Conrad Armstrong's
Artistic Wooden
Jigsaw Puzzles

Hand-cut wooden jigsaw puzzles are a whole different experience than today's cheap cardboard puzzles. I consider my jigsaw puzzles as art, which can be assembled and enjoyed over and over again. A wooden jigsaw puzzle is extremely strong and will not bend or break when put under the same stress that breaks cardboard puzzles. Wooden jigsaw puzzles which were cut in the 1920's are still being used today; I like to think that the puzzles I cut today will become family heirlooms to be enjoyed for many decades.

  My puzzle pieces look nothing like typical jigsaw puzzle pieces; each piece and each puzzle I cut is unique. I try to make the shape of each piece interesting by itself. My cutting style adds to the overall beauty of the puzzle when assembled.

For the picture, I usually use a print or poster that was purchased by me or by someone who has commissioned me. I don't just cut any picture; I only choose pictures that I think will make an interesting puzzle, and one that I think I can do something creative and "interesting" with (see my examples, below).

I use a special 5-ply mahogany plywood, which allows me to cut intricate pieces that will not break if dropped. The puzzles are packaged (disassembled), in a sturdy box -- but with no picture! Assembling a puzzle without knowing what it looks like adds to the enjoyment of discovery as the final image comes together.

In each jigsaw puzzle I cut some "figure pieces" -- pieces shaped like animals, people, etc. Often a figure piece will be related to the scene. For example, I might cut a dolphin piece into the ocean part of a sailing scene. Every puzzle comes with my signature piece (shaped like a strong arm -- see top of page), which I sign, number and date on the back, verifying the puzzle as an Armstrong original.

After cutting the jigsaw puzzle, I count the pieces, assemble the puzzle, and sand the back to give it smooth texture.

I do not publish a catalog or sale list. I sometimes accept commissions, depending on how busy I am and what you want to be cut. This is only a hobby of mine; because this is not my full-time job, I only like to cut large prints with a scene that I think will make an interesting puzzle. Since my name is on the box, I want only the best possible puzzle to be inside the box. Therefore, I do not like to cut photographs -- I just don't think they make good puzzles, and they usually don't allow me much artistic freedom when compared to a print of a painting. I prefer to discuss artists and subject matter with you, before settling on a print we both will be happy with. Many of my regular customers now just let me select a print for them, so that they will be pleasantly surprised when assembling the puzzle. If you are just interested in having one of your family photographs cut into a wooden puzzle, check out these other puzzle-makers. But if you want to commission a work of art which will become a family heirloom, send me an email and we'll talk.

I charge about $0.85 (eight-five cents) per piece, far below what most other wooden puzzle cutters charge, and many people consider my skill and artistry to be equal or superior to those of most other cutters. My smallest commissioned puzzles run about $100, but I prefer to cut larger puzzles, such as the ones shown here on my web site.

Note: The puzzles shown here are NOT for sale; most are puzzles that I have cut just for my family's own enjoyment.

Like my puzzles? Have more questions? Feel free to email me at conrad@newpuzzles.com. But it may take me a few days to get to your email, so please be patient for an answer. If you have questions about what tools and materials I use to cut my puzzles, please read this page first.

Interested in trying some old puzzles from the 1920's, 30's, and 40's? My father's retirement hobby is collecting old wooden jigsaw puzzles, restoring them (replacing all missing pieces), and periodically selling some; see his web page for details.

conrad@newpuzzles.com

This page last updated September 26, 2007.