Japanese puzzle boxes have been around for over 100 years. They’re opened by following a sequence of “moves” to reveal the hidden treasures stored inside.
And while the design featured here is fairly simple (only five moves), building one of these creative little boxes is sure to be a test of your woodworking skills, as well as your attention to detail.
This plan doesn’t require a large amount of lumber to build one box. That makes it the perfect project for using an exotic species that you’ve been saving for a special occasion.
The key to successfully completing this project is to use setup blocks for precision alignment of your router table fence in relation to an 1/8" striaght bit to create all of the joinery, and a dovetail bit to create the beveled edges of the sliding lock.
It's a fun and intriguing gift box that you can complete in a weekend. Plus, as long as you have the tools set up, you might as well make a dozen.
