Thread: Owl Jigsaw Puzzle

This jigsaw puzzle made as a gift last Christmas ( which seems like about five years ago ) consists of a stylised owl picture rendered and coloured directly on hoop pine ply prior to cutting. The line work has been transferred from a print of the original line drawing. The transferred line work has then been tidied up before being traced over with a firm engraved line, using a pyrography pen. The line thus produced prevents bleeding when water-based paint is used.

The coloured rendering of the image is a combination of water colour, acrylic and coloured pencil which has been used to complete the ‘painting’ of the puzzle picture. The pyro-engraved line work has then been enhanced by tracing over with black acrylic ink. This overcomes the tendency that pyrography to fade dramatically in a short time. It also restores the contrast of the line work when it is a feature. Clear acrylic varnish seals the ‘painting’ and a wax polish makes a consistent sheen for a finish prior to cutting on the scroll saw.

The puzzle was cut using a ‘Flying Dutchman’ Superior Puzzle blade to cut random shaped interlocking pieces. The cutting includes ‘colour line cutting’, which means cutting along hard-edged boundaries, except for the more necessary interlocking lobes. This makes the puzzle harder, by providing less visual clues for the puzzler. An irregular border and open apertures in the design also add difficulty.

Some further interest is added by including ‘figural’ pieces following the puzzle’s theme. In this case owl-shaped pieces and moon-shaped pieces have been included.

The plywood used for this puzzle didn’t cut as cleanly on the back as usual and so there was some tedious careful fine grit sanding on each and every piece. A sacrificial piece underneath would help BUT 6mm is the limit for consistent perfectly vertical cutting with the puzzle blades.

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