HP Hobbies

Present Puzzle #15 Solution

This was the first of the Present Puzzles that I printed. I chose it because it’s really two puzzles in one (when you solve it, you’ll understand). I also discovered it’s a difficult puzzle to solve. So this is the one that inspired these on-line solutions.

Here is the solution.

C’mon, did you really not get my subtle hint? There’s a key involved. An actual physical key.

OK, I have to admit, I made this one punny. It’s not “take a bow” like bow for an audience, it’s “take a bow” as in take part of the bow that’s on top of the present.

Hint #2 really should have given it away, but if you’re still stuck,, the middle of the bow unscrews. Then the fun really begins.

If you’ve made it this far, then you’ve probably realized the key doesn’t just come out, it’s embedded in a labyrinth and you have to figure out how to get it out. Warning, this is a difficult part of the puzzle. Don’t get frustrated and pull so hard you break the key (it’s just plastic!) The key will come out gently.

I guess this one might be a dated, but back in the old days, there was often a town square. And sometimes teenagers would drive in circles around the town square.

Except, they often weren’t really driving in circles, since the town square was … well … square.

OK, you didn’t get my town square reference. Think of a 4 streets that make a square. 

So you’re really stuck, and I know from experience this one is a toughie; so I’ll walk you through it. But, I’ll also suggest that you reveal the solution one turn at a time, then see if you can solve the rest on your own. Much of the fun of this type of gift is in solving the puzzle!

For this solution, I’m going to refer to “holes” and “halls”. In the maze, the vertical paths are holes, and the horizontal paths are halls.

In addition, I’ll refer to turning the bow (key) clockwise and counter-clockwise.

First, rotate the center bow counter-clockwise to unscrew it until it is completely past all of the screw threads.

After this you will rotate the bow a total of three times; clockwise, counter-clockwise, and clockwise again.

Now, looking at the bow from the top, think of the center bow lining up with the 4 pieces of the larger bow. There are 4 different positions that can be aligned.

In two of those positions, the bow will lift up a hole roughly 1/2” (13mm). In one of the positions, the bow will also raise about 1/2“, or about 2” depending on how you lean the key.

But there is only one position in which the bow will rise about 1 full inch (25mm). That’s the position we’ll use to start.

While pulling up gently on the bow, turn it a little less than 180°, until you feel a hole allowing the key to rise.

If you reach the end of the hall, you missed the hole. Rotate it counter-clockwise, pulling up slightly, until you feel the hole letting you pull the key up.

Pull the bow up the hole until it stops, roughly 1.5” (38mm).

Now rotate the bow counter-clockwise for about 90 degrees (1/4 turn) where it will stop.

Still applying pressure counter-clockwise, lower the key down the hole for about 1”

When you feel another hole, continue to turn the key counter-clockwise for another 1/4 turn, where it will stop.
Now pull the key straight up the hole until it stops.

You now have the key most of the way out of the box, but you just passed a hall that you needed.

If you turn the key clockwise, you’ll find it’s at a dead-end hall. You don’t want that.

Instead, lower the key about 1/4”, turning clockwise gently, until you find another hall, (or, maybe, turn it back, since you probably just did what I said don’t do).

The key will rotate another 1/4 turn, where you can pull it up, free of the box.

There, that wasn’t so hard was it?

Down to the home stretch and of course I’m still a punny guy –  “unwrap it up” instead of “wrap it up”, since it’s a present, get it?

This is another punny one! Think “hole”, not “whole”. What does every key need? A hole of course!

And the hole in the top of the box would hardly do, since that was where the key was, not where it needs to go.

So… if you were a keyhole on a present, where would you hide?

OK, this one is pretty lame, but I’m running out of material. If you mispronounce “ribbing” just the wrong way, it comes out “ribbon”. There’s ribbons on the box. Get it?

Sheesh, did I really need to spell this one out? If you slide down one of the ribbons, there’s a keyhole behind it. Put the key in the hole, turn it counter-clockwise 1/4 turn (90°), and the lid will be free.

Now, hopefully the actual gift was worth all this trouble!

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