| Information | Description |
|---|---|
| Name: | Tumbler Puzzle |
| Brand: | Jon Keegan |
| Level (Complexity): | Very Hard (8) |
| Type: | Metal Puzzle |
| Object: | Open the cylinder |
| Number of components: | 2 |
| Estimated time: | 2-3 Hours |
| Size: | 5 cm diameter x 7.6 cm tall |
| Packaging: | cardboard + plastic box: 75×119×45 mm |
| Materials used: | 6061 Aluminum, Ball Bearings |
| Safety: | no small parts, but keeping away from small children is advised |
| Where to buy: | Check Prices for Jon Keegan Tumbler Puzzle |
Description
Tumbler Puzzle by Joe Keegan is a different approach and basically a physical upgrade of the First Cylinder by Wil Strijbos. Featuring everything that the Cylinder lacks — the bigger size and a tiny bit of extra difficulty, this metal puzzle definitely is an amazing model for both solving and collecting.
Made out of high quality 6061 aluminum the Tumbler shines with the metallic gloss and rests firmly in the hand. Despite the looks it is quite heavy.
The Tumbler has 2 rotating caps on each side. One cap has several notched markings on it that help with the solution.
There is a mysterious rambling inside the puzzle. Though, if you have already solved First Cylinder — you do know what that is.
Tumbler comes with a nice looking aluminum card (nice touch, by the way) that explains the objective and rules of the puzzle:
- Use indicating marks to find the tumbler alignment
- Release tumblers into the body of puzzle
- Release tumbler and cap.
The card also explains that no external tools, extensive banging and force is allowed when solving the puzzle.
Main Features
The mechanism of the puzzle is quite simple though you will not understand that until you actually open it.
The whole beauty of the puzzle lies in the process of understanding what is happening inside. You will have to imagine and visualize the unseen, and by doing so, you will start to understand how to open the Tumbler.
It may take up to a few hours for the solution, and we do recommend taking a step back if you are stuck for too long. Making breaks between sessions is not only important for your eyes and back, but also for your brain — while you are resting your brain will actually process and render all the information about the puzzle and upon coming back to it — you will find yourself understanding much more.
Comparison with the First Cylinder
First, Tumbler is almost twice as big. First cylinder is quite small and I always wanted it to be a tiny bit bigger. Secondly, Tumbler, improves the First Cylinder’s mechanism with more details and a cool approach — so even if you have solved the First Cylinder already — it won’t be as easy with Tumbler.
Comparison with the Double Tumbler
Double Tumbler further expands on the idea of its predecessor and adds one more cylinder inside. The difficulty of the 2 puzzles are more or less the same, but the Double Tumbler trick is a bit harder to execute — that adds a difficulty point to the puzzle. It is advised to try double cylinder right after the Tumbler to fully experience the progression.
Conclusion
This is an amazing successor of First Cylinder and more to that, it has an even harder heir — Double Tumbler, made by the same puzzle maker.
Definitely a must-have if you are a fan of Wil Strijbos and First Cylinder.
Where to Buy
Check Prices for Jon Keegan Tumbler
Tips and Tricks
- To open the cylinder — all you need to do is to align the notches of the caps and make all ball bearing fall through the newly created tunnel one by one.
- The best way to help yourself solve the puzzle is to take a piece of paper and try to depict the mechanism there. It will become much clearer from that point.
- Jon Keegan Tumbler Puzzle and Double Tumbler Solution video you can find below:
Important Notes
- Check First Cylinder and Double Tumbler reviews as well to get full collection!
Like What we do? Want more Puzzles and Reviews? Join us on Patreon!
