In this Instructable I show you how to make an apple puzzle. A video of an apple puzzle is circulating on the internet but I couldn't find how to make it anywhere. A nice project to find out for yourself!

Challenges

With a normal knife you can never get the fitting parts round so I had to find a solution for this. After some Google research it turned out that molds are available for cutting puzzles. This would be ideal but unfortunately they are very expensive. It gave me the idea to make my own special tool. This was achieved with an m6 screw and a piece of a can.

An apple quickly turns brown when you cut it. The solution was lemon juice. Lemon juice prevents oxidation because it contains citric acid. Citric acid is a powerful oxidant.

Video tutorial

Stuff you will need for this project

A nice fresh apple
100 ml of lemon juice
Empty can
M6 screw
Hobby knife
Stanley knife
Super glue
Brush

Step 1: Making the Special Tool

Cut a piece of about 10 mm x 40 mm from the can. You can also cut out a larger piece and trim it with scissors. Bend the piece of tin around the screw so that it gets a round shape. Secure the piece with super glue. Leave enough (15 mm) protruding at the bottom so that you can poke the apple deep enough.

Step 2: The Preparation

To prevent the apple and the puzzle pieces from turning brown quickly, they are treated with lemon juice. Lemon juice prevents oxidation because it contains citric acid. Grab a bowl and put the lemon juice in it.

From the bottom of the apple I cut with a Stanley knife through the entire apple to the skin. Do this carefully and make sure you don't get through the skin anywhere (except at the bottom).

Step 3: Cutting the Puzzle

Stick the special tool in the apple up to the "back" of the puzzle piece. Then make a corner next to it with the hobby knife and make another fitting piece in the apple with the special tool. Repeat this until the first piece is finished Make sure you go deep enough not past the incision from step 2.

Continue slowly and complete the puzzle piece by piece. Don't try to take the pieces out just yet. This is a lot easier when the puzzle is finished because there is less tension on it.

I chose to make a puzzle of 3 by 3 pieces. the pieces that appear to be next to it are only cut into the skin for visual effect.

Carefully remove the pieces with the help of the hobby knife. Immediately dab them in the lemon juice to prevent them from turning brown and place them on a plate. Also treat the apple with lemon juice, use a brush for this. Let the lemon juice work for a few minutes and then pat everything dry with a cloth.