A few weeks ago I posted about the Trick Bolt #2, which is the second of two Trick Bolts I got from PuzzleMaster. At the time, I tried to solve both puzzles, but only got so far with #2, as #1 proved to be much trickier than I was expecting.

Both puzzles are produced by PuzzleMaster and, curiously enough, both of them are rated with the same level of difficulty, level 7/10. To me, this doesn't reflect the real level of challenge that one puzzle has over the other, being #1 much harder than #2.

The object of these puzzles is more or less the same as well, with both rings having to be removed. The path to get this done, however, is anything but similar. I managed to solve the Trick Bolt #2 within a few seconds after picking it up, whereas the Trick Bolt #1 was solved after well over one hour after picking it up (cumulative time, as it took more than one session) - Draw your only conclusions... Do they really look like a similar challenge? - At first they do, but after a few moments your perception is completely changed. I reckon the better level rating would be level 5 for #2 and level 8 for #1.

What confused me more about Bolt #1 was the fact that the nut wasn't welded to the bolt like the #2. This clearly indicated that the solution revolved around this area. Nevertheless, no matter how I tried, the nut only moved like a millimeter in both directions. What I was able to do so far was getting the nut screwed on even farther, not off.

After a lot of frustration and both hands and fingers a bit sore, I discovered the solution almost by accident. When holding the bolt with one hand and trying to unscrew the nut with the other, I realized that the nut was screwed off a little, which was something I hadn't managed to do until then. I tried the same movement again and, to my surprise, the nut was finally off the bolt and the ring was freed.

Solution: If you're ready to give up, look no further. Download here the solution.

Closing Comments:

After removing the nut and seeing how the mechanism worked, I can only tell that the concept is quite genius. The solution is totally counterintuitive, and I was lucky enough to have stumbled upon it while I was almost ready to give up. If you're thinking on getting both Trick Bolts, prepare to spend much more time with #1 than #2. Either way, I highly recommend both puzzles.

Availability: The Trick Bolt #1 as well as Trick Bolt #2 can be bought at PuzzleMaster for just $10 USD each.

Trick Bolts is yet another interesting class of puzzles that I've recently acquired and I'm quite fascinated by them. The other type of puzzles I was referring to is the Bottle Puzzles, also recently reviewed.

I got two Trick Bolts from my latest PuzzleMaster order: Trick Bolt #1 and #2. Now, why am I reviewing #2 first instead of #1? - The answer is simple, I solved #2 first. The Trick Bolt #1 is still unsolved, so its review will come very soon, I hope...

These bolts are produced by PuzzleMaster and are made from solid metal - they're quite heavy - and look like the real thing. These are also not small, contrary to what I was expecting: the one I'm reviewing today measures 9.7 x 2.5cm (that's about 3.8" x 1"), which by the way feels much more comfortable holding it in your hands. 

The object of the Trick Bolts, as you might expect, is nothing more than one or two simple movements - that's why they're called "Trick" bolts. Discovering these exact movements is anything but simple, though. Although both trick bolts are classified as a level 7/10 (Challenging), a beginner might feel at a loss as to how to tackle this particular type of puzzles.

I feel I got a bit lucky with the Trick Bolt #2, because I didn't take too long to figure it out. The puzzle features a a ring and a nut, and the goal is to actually remove the ring, not the nut. The bolt also has two indentations at the top where the ring appears to fit and be removed from there, but no matter how you try it, it just won't go through. To make things even more complex, the nut seems to be welded to the bolt. There must be another way...

The solution is, obviously, counterintuitive, but at the same time this particular concept doesn't have many different movements you can try, so you'll eventually solve it after some trial and error. Even for a first timer, this one can be solved within seconds. I can't say the same thing for the other trick bolt, though, as I'm still stuck trying to figure it out. Stay tuned for my next chapter...

Closing Comments:

I love the fact that after more than 4 years of collecting, I still get to find these extremely interesting new types of puzzles. I'm really excited to add the Trick Bolts to my ever expanding collection, and if you don't already own one of these, give them a try and I'm sure you'll be "bolted" as well.

Availability: The Trick Bolt #2 is available at PuzzleMaster for just $10 CAD. If you like, you can also get the Trick Bolt #1 for the same price.