Thursday, 6 September 2012

Houston! I have a problem!!

Iwahiro cylinder - firmly shut!
I am truly terrible at opening the aluminium puzzles from Wil Strijbos! It took me weeks to open the cylinders. I spent 2 months on the Opening bat from Mr Puzzle. Maybe I shouldn't have bought the Alcyl designed by Iwahiro because on arrival it was almost open and I quickly just tightened it shut and now cannot open it at all! Absolutely no movement whatsoever!!!

In my desperation! Look what I did:

Vertical view
Horizontal view
The problem? Even with these Xrays, I still can't open the damn thing!! Maybe I need to stop puzzling!!!
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19 comments:

  1. Barcared6 September 2012 at 18:38

    Have you tried ......... :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kevin6 September 2012 at 20:22

      Yes! I have spun it!
      Yes! I have blown on it!

      Still shut!!!

      Delete
  2. Nicolas6 September 2012 at 20:13

    You're crazy ! ;)

    I'm stuck with washer cylinder, absolutely no clues...
    Good luck with this one !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kevin6 September 2012 at 20:23

      Have you seen my X-rays of the washer cylinder? Even though it didn't help me open it, I think it is more useful than this set!

      Delete
  3. Anonymous6 September 2012 at 21:15

    Kevin, it's likely cross threaded...I used to have this puzzle and it's very easy to get crossed up..;)

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    Replies
    1. Kevin6 September 2012 at 21:27

      Ah! In which case, Houston, I really do have a problem! This would mean I'm not just being thick!

      Thanks for tht info, John! Time to get the rubber gloves out to give me a really good grip!

      Delete
  4. Jerry7 September 2012 at 03:01

    Oh oh...mine is due to arrive any day now...the x-rays don't appear to show too much

    ReplyDelete
  5. Jerry7 September 2012 at 07:15

    Kevin, my arrived this afternoon....after reading your post and the comments from Canuck, I was very careful and handled the Alcyl gingerly....managed to open it in less than a minute!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Roxanne Miller8 September 2012 at 06:10

    I should have bought this one in DC. Looks like I'll have to contact Wil.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kevin8 September 2012 at 07:39

      Most people are saying its very easy! Taking them less than a minute!

      Mine, on the other hand, remains very firmly shut! I have frozen it to no avail! Taking it to todays puzzle party to see if the boys can open it and make me look stupid (AGAIN!)

      Delete
  7. George12 September 2012 at 23:40

    Houston responds "Solving this puzzle is not rocket science. Come back when you have a real emergency!"

    ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Will13 September 2012 at 09:49

    Well we received Wil's email update :) Happy ending!!! Should the post be updated then?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kevin13 September 2012 at 13:14

      Yep - hopefully at the Dutch cube day, I will be given replacement cylinder.

      Delete
  9. John15 September 2012 at 21:08

    Looks like you were mistakenly given the one with the enriched uranium pellet. Glad they tracked it down.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous3 January 2013 at 14:40

    Pfjoei, just had the same problem. It was just stuck and couldn't move it one bit. My solution for your problem.

    First I used WD40 and after cleaned the surface with brakecleaner. As I already and you as well know how to open it, it was quite easy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kevin3 January 2013 at 18:45

      Hi, I was going to do just what you suggested but was told that I shouldn't use WD40 because it can damage the anodised surface. Even after all this time, I still can't open it so I may just have to give your technique a try! Thanks for letting me know that it works?

      Delete
  11. Anonymous4 January 2013 at 12:26

    Hi Kevin,

    I'm using WD40 for a long time now. I use it for a lot off reasons but it won't harm anodized surfaces. I use a lot of anodized screws and never had any problems. Better yet a lot off anodizing companies even use WD40 to make it a bit more shiny!!!
    Here a link of the process where also WD40 is mentioned!!
    http://www.engineeringhobbyist.com/projects/completed/anodizing/

    Best regards,
    Bidle

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kevin4 January 2013 at 16:13

      Thanks very much! Very interesting link! I will give the WD40 a go when I can find it in my rather full cupboards!

      Delete

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