Calvins Puzzle Tim Button Cube (1-Hole 1/4)

Calvin's Puzzle Tim Button Cube (1-Hole 1/4)

This puzzle looks like an ordinary 3x3 cube, but it solves in a completely different way. Calvin's Puzzle Tim Button Cube (1-Hole 1/4) is a shape mod with a widened middle layer. Each of its six faces has one hole with a "button" sticking out of the body. The design comes from Tim Selkirk, hence the name. Calvin's Puzzle makes several versions of the Button Cube, and this one has buttons split into four parts.

How the Button Cube works

The buttons are not just decoration. Each one is made of several fragments spread across neighbouring pieces of the cube. As you solve, the fragments move around and get scrambled, and you can only turn a whole button by hand once it forms a complete circle. In practice, this means you have to watch the position of the buttons before each turn, or the layer may not move. You have to solve not only the face colours but also the positions of the button fragments.

1/4 or 1/2?

The Tim Button Cube comes in two variants with one hole per face. In the 1/2 version, the button consists of two halves, which according to descriptions can cause bandaging and restrict some moves. In the 1/4 version, the button is divided into four quarters, so the cube blocks less and the solution itself is a little different. However, the small button fragments can fall out if you turn carelessly, so this model needs gentler turning than a typical 3x3 cube. There is also the Evgeniy Button Cube from the same manufacturer, which has two holes on each face.

Who is it for?

For cubers who can already solve a 3x3 and are looking for a change from standard puzzles, and for shape mod collectors. This is not a speedcubing cube or a first puzzle for a child. What matters here is figuring out the mechanism, not TPS. The cube has no magnets.

Specifications

• Manufacturer: Calvin's Puzzle
• Design: Tim Selkirk
• Type: 3x3 shape mod with a widened middle layer
• Buttons: one hole per face, buttons split into 4 parts (1/4)
• Magnets: none
• Size: approx. 65.5 mm (6.3 x 6.16 x 6.1 cm)
• Weight: approx. 129 g
• Body colour: black (Black)