Restoration

In addition to creating custom puzzles, Micah Puzzles can restore that old wooden puzzle you have.  Many vintage puzzles are missing one or more pieces during years of ownership, often passing through several owners.  Many great puzzles like Par, Pastime, etc. can be restored to their original beauty, increasing their enjoyment and value.

The cost varies depending on puzzle brand and number of pieces missing or needing repair.  Contact us for a competitive price. 

We also buy restorable puzzles.  Contact us if you have old puzzles you would like to sell.  

The Restoration Process

This is a Pastime Puzzle made in 1932 titled "Gotcha Gramp" .  The puzzle is in excellent condition except for the missing crab shaped piece in the lower left hand corner.  It came with an envelope containing the missing piece. Unfortunately it was obviously chewed on by a previous owners family pet and was beyond repair.

The first step is assembling the puzzle pieces around the location of the missing piece.

A copy is made of the area of the missing piece.  This provides a stencil for drawing the shape of the piece onto the replacement plywood. 

Mahogany or birch is used depending what the puzzle was made of.   Since all so called 1/4 inch plywood is not the same thickness, the wood is sanded to match the original.  The piece is carefully cut from the plywood.

The puzzle piece is polished and lightly sanded to insure a good fit.  

A copy of the stencil is loaded into Photoshop.  Here color and detail is filled in to match the original puzzle as closely as possible.  

The finished print is made using water and light resistant ink.  It is shaped and laminated to the puzzle piece. 

Finally it is put in place for the finished puzzle.

Restoration examples:  Click on puzzle to enlarge

                             Pastime  157 Pieces                    Pastime 302 Pieces                 Pastime 1000 Pieces

                                    1 Replacement                    1 Replacement, 2 Repairs          4 Replacements, 3 Repairs

                        Pastime 400 Pieces                 Par Puzzle 500 Pieces                Par Puzzle 500 Pieces

                         7 Replacements, 1 Repair           1 Replacement, 1 Repair            3 Replacements, 1 Repair

                                                             Par Puzzle 750 Pieces

                                                                       4 Replacements, 1 Repair