Name: Dowel routing for the da Vinci bridge puzzle | Videos | Gan Jing World
Uploaded: 2023-12-01T16:40:51.228Z
Duration: 6 min 8 s
Description: I highly recommend this puzzle for the aspiring young engineer in your life, because it is the very definition of a smart toy. The procedure shown here could ... | Videos | Gan Jing World

pocket83

https://video4-us-east.cloudokyo.cloud/video/v6/9a/f8/49/9af849ee-0002-4334-abcd-f9f6649a5180/master.m3u8

I highly recommend this puzzle for the aspiring young engineer in your life, because it is the very definition of a smart toy. 

The procedure shown here could easily be adapted to mass produce these bridges for craft fairs or for gift-giving. I used 1/2" dowels and a 1/2" core-box bit. It does take quite a few clamps, and making dowels is certainly an art (that looks much easier on YouTube), but the finished project is unquestionably rewarding in that "fits perfect" sort of way. I hope you enjoy.

*****

For more on making dowels by using this method:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUmlMtpAj9o

This is not as easy as it looks. But after some practice and patience it can become a useful skill. I've tried a variety of other ways, and I always seem to come back to doing it this way. I don't round-over my stock first though; I use an octagonal stock that has been chamfered at 45° using the table-saw. When I first rip my stock square, I cut it to nearly the same width as the finished target diameter. Thus, if I'm making 1/2" rod, my square stock will be ripped to just barely over 1/2", and then chamfered at 45°, and then passed through the chisel-shaper.

To watch the assembly solution for the bridge:
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGtnME79fY4