Drop down puzzles

Brief description: The chimps have to pull out chop sticks and paper from hanging clear tubes to get the nuts to drop out the bottom.

Materials: To make our puzzle we used pipe and fittings that were 1 1/4″ size. We used clear PVC pipe purchased in 5 ft lengths off of Amazon. To make one puzzle, you will need approximately 12 inches of clear PVC pipe, 1 eye bolt (1/4″x2″), 1 PVC cap, 2 flat washers (1/4″), 1 hex nut (1/4″), 1 Nylon insert lock nut (1/4″), 1 S-Hook (1 1/2″), a length of light duty chain (approximately 6″ long). You also have the option to cover the chain with a piece of fire hose. You will need additional bolts, nuts and washers to secure the chain inside the fire hose.

Other tools and materials needed: PVC glue, power drill with assorted drill bits, ratchet and socket set, set of pliers, bamboo chopsticks

Assembly instructions:

1.) We used round bamboo chopsticks to determine the size of the holes we wanted to drill in our PVC tubes. We matched the skinny tapered end of the chopstick with a drill bit to decide how wide the holes should be. We drilled 4 times all the way through our tubes using the small drill bit. Be sure to leave a couple of inches on one end of the tube that doesn’t have holes in it. This will be the top part where you can put the food when you prepare them. Next, match a second drill bit to the wider end of the chopstick.
We used the wider drill bit to open up only one side of each of the already drilled spots. This way the chimps will only be able to remove the chopsticks from one direction (a little added challenge).

2.) Drill one hole in the center of the PVC cap (1/4″ for the eye bolt to fit). Secure the eye bolt to the PVC cap: put a bolt closest to the “eye,” followed by a washer. Then insert the eye bolt through the hole in the PVC cap and add another washer to the end, followed by the lock nut. Tighten the lock nut using your ratchet.

3.) Attach the PVC cap/eye bolt to the end of the clear PVC tube using PVC glue. The cap should go on the end of the pipe that you chose to be the top of the puzzle (the end without drilled holes).

4.) Attach the chain to the eye bolt by bending the S-hook with your pliers.

How to use: Drop an un-shelled walnut or two into the tube. Poke chopsticks through the drilled holes, add some crumpled paper into the tube above some of the chopsticks. Lock the end of the chain to the caging. The chimps have to pull out all the chopsticks and then use tools to pull out the paper as well. After they have done this, the walnuts should drop down right into their hands!

Price: Approximately $10 per puzzle.