About Ferguson Puzzles
By using wood for my puzzles, a certain sense of antiquity and permanence is instilled into the product, and I find myself taken to a time when things were, in their simplicity, made with pride and made to last. I am sure you will find that there is something distinctly nostalgic about handling wooden puzzle pieces. Each one seems full and rich and has a certain heft to it which is satisfying when held and inserted into place.
The woods I use are premier quality hardwood plys which come from domestic and oversea sources. I commonly use Oak, Cherry, Mahogany and Finnish Birch, however the type of species ultimately selected is done so to match what I feel compliments best the particular puzzle that I am cutting.
The woods I use are premier quality hardwood plys which come from domestic and oversea sources. I commonly use Oak, Cherry, Mahogany and Finnish Birch, however the type of species ultimately selected is done so to match what I feel compliments best the particular puzzle that I am cutting.
The picture ultimately chosen for use on the puzzle is affixed carefully to the wood with a strong, durable and well aging glue spread by hand and pressed to the board using an old fashioned caul and clamped until dry.
After completion, the final product is sanded one more time, and depending on the species and intended look of the puzzle, a finish or sealant may be applied. Each piece is then hand inspected and given over to my "Puzzle Assembly Team."
This very important job is entrusted to my wife, Cheryl, and my children, Jamie and Jeremy. They will be the first to re-assemble the puzzle and make sure that all pieces fit well and are present and accounted for.
Finally, the puzzle will be carefully packaged into a sturdy box, which has no picture on the lid! In the "old days," mass picture printing techniques were either unavailable or very costly. Puzzles were often made, therefore, without an image to guide the assembler. I feel that by carrying this tradition on, not only is history preserved, but the puzzle is made more challenging. Best, however, is the "surprise" one feels when they see their puzzle finally taking shape.
The first step involved in the creation process is considering which picture will be used on the puzzle's surface. I do not use just any random image, but prefer to only use pictures which I feel are inviting and which can be cut into interesting, fun and challenging jigsaw puzzles. I feel that there is a definite form of art used in puzzle cutting and prior to signing my name onto one that I make, I like for it to instill a sense of heritage and to be personally expressive.
The actual cutting is done by me on a scroll saw. To achieve the narrowest kerf possible, and to accomplish the tight cuts involved in making a jigsaw puzzle, I use a very, very fine blade (it's width is similar to that found on the hair of a horse's tail). These are carefully made in Germany, a country famous for it's fine fretwork clocks. I take my time and cut every piece one by one, and I never use patterns but instead cut each piece based on how I feel it should look and how it should work for the final puzzle. In this fashion, every puzzle I make is totally unique.
If the puzzle meets my standards, I will hand sign the back of Buff the Magic Dragon, my Signature Piece (click here for "Buff's Lore"), and date it for when it was completed.
