise your friends! The good thing of not having any keys is that you cannot lost them.

Any idea why it's called "Lunatic"??

Try to move the lock upside down, try to pull out the rod. You motice that sometimes the rod is blocked. Don't worry, you have not broken the puzzle, it's normal!

Once opened you can see how simple the mechanism is but it's really tricky and very smart: you need good precision to solve your lock.

Even knowing the solution by heart, it can take me a bit of time to open it, but you can repeatedly open this lock.

WARNING : the following link is a spoiler of how to solve it. It is very well explained.

http://home.comcast.net/~l-whiting/attbi/LunaticLock_solution.html

To conclude, this lock is very good, cheap enough, with a simple but tricky mechanism.

If you like trick locks, don't hesitate to buy one, it is a must-have in your collection and you can easily find it on the internet.

And even if you don't like so much trick locks, it is still worth the case buying and trying it!

Secret boxes

These 3 wooden secret boxes are made by Mi-Toys company.

They all have a rectangular shape and have a hole on a side of the box, but that does not give any hint about how to solve these puzzles.

The goal is, as you can imagine, to open these boxes. Two of them have a "dilemma" difficulty and the other is "challenging". But frankly, all of them are very easy and it took me some seconds to open them. Either for an experienced puzzler or for a beginner, I would ranked all these puzzles as very easy! I don't understand the way they rank these boxes...

When you see the mechanism, you can wonder why they have this size, because they could have been smaller....In my opinion, the size and the weight of puzzles have to be justified by the mechanism: if the mechanism if very small and simple, there is no need to have a super big puzzle!
On the contrary if the mechanism is very complex with many small parts and is big, ok, you can have a big puzzle.

The mechanism is not complex fro all these boxes and even if some of these boxes need several steps to solve them, the steps are pretty straight-forward.

If you want some cheap trick boxes, I advise them. If you like a bit of difficulty, I don't advise them. But like all puzzles, you have to try them to make your own judgment.
And of course, being mass-produced they cannot be compared to Stickman's boxes or Karakuri's boxes!!

Magic billet box

Perhaps you know some crowdfunding companies like kickstarter? Well, this projet was funded through kickstarter by Eric Krusentjerna.

He uses CNC machines to make those really nice trick opening boxes. They cannot be considered a real box puzzles, but more as secret boxes. But in any case, you have to figure out how to open the box! The mechanism is pretty ingenious by the way and I did not have any of this kind before.

The box are in aluminium and can be anodized (upon request) with gold, red, blue, etc. anodization. As you can notice my box has a red anodization. If you don't choose anodization the price is a bit lower, but anodization makes your box nicer and more colorful and also it protects from scratches, so it has only advantages :-)

It is not completely opened!

What is good is that first there is some space inside the box to hide some small items. Then the quality is very good: everything fits well and the mechanism works well, of course!
And finally you can order a customized box: you can say which anodization color you want and choose the engraved forms that surround the box.
In my case it has a Vasarely design and I love Vasarely!!
There are many other models offered like a box that looks like the secret cube in Mario with an "?" on the box. And if you don't find the model you want, just say to Eric which design you would like and he will make it for you. So the possibilities are almost unlimited :-)

There are 2 kind of trick boxes offered, just check Eric's website HERE
Please note that as he will change his website, this link may not work in the future (I don't know)

Don't look at the video in Eric's website because the solution is shown in them. Also, when you receive your (well protected from damage) box, don't look at the opposite site of his business card because the solution is written on it. Just put aside his business card and look at it later if you don't find the solution.

If you want to contact Eric for any questions or purchases, please drop me an email and I will give you his email address.

Cosmic creatures

Don't be afraid no cosmic creatures will invade our planet, that's just the name of a puzzle by the Lonpos company :-)

Lonpos highlights a lot the fact that brainteasers are for everyone because they increase your memory, your attention and patience. So whether you're a child or an adult, you can have fun with them.
I recommend, however, to make some breaks because your nerves can be broken by some very difficult levels. Sometimes, the solution becomes clearer after a small break :-)

Due to its size, this game is perfect for your travel, but of course you can have fun at home too.

The goal is to put all the pieces on the tray. Some pieces are irregular and when turned another side they are different and thus it increases the possibility to put them of the tray. Those pieces are marked with a triangle.
Each piece has a letter, which helps putting them of the tray.
Just note that sometimes the letter shown in the booklet is not exactly the way they are put in the tray, it's not a problem at all, but I would have liked a "perfect match". Look below the C piece (llok at the booklet and the piece):

With all the 111 challenges, I assure you that you will perfectly know these cosmic creatures :)

The starting levels are very easy, but it becomes much more difficult at the end!!
Also sometimes there are many ways to complete a level, so there is not a unique solution for each level. Look below with the A and I pieces (the 2 on the bottom right hand corner):

I really like the design of this puzzle, the colorful pieces and the size of the puzzle: it will not take a lot of space at home and you can bring it easily with you.

What I don't like a lot is the fact that the color of the pieces is not  precisely the same with the colors of the booklet, but well it is the same with some other brainteasers...
I don't like that they did not put a solution booklet (it is the same with all their puzzles!), again I like having the solutions because it can help adding a piece if you hide half of the solution, for example.
Instead of that they put some hints about the puzzle. But first you need to go on the internet to see the hints (after searching the right puzzle you're playing with), then the hint is just only one piece shown, which may not be enough to help you sometimes...And finally there are some errors about some hints (some pieces are wrongly orientated...)

To conclude: a fun puzzle with a funny design for many hours of playing. The hints and booklets can be seen on their internet page in many languages. Good point!

To buy your Cosmic creature brainteaser, go HERE