Making a 3x3x3 Barrel:

by: Caleb Lau

Introduction:
This is a modification of my previously made puzzle, the Lau's Tetrakaidecahedron. It is a really simple modification that only requires sanding, painting, and stickering.

To start out, you need to build a Lau's Tetrakaidecahedron, or a puzzle of around the same shape. Don't worry about accuracy of the Tetrakaidecahedron, as you will be sanding it down anyway. In fact, I made this puzzle only because I oversanded the pieces of a Tetrakaidecahedron and decided to continue rounding it off.

Now that we've established that, let's begin! (Captions are below the pictures.)

Note: This is my interpretation on how to make this "puzzle" (aka piece of plastic). There are probably better ways to make a 3x3x3 Barrel, here's mine. I am not liable for any damage you do to you or your puzzle.


A picture of how I got to this puzzle from a 3x3x3 to a Tetrakaidecahdron, to the barrel-shape.


Use a disc sander to sand down the sharp edges.


Once you have the rough shape, sand by hand, perfecting the pieces. Paint the pieces.


A top view, the circular shape still needs to be perfected


The stickered puzzle. I chose to sticker the puzzle with a 5-color sticker arrangement. As you can tell from this picture and the next, I had some trouble with air bubbles getting trapped while stickering on a curved surface. Try your hardest to avoid these.


If you cannot avoid these, then you can use a hair dryer and head up your stickers. Along with the heat, as you press the stickers down, the vinyl will shrink slightly. This should solve your air bubble problem.


The finished puzzle, with all the air bubbles out.


Slightly scrambled.


Completely scrambled.



This is another simple puzzle to try, espessially if you just oversanded a Tetrakaidecaheron. It's also quite fun to solve the toy because it is extrememly easy. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. Happy Cubing!

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