Here's my review of 4 Trick Bolts. The first two are from Lee Valley Tools, and the others are from PuzzleMaster. The Lee Valley Tools set comes in a pack of 2, whereas PuzzleMaster sells them individually.
The first set that I will discuss, shown above, is the Lee Valley Tools set. I am really fond of this version. It features two popular Trick Bolt mechanisms which are not difficult to figure out. The objective of both of them is to remove the nut. Though the puzzles are quite small (smaller than 57mm), the machine work is quite good and their size makes them very good for carrying around. They come packaged together in a tube, and are nice and lightweight.
The second set uses very similar mechanisms to the first set, although the goal is different. The PuzzleMaster versions both have a bent metal ring on them which must be removed to solve the puzzle. One of the puzzles has a bolt welded to the end, where the other only has a few threads.
I don't like these versions quite as much partly because of the way they implement the mechanisms (making the solutions fairly obvious, though they're simple to begin with). The Trick Bolt #1 (the one with only a few threads) also makes solving difficult for those with pudgy fingers. They are quite a bit larger than the Lee Valley versions, standing at just over 57 mm, and significantly heavier. This PuzzleMaster set also has a slightly worn look about them. The Lee Valley set is slightly cheaper (though neither set features the words 'Don't Panic' in large, friendly letters on the cover).
Comments