Diabolical Puzzles, LLC
We are a small firm from New Orleans, USA that designs metal jigsaw puzzles. Our puzzles are designed using computer aided design (CAD) and are manufactured using state-of-the-art laser cutting, welding, and fabrication technology. Our puzzles are cut to tolerances of .004" from solid metal using one of the most powerful lasers in the country and are then welded or fastened and hand polished to create a look and feel that is stunning to see and amazing to touch. They are packaged in custom cases that compliment the unique nature of each item. Our puzzles are difficult to design and reproduce. They are works of art that are wonderful to see and touch and come in varying sizes and levels of difficulty.

Level of Difficulty
Our puzzles are rated on a 1-5 scale of difficulty. Most puzzles have a unique solution. Each puzzle has no visual design on the surface of each piece. Each puzzle piece has an identical polished finish on each side so that each piece may be used on either side to complete the finished design. Many of the puzzles have identical interlocking pieces so that each piece may interlock with any other piece. All of this is to increase the level of difficulty.

Serial Numbers
Each puzzle has a laser etched serial number. Either that number is the puzzle series, or in the case of the one-of-a-kind puzzle, a unique number. This is to aid you in replacing puzzle pieces or solution maps.

Solution Maps
Each puzzle comes with a solution map to help you correctly assemble the puzzle. Each puzzle piece on the solution map is numbered. The puzzle pieces of the larger and more difficult Series “A” and “B” have been engraved on the edge with the corresponding solution map number. The other puzzles are either too thin for edge engraving or only have a few pieces. If you lose your solution map, you can go to our web site and download a replacement by selecting your puzzle serial number.

Replacement Pieces
If you happen to misplace a puzzle piece don’t worry. Replacement pieces are available. Send us your puzzle serial number along with the piece number and we will manufacture a replacement piece for a reasonable fee.

Puzzle Series “A” - Stainless Steel Full-Size
Puzzle series “A” is 8” x 10” and is manufactured from .25” 316 stainless steel and is then welded and polished to create a finished puzzle that is 1/2” think and weighs around 10 pounds. All of the puzzle pieces are numbered to the corresponding solution map. The puzzle comes with a custom carrying case made in England.

Puzzle Series “C” - Stainless Steel Thin-Line Fastened
Puzzle series “C” is 8” x 10” and is manufactured from .1382” 316 stainless steel. The base frame plates are held together with a stainless steel fastener. The puzzle weighs in around 5 pounds. The puzzle comes with a custom carrying case made in England.

Puzzle Series “D” Stainless Steel Mini-Pocket Puzzle
Puzzle series “D” is the Mini-Pocket Puzzle. Each puzzle is manufactured from .0516” 316 stainless steel and is the size of a credit card and weighs around 4 ounces. The base frame plates are fastened with a stainless steel rivet. The puzzle comes with a custom carrying case. (Coming Soon).

Puzzle Series “E” - Acrylic Full-Size
Puzzle series “E” is 8” x 10” and is manufactured from .25” acrylic and then welded and polished to create a finished puzzle that is 1/2” think and weighs around 1 pound. All of the puzzle pieces are numbered to the corresponding solution map. It is available in either red & black or black & red. The puzzle is packaged in a plastic retail box.

Puzzle Series “G” Acrylic Mini Pocket Puzzle
Puzzle series “G”is the Mini Pocket Puzzle. Each puzzle is manufactured from .125 acrylic and is the size of a credit card and weighs around 2 ounces. It is available in either red & black or black & red. The puzzle comes with a custom carrying case.

Puzzle Series “H” Stainless Steel Corporate Awards
Puzzle series “H”is the Executive & Corporate Awards series. Each puzzle is 4” x 7” and manufactured from .25” 316 stainless steel and weighs around 3 pounds. There is space on the puzzle to laser etch a company logo or awards information. Each puzzle piece is .25” thick. The puzzle comes with a custom carrying case. (Coming Soon).

Diabolical Puzzles - “Devilishly Difficult”
New Orleans, Louisiana

by Scott Fredrickson, Owner/Artist

When I devised the idea to create highly complex puzzles made of stainless steel, I presented a wood prototype to a local machine shop in New Orleans. I was told by the shop owner that the only way he could produce designs of such high precision was by using computer-aided design. I then went to CAD school and had my initial design created, which I brought back to the same machine shop to have the design cut from stainless steel. The shop owner then informed me that he would only cut the prototype in aluminum, and proceeded to charge me an arm and a leg. Upon completing the first puzzle, the shop owner said he wouldn’t do the job again, it was too difficult.

Not being one to quit, I took the prototype and CAD design to ten more machine shops in Louisiana and was turned down by every one of them because the job was too difficult. I wanted .004? tolerance between puzzle pieces for a good, tight fit across the puzzle, plus a particular finish with no welding marks and, hopefully, square internal corners.

A person at one of the machine shops suggested I contact another shop because they were “artsy fartsy” and cut things with a laser. I met with them and began discussing the project. During these initial discussions I also decided to bid out the project to more than 40 laser shops across North America. Most of these shops did not even bid on the project because of its difficulty, and I rejected the other shops because they had no interest in making “art.”

For almost two years, I fed designs to this shop and the puzzles were cut and fabricated over and over until the desired tolerances, intricate fit between pieces and finish was created. The guys on the shop floor thought I was nuts for rotating each individual puzzle piece a different degree in the cutting skeleton. But they eventually saw how intricate the finished product looked, and then they understood.

Being an artist, I had no background in machine shop or lasers, but that actually worked to my advantage. Because I did not know the existing or perceived limitations of the equipment and methods, I was able to ask innocent questions about why my puzzles couldn’t have a certain tolerance, a certain look or a certain finish. The initial answer was always, “It can’t be done, because we’ve never done that before.” But through hard work and innovation, I was eventually able to develop new techniques and methods to deliver a wonderful product that has not been duplicated anywhere else in the world.

Although Diabolical Puzzles is a new company, we have already been featured in numerous national and international magazines. You can view examples of our puzzles and recent press at: DiabolicalPuzzles.com.