Pencil Trick

[lucky788scroller]

ok , if thats the case, how was the hole drilled? with a dremel as bob suggested?
I am clueless on it too, but would like to know!

[kyscroller]

Just guessing but the holes are drilled closer to one side than the other. I would say it was cut wettened then twisted to drill the holes and insert the pencil then wettened and twisted back?????

Okay... I waited one night... let's now spit out the answer to this query!!

[miamw]

Originally Posted by CanadianScroller

Since the puzzle is on Rick's site, I think he should have the honour if he likes.

Carl gave the honor to Rick, so we'll all have to wait until he posts.

[Gill]

I know how it's done!

Take a seasoned branch from the Whomping Willow, sand it down and mix the dust with ground Parselskin (available at all good retailers, and Borgin and Burkes too).

Cut trenches on your block of wood using a muggle saw, then sprinkle the wood with the magic dust you made earlier. This will make the wood quite pliable and you'll be able to flex it, inserting your pencil.

Finally, use the charm "Negatum Floximinus" and with a deft flick of your wand the block of timber will be restored to its original shape, trapping the pencil.

It's quite simple, really, but not for muggles.



Gill

[PuzzledMoose]

ROTFL - you've definitely been reading too much HP, Gill.

[Pop]

Originally Posted by Gill

I know how it's done!

Take a seasoned branch from the Whomping Willow, sand it down and mix the dust with ground Parselskin (available at all good retailers, and Borgin and Burkes too).

Cut trenches on your block of wood using a muggle saw, then sprinkle the wood with the magic dust you made earlier. This will make the wood quite pliable and you'll be able to flex it, inserting your pencil.

Finally, use the charm "Negatum Floximinus" and with a deft flick of your wand the block of timber will be restored to its original shape, trapping the pencil.

It's quite simple, really, but not for muggles.

Gill

Makes completet sense to me ... but remember the quote on the bottom of all my posts and replies. Maybe you just 'tap' it with a quidditch stick?

[Rick H]

Well I have one answer that sounds good. But I am still not convinced that it is totally right.
The narrow end, where the nail head is, he put in a blacksmith's vise and
squeezed it enough to allow him to drill the hole for the nail. He does this
while the block is dry. After the nail is inserted, he soaks it in water and
it springs back to shape. He then sands the sides of the block. He said he
could make around eight of them in 30 minutes.

[ozarkhillbilly]

What type of wood are we talking about?

[GrayBeard Phil]

FYI:

I am almost positive that the PBS TV show "The Woodwright's Shop" hosted by Roy Underhill showed a variation on this puzzle a few years ago. The solution was as in Rick's last post. I recall there was an extra step involving steam or water, but I don't remember the specifics.

http://www.pbs.org/wws/index.html

The type of wood matters. Won't work on Sugar Maple or Beech, IIRC.

Phil