Top 10 Hanayama (10 Cast Square)

I feel the time is right to begin my countdown of the Top 10 Hanayama puzzles, all from their cast range. As you may have noticed I am a big proponent of the Cast range and I plan to review all their puzzles before moving on to others in my collection. Without further ado, My Top 10 Hanayama puzzles....

10. Cast Square


The Cast Square is rated 6 out of 6 by Hanayama, a bit much I think. I solved this puzzle very easily and almost by accident. Nonetheless, it is a fascinating design and very satisfying to solve and in particular to put back together. I think the puzzle is rated a higher difficulty as there is a hidden element to it (like the Cast News, or Sonic Games' Kuku puzzle). Owing to the fact I picked it up and it all but fell apart in my fingers leads me to believe that it may be better suited as a 2 or 3 at a push.

It consists of four pieces, two gold and two silver and is exceptionally well finished. It is weighty in the hand and would make an ideal conversational paperweight (though it is probably better suited to a display shelf). It was designed by Osker van Deventer who has made many puzzles for Hanayama - Cast Cuby, Cast Keyring, Cast L'ouef, Cast Marble, Cast H&H among others. Oskar van Deventer

As for placing it in my top 10, I personally like puzzles which are very tactile and attractive to the eye. The Cast Square meets these criteria perfectly! The reason it does not feature higher is that it is much to simple considering that there are four pieces, it has got few moves to it and does not compare to some of the others in the Top 10.

Overall, I would recommend this puzzle only to those who can appreciate a puzzle for more than its difficulty as it may disappoint on  that basis. Though I think it deserves a spot in my Top 10!

MB

Cast Violin

The Cast Violin is again from Hanayama and rated 2 out of 6 by them. It consists of three interlinking parts in the general form of a violin. WARNING: some imagination is required to fully realise this! 

It may be a good idea to point out that most Hanayama puzzles in the cast range vary from £9 to £14 depending on where you look. Considering the amount of time I spend on these little gems they are very good value for money overall (if shipping costs can be avoided!)

Quality  - The finish on the Cast Violin is superb, and is copper in colour. However, there are light scratches beginning to appear where the pieces have rubbed. Though this is not hugely noticeable. 

Difficulty - As Hanayama rate the puzzle a 2 (fairly easy) I feel slightly embarrassed to admit it probably took me far too long to solve, so I would personally have it at 2.5 as there are some fiddly moves.

Conclusion -  This is a good little puzzle, though I would not put it in my Hanayama Top 10 (More on this to follow!) as it doesn't stand out, it is not too pretty, not the best made or have any surprising moves. It, however is a good puzzle, I just feel it blends in too much and is not as noticeable as the Cast Vortex or others. 

MB

Cast Loop

Starting position of puzzle

Perhaps the most simple puzzle from Hanayama rate 1 out of 6, but for me one of the most enjoyable. Namely due to the eloquent solution and the amount of time I find myself just fiddling with it! Consisting of two parts more or less the same, it arrives already solved, and the object is to reassemble it. I took around a minute of twisting before the answer presented itself.

Price £ to £££££ - ££
Difficulty 1 to 5 - 1
Quality 1 to 5 - 5

The loop is a tactile object and very charming. It would be a fantastic addition to a collection or make a highly unusual gift. The polished finish is a good addition.

Conclusion - This is a must for the your Hanayama collection. Easy yes, but it seems to have a longevity that makes it addictive and hard to put down.


MB

Cast Vortex

This puzzle is rated 5 out of 6 by Hanayama. I must say that this is probably a bit low. It should definitely be a 6! It took me about a week of frustration to take it apart! Putting it back together was an even more challenging feat... suffice to say I needed the solution to do so.

The puzzle consists of three interlinking parts. They are all slightly different and are named vortex, Hanayama and ay respectively. I guess that without then names it would be even more difficult!





Price £ to £££££ - ££ 
Quality 1 to 5 - 5
Difficulty 1 to 5 - 5



The puzzle has a smooth finish and has a solid feel (so solid that if thrown at a wall in frustration I would guess it would dent it!). As the pictures show it has a Celtic look about it which I have to admit I do like. It is one of the better looking puzzles that they make. It does have a reassuring clang when handled, though this may annoy those around you.

This puzzle is definitely affordable (as with all Hanayama puzzles) and will provide hours of use.

Conclusion - The vortex is a brilliant puzzle and requires a lot of attention in order to solve it! I would only recommend it to patient people or to those who have access to the solution as it becomes somewhat of a quest to reassemble.


MB

Hello and Welcome

Welcome to my new blog about mechanical-puzzles. I have seen many useful blogs already and wish to add to the information they already provide. I hope to review puzzles from my collection and give indications of difficulty, quality and price to help aid your knowledge of the puzzle.

Hope you enjoy!

MB

Cast Flag

The Cast Flag is rated by Hanayama as level 1 (out of a possible 6) the easiest they have. I must agree, it is easy. It is a great puzzle to start with as it doesn't frustrate. The motions are a question of logic and it is quite possible to stumble upon the solution by merely fiddling with the puzzle. This however, does not detract from it in any way, it is heavy in the hand and has a lot of charm. It is sure to spark interest in anyone that solves it.

It consists of a central "flag" which is able to move and the main body the "maze". It is a good size and fits the hand well. It is addictive and I must admit that once I picked it up I solved it within a few minutes and repeated it at least three more times.

Price £(low)-£££££(High) - ££
Quality 1(low)- 5(High) - 4
Difficulty 1(easy)- 5(very difficult) - 1

As with all Hanayama puzzles they are reasonably priced, though compared to wooden puzzles and some disentanglement ones, they come in more expensive, though are not likely to break the bank balance.

The Cast Flag is well made, however the photos may show a pitted finish. Though I imagine this is completely intentional, it does not look as good as their other puzzles in my opinion.

Conclusion - This little puzzle has got a place in any collection. For the beginner it is a great introduction to the lateral thinking that these puzzles will provide. The more experienced may enjoy it for its charm and character (or in my case to get me one step closer to completing the set!).


MB