FAQ
🔐 About Puzzlocks
What is Puzzlocks?
Puzzlocks is an original mechanical puzzle lock brand founded by Boaz Feldman, an Israeli puzzle designer who has spent decades modifying real industrial padlocks into unique brain teasers. Every puzzle in the collection is an original design built from a real brass padlock, modified from the inside to hide a challenge that nobody sees coming.
The collection also includes the DanLock, designed by Dan Feldman in 1996 and widely considered one of the best puzzle locks ever made. Dan passed away in June 2024. His son Boaz founded Puzzlocks to continue his legacy.
Puzzlocks ships worldwide and sells directly through puzzlocks.com and through select puzzle retailers.
Who designs the puzzles?
Most puzzles in the collection are designed by Boaz Feldman. The DanLock was designed by Dan Feldman. Both designers work by modifying real industrial padlocks from the inside, hiding the challenge within the existing mechanism rather than building puzzles from scratch.
What makes Puzzlocks different from other puzzle brands?
Every Puzzlocks puzzle starts as a real industrial padlock. Boaz modifies the internal mechanism by hand to hide a challenge inside a lock that looks completely normal from the outside. The result feels different from puzzles designed purely for entertainment. The weight, the brass, and the mechanism all feel genuinely solid because they are.
All designs are original. You will not find these puzzles anywhere else.
🎯 Puzzle Types and Difficulty
What is the difference between a trick lock and a sequential discovery puzzle?
A trick lock is a puzzle where the solution is hidden in the way the lock behaves. It looks like a normal padlock but opens through a mechanism that defies your expectations. Trick locks tend to be more intuitive and accessible.
A sequential discovery puzzle unfolds in stages. Each step reveals something new and requires a different action to progress. They take longer, require more patience, and deliver a deeper sense of satisfaction when solved.
Both types are made from brass and built to last.
How long does it take to solve a Puzzlocks puzzle?
It depends on the puzzle and the person. Here are the average solving times across the collection:
| Puzzle | Difficulty | Average Solving Time |
|---|---|---|
| 😄 FunLock | Beginner | 2 hours |
| 🔒 B-Lock II | Beginner | 3 hours |
| 🌀 LoopHole | Beginner | 3 hours |
| 🔑 B-Lock | Beginner to Intermediate | 4 hours |
| 🐟 Locus | Beginner to Intermediate | 5 hours |
| 🐜 Ant Hunt | Intermediate | 6 hours |
| 🔬 PicoLock | Beginner to Intermediate | 8 hours |
| 👑 DanLock | Intermediate to Expert | 10 hours |
| 😈 Loki | Expert | 18 hours |
These are averages. Some people solve faster, some take longer. Nobody gives up easily.
Which puzzle should I start with?
If you have never tried a puzzle lock before, start with the 😄 FunLock, 🔒 B-Lock II, or 🌀 LoopHole. All three are beginner friendly and deliver a satisfying first experience.
If you want a real challenge, the 👑 DanLock or 😈 Loki will keep you occupied for days.
If you want something in between, the 🐟 Locus, 🔬 PicoLock, or 🐜 Ant Hunt will surprise you without overwhelming you.
You can also read our full buyer's guide here:
How to Choose the Right Puzzle Lock
Are the puzzles suitable for children?
Children are welcome to try. We recommend age 13 and older for most puzzles due to the complexity of the mechanisms. All puzzles contain small parts and are not suitable for children under 3.
💡 Solving and Hints
Do I need any tools or external objects to solve the puzzles?
No. Everything you need is either inside the lock or included in the package. No external tools are required or allowed. The goal is always to open the lock using only what you find within the mechanism itself.
Do you provide hints or solutions?
We do not include solution sheets or step-by-step instructions. The challenge is the whole point.
If you are genuinely stuck, email us and we will give you a gentle nudge in the right direction without spoiling the experience. You can also find video walkthroughs from independent puzzle enthusiasts on YouTube — search for the puzzle name to find them.
What do I do after I solve it?
Solving is only half the experience. Resetting the lock back to its original state is often its own challenge and requires different steps than opening it.
Once you have mastered both, hand it to someone else and watch them go through the same experience. Most people find this almost as satisfying as solving it themselves.
🔩 Materials and Care
What are Puzzlocks made of?
All puzzles are made from solid brass and stainless steel. They are heavy, well built, and designed to last. Our earliest models from the 1990s are still functioning perfectly today.
How do I care for my puzzle lock?
Brass develops a natural patina over time from handling. This is normal and many people prefer the aged look.
If you want to restore the original finish, we offer a Restoration Kit designed specifically for Puzzlocks puzzles:
puzzlocks.com/products/restoration-kit
When not in use, store your puzzle in the fabric carrying bag it comes with, or in a dry, low-humidity environment.
Can I use a Puzzlocks puzzle as a regular padlock?
We would not recommend it. Puzzlocks are designed as puzzles, not security devices. The mechanisms are not built to resist standard lockpicking tools the way a security padlock is.
🎁 Gifting
Are puzzle locks good gifts?
They make excellent gifts for people who love figuring things out — engineers, architects, puzzle enthusiasts, escape room fans, or anyone who appreciates something genuinely original and well made.
They also work well for people who are hard to buy for. A puzzle lock is not something most people would buy themselves, which makes it a genuinely surprising gift.
Do you offer gift bundles?
Yes. We have several gift bundles that pair two or more puzzles together at a saving:
- 🎁 The Perfect Gift for Dad — LoopHole and DanLock, save $19
- 🎁 The First Steps Bundle — three beginner puzzles, save $15
- 🎁 The Curious Mind Bundle — Locus and Ant Hunt, save $19
- 🎁 The Engineer's Challenge — PicoLock and Loki, save $19
- 🎁 Full-Set Bundle — all nine puzzles plus display stands, save $216
Are puzzle locks a good screen-free activity?
Yes, and this is one of the things that makes them genuinely different from most gifts.
When you pick up a Puzzlocks puzzle, there is no app, no screen, no tutorial, and no hint button. Just a heavy brass lock and a problem you have to figure out with your hands and your brain. You cannot scroll past it. You have to actually engage with it.
A lot of people find this surprisingly refreshing. Engineers, teenagers, retired professionals — almost anyone who spends most of their day in front of a screen tends to respond well to having a physical problem to solve.
If you are looking for a screen-free gift for an adult, a puzzle lock is one of the most engaging options available. It does not require batteries, a subscription, or a software update. It just requires curiosity and a bit of patience.
You can read more about this here:
Why I Always Recommend a Puzzle Lock as a Screen-Free Gift
Are puzzle locks good for social gatherings and family fun?
They are one of the best things you can put on a table at a gathering.
Leave a puzzle lock on the coffee table at your next dinner, family visit, or office party and watch what happens. Someone picks it up out of curiosity. They try to open it. They fail. They hand it to someone else. Before long everyone is having a go, each one convinced they will be the one to figure it out.
The moment someone finally cracks it becomes an instant shared memory. People cheer, laugh, and immediately want to watch the next person try from scratch.
They also make a great family activity for older children and teenagers who are bored of screens. No batteries, no Wi-Fi, no setup. Just pick it up and start thinking.
Do you offer gift wrapping or gift messages?
Please contact us and we will do our best to help.
📦 Shipping and Orders
Where do you ship?
We ship worldwide.
How long does delivery take?
Delivery times vary by destination. Contact us for specific shipping information to your location.
Can I return a puzzle lock?
Please read our full return policy for details.
💬 Still Have a Question?
Reach us at puzzlocks.com/pages/contact-us and we will get back to you as soon as possible.