Puzzle solution
Six-piece Cross / Chinese Cross
A classic six-piece burr, also called a wooden cross or Chinese cross.
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Burr Puzzle Solutions & Assembly Guides
Compare burr puzzle piece counts, shapes and notch patterns before choosing the correct assembly guide.
Burr puzzles are interlocking constructions made from notched pieces. Piece count alone does not identify a burr: two six-, twelve- or twenty-four-piece puzzles can use different notch patterns and completely different assembly sequences.
Important: there is no single universal “12-piece burr solution” or “24-piece burr solution”. Match the shape and notch pattern first. If you do not know the name, use the Puzzle Finder or Photo Identifier.
Burr puzzle solutions in the Crafty Puzzles archive
Puzzle solution
Japanese Crystal
A nine-piece interlocking crystal/burr with a preserved step-by-step diagram.
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Puzzle solution
The Chest – 12-piece Altekruse burr
A 12-piece burr page with a provisional visual match to an Altekruse-style demonstration; compare your notches carefully.
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Puzzle solution
Jungle Jinx – 12-piece wooden burr
A separate 12-piece wooden burr design preserved in the archive.
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Puzzle solution
Sirius / Hexagon – 12 pieces
A twelve-piece interlocking hexagon/burr; useful when a cube-shaped 12-piece solution is not a match.
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Puzzle solution
Six-piece burr solving guide
Learn how to compare notch patterns, find the key piece and build the centre loosely before inserting the lock.
View guide12-piece burr puzzle assembly
The archive contains more than one 12-piece design. The Chest is documented as a provisional Altekruse-style match, while Jungle Jinx and Sirius / Hexagon use different forms. Compare the individual pieces before choosing an assembly guide.
24-piece burr puzzle assembly
Twenty-four-piece interlocking puzzles also vary. Crafty Puzzles does not publish a generic 24-piece sequence because applying the wrong pattern can be misleading. Start by identifying the exact puzzle and piece layout. The archive also includes related 24-piece interlocking constructions such as Panda Carrier and the Six Stars / Snowflake, but these should not be treated as universal 24-piece burr solutions.
Before you assemble a burr
- Lay every piece in the same orientation and compare notch positions.
- Separate identical-looking pieces from pieces with unique cuts.
- Build the central cage loosely; forcing a piece usually means the orientation is wrong.
- Identify the final locking piece before tightening the structure.