# How do they cut those precision wooden puzzle pieces? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 21, 2009, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-cut-those-precision-wooden-puzzle-pieces/507246 "2009-08-21T21:45:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jettboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85e7bf/32.png) [@Jettboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jettboy)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2009, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-cut-those-precision-wooden-puzzle-pieces/507246/1 "2009-08-21T21:45:52Z")
I helped my son build one of those wooden puzzles with all of the tiny, intricate little pieces that pop out of a flat sheet of basswood. You know, the kind with all of the wee little parts that slide together to form a dinosaur skeleton or whatever. I was amazed at how _perfect_ the parts were, and how easily they popped out of the sheet of 1/4" wood with just fingertip pressure. That got me thinking…how the hell do they cut those? With a laser? With a giant, high pressure die? What? It’s obviously a mass-production method, most likely computer assisted. I’ve worked with wood as a hobby for years, and there is no way in hell I could ever cut anything even remotely that tiny, intricate, and mathematically perfect with any of the standard tools at my disposal. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2009, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-cut-those-precision-wooden-puzzle-pieces/507246/2 "2009-08-21T22:03:01Z")
If the pieces are die cut you should be able to see compressed wood near the edges of each piece. If laser cut, you’ll likely see some charring at the edges: > [@](#): > > The edges of some materials including wood, paper, felt, and cloth, will get charred from the laser. The degree of charring depends on the material. The back side might show more charring or some scorching (the laser bounces off of the metal grill on which the material sits and hits the back of the material, leaving scorch marks). You can mask the material to decrease the charring and scorching on the material surface, but the edges will still be charred. Most plastics that we cut, including acrylic, PETG, and ABS, do not char. > **[Pololu - 4. File set up instructions](https://www.pololu.com/docs/0J24?section=4)** > > Information about our custom laser cutting and UV printing services, including the capabilities and limitations of laser cutting, how to prepare your files, and the quote submission process. ---
**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2009, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-cut-those-precision-wooden-puzzle-pieces/507246/3 "2009-08-21T22:42:23Z")
I don’t know about puzzles, but I recently saw a Christmas ornament with a fairly intricate image cut through a chip of wood. I was told it was cut with a laser, and it only cost a few bucks. ---
**Author:** ![Harry1945](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e47c2d/32.png) [@Harry1945](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harry1945)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-cut-those-precision-wooden-puzzle-pieces/507246/4 "2009-08-22T02:14:56Z")
The mass produced puzzles are either die-cut, or done with a laser, as already mentioned. On the other hand, I know several people who do very inticate work with scrollsaws, and few who still use fret saws or coping saws. They are certainly capable of doing puzzles. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-cut-those-precision-wooden-puzzle-pieces/507246/5 "2009-08-22T02:30:19Z")
There are also [water jet cutters](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_jet_cutter) but whether someone would find it feasible to make puzzle pieces with them, I couldn’t say. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-cut-those-precision-wooden-puzzle-pieces/507246/6 "2009-08-22T03:51:36Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > There are also [water jet cutters](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_jet_cutter) but whether someone would find it feasible to make puzzle pieces with them, I couldn’t say. > [@](#): > > Wooden Jigsaw Puzzles J.C. Ayer and Company sells heirloom-quality, wooden jigsaw puzzles featuring fine art reproductions and custom-made puzzles of your prized image. Using his innovative water-jet cutting machine, Jim Ayer produces beautifully designed, challenging puzzles —- the perfect combination of bedevilment and artistry. Buy an Ayer wooden jigsaw puzzle today and enjoy it for generations! > **[How To Store Completed Puzzles – Storables](https://storables.com/articles/how-to-store-completed-puzzles/)** > > Learn how to store completed puzzles with our informative articles. Discover practical tips and creative storage solutions to keep your puzzles intact and organized. ---
**Author:** ![Harry1945](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e47c2d/32.png) [@Harry1945](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harry1945)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-cut-those-precision-wooden-puzzle-pieces/507246/7 "2009-08-22T04:27:01Z")
I followed the link to the Ayers site, and I have to say that I don’t care for the look, nor could I subject someone else’s pictures to that process. I have a hard enough time framing original oils.