The Metal Gauntlet - Four Expert-Level Mechanical Puzzles

Four puzzles. Two makers. No easy way out.

The Metal Gauntlet brings together four Level 5 metal puzzles from Hanayama Huzzle and Tetso, selected for experienced solvers looking for a serious challenge.

Each puzzle approaches difficulty differently. Some rely on intricate sequences of movement, others on deceptive geometry and hidden mechanical logic. What they share is a simple objective that becomes anything but simple once the puzzle is in your hands.

The set includes Hanayama Ripple, Hanayama Hourglass, Tetso Threadlock, and Tetso Paradox.

This isn't an introduction to mechanical puzzles. It's a collection for persistent solvers who enjoy being stuck.

Four Puzzles. Four Different Problems.

Hanayama Ripple Puzzle

A complex cast-metal challenge built around flowing, interconnected forms. Ripple invites you to study how the pieces interact and discover the sequence of movements that allows them to separate.

Its organic appearance can be misleading. What looks fluid and simple quickly becomes a demanding exercise in observation, orientation, and controlled movement.

Difficulty: 5/5

Hanayama Hourglass Puzzle

Designed by Korean puzzle designer Jin-Hoo Ahn, Hourglass consists of four metal pieces interlocked so seamlessly that they appear almost impossible to separate.

Everything is visible, yet discovering how the pieces interact requires a tricky sequence of movements. Taking it apart is only half the challenge. Once separated, the four pieces must be returned to their original Hourglass form.

A perfect example of how four pieces can create an extraordinarily difficult mechanical problem.

Difficulty: 5/5

Tetso Threadlock Puzzle

Threadlock looks familiar at first. Its solid-metal components resemble a mechanical bolt-and-nut assembly that should come apart with a few simple turns.

They don't.

The obvious movements lead nowhere, and force won't help. The challenge is to understand the hidden logic controlling how the components interact, separate them, and then restore the puzzle to its original state.

With its substantial weight, precise construction, and clean industrial form, Threadlock feels as much like a small mechanical artifact as a brain teaser.

Difficulty: 5/5

Tetso Paradox Puzzle

Two elegant metal forms appear permanently intertwined.

The objective is simple: separate them and then put them back together.

The path is not.

Paradox rewards close observation and spatial thinking as seemingly promising movements repeatedly lead to dead ends. Eventually, the relationship between the two pieces begins to make sense, revealing an elegant logic that was sitting in plain sight all along.

Its sculptural form and refined solid-metal construction make Paradox an equally striking challenge for the hands, mind, and desk.

Difficulty: 5/5

Built for Experienced Solvers

Every puzzle in The Metal Gauntlet is rated 5 out of 5, but difficulty doesn't mean the same thing four times.

Ripple challenges movement and orientation.

Hourglass tests your ability to understand the relationship between four interlocking pieces.

Threadlock disguises its mechanism behind a familiar mechanical form.

Paradox turns two seemingly simple pieces into a spatial problem that refuses to behave as expected.

That variety is what makes the set interesting. Solving one doesn't necessarily prepare you for the next.

What's Included

• Hanayama Ripple Puzzle
• Hanayama Hourglass Puzzle by Jin-Hoo Ahn
• Tetso Threadlock Puzzle
• Tetso Paradox Puzzle
• Four expert-level metal challenges
• Difficulty: 5/5 across the entire set

The Challenge

Separate them.

Understand them.

Put them back together.

Then decide which one gave you the most trouble.

Think you're ready to run The Metal Gauntlet?