This puzzle was formerly sold by Crafty Puzzles and is retained as a free reference item. It is no longer available to purchase from this website.
Original Crafty Puzzles photographs
Higher-resolution photographs from the original Crafty Puzzles archive are shown below. Select an image to view it larger.
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Similar puzzles can need completely different solutions. Check the piece count, shape and construction before you continue.
Small Ball
The Small Ball uses 14 pieces and should not be confused with the six-piece versions.
Still unsure? Use Puzzle Detective to combine a photo with physical clues.
Interactive solution mode
Work through one clue at a time. The full written guide and original diagram remain available below.
Hint 1
Sort the pieces into three type-1 pieces, two type-2 pieces and one type-3 locking piece.
Hint 2
The first five pieces form an open shell; do not press them completely tight yet.
Hint 3
The single type-3 piece closes the remaining top opening and locks the ball.
Step 1
Arrange the three type-1 pieces around the small central diamond to form the lower open shell.
Step 2
Lower the first type-2 piece into one side of the shell.
Step 3
Fit the second type-2 piece into the opposite side, leaving one opening at the top.
Step 4
Insert the single type-3 piece vertically into the final opening and press the pieces evenly together.
3 hints and 4 steps available.
Try a hint before revealing the answer
Open one hint at a time to preserve some of the challenge.
Hint 1
Sort the pieces into three type-1 pieces, two type-2 pieces and one type-3 locking piece.
Hint 2
The first five pieces form an open shell; do not press them completely tight yet.
Hint 3
The single type-3 piece closes the remaining top opening and locks the ball.
Written assembly guide
- Arrange the three type-1 pieces around the small central diamond to form the lower open shell.
- Lower the first type-2 piece into one side of the shell.
- Fit the second type-2 piece into the opposite side, leaving one opening at the top.
- Insert the single type-3 piece vertically into the final opening and press the pieces evenly together.
Use the preserved diagram or video alongside these steps for exact orientation. The written guide is an original summary prepared for this archive.
Complete Round Ball solution
The original Crafty Puzzles instruction diagram is preserved below.
Reveal the Round Ball solution diagram
Select the diagram to open a full-screen zoomable view. The original file is also available for printing.
Assembly diagram for the Round Ball wooden sphere puzzle.
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Source and verification
- Archive source
- Original Crafty Puzzles archive material
- Information checked
- 13 June 2026
- Verification status
- Archive-preserved; not independently physically tested
- Page status
- Original Crafty Puzzles URL preserved
- Rights handling
- Legacy Crafty Puzzles archive material — This material was present on the historic Crafty Puzzles website supplied by the site owner. Individual legacy asset rights have not been independently re-verified, so it should not be reused elsewhere without separate permission. Read the site-wide policy
