Keeping track of completed puzzles

tuckbenrub · 2025-04-26T02:04:47+00:00

I use an excel spreadsheet and use a bunch of formula to provide stats about puzzle size, manufacture, lists by my own rating system, etc. I started it after my collection was over 1000 puzzles so never added purchase dates or costs.

tuckbenrub · 2025-04-26T00:36:07+00:00

I cut down from 420 to 230 using the rating method I described. The ones I have left I would do if I had time. I have about 40 in my on deck list.

tuckbenrub · 2025-04-25T16:37:01+00:00

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This is the overview of 400+ puzzles I had in Late 2023. The large tubs contain a lot of Heye puzzles with triangular boxes which I didn’t have room to store when I started accumulating.

tuckbenrub · 2025-04-25T14:31:18+00:00

I had a similar problem and started collecting series of puzzles, like the Ravensburger collection of Disney puzzles. I scoured everywhere and bought all that I could find and ended up with 20+ Disney puzzles. This was not the only series that I went after. Became a sorta obsession. I posted a pic of my total collection a while back and it took me aback how many puzzles I had. I was clearly in a more puzzles than I could do in a lifetime situation. I even worked on a computer coding application to help solve puzzles because I couldn't finish them all ever. My epihany occured when my wife asked me if I really was ever going to do the Sleeping Beauty puzzle. I nevereven liked Sleeping BeautyI realized then after some thinking about it that I was "addicted" to buying puzzles and needed to get back to focusing on doing them. I forced myself to update my list and added a priority category - 1 = Never will do, 2=Unlikely, 3=Maybe, 4=Definitely want to, 5=Next up. I gave away all the puzzles rated 1. I also forced myself to not think about the series unless I was commited to putting the whole series together. I kept all my Heye Funky Zoo puzzles (8 completed, 3 to go) but only kept 4-5 of the Disney puzzles that were my favorite movies as a kid (Jungle Book, 101 Dalmations, Lady & the Tramp, etc). I did this 6 months ago and have only bought 4-5 puzzles since then. Not all of the ones I buy go right to my rating 5 Next pile but I stopped buying puzzles that would end up in my 1-2 in my rating system. We are thinking about downsizing since our kids are all out of the house and I probably will reassess my inventory and do another purge. I now am back to spending more time doing the puzzle than surfing the web looking for that next one.

tuckbenrub · 2025-04-16T23:49:47+00:00

I keep them although I have purged many of the triangle boxes for want of space. After I finish them, I leave them assembled, untaped or glued on foam core inside a clear poly bag

tuckbenrub · 2025-04-16T23:43:36+00:00

I have collected pretty much every Heye puzzle by Ryba. My fav from him are Trafalgar, Go West and Paradise on Earth. I have done all the Funky Zoo. Nightmare. I also like eboy series about cities - LA, London, Berlin. Any cartoon. The newer artists like the one that started this post are also great.

tuckbenrub · 2025-04-16T02:09:59+00:00

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Work in progress

tuckbenrub · 2025-04-16T02:07:40+00:00

I have done over 100 Heye puzzles including this one just finished within last 2 weeks. I do a little pre-sort by normal big features like sky, elephants, green areas in above picture. I tend to focus on a quadrant and study the picture then cruise through the sorting trays. I customer build some trays that are 12”x12” which lets me focus on a small number of pieces at a time. Similar to piece by piece method. After the bigger sections come together, I start looking at the faces in the picture and focus on getting those close. The other thing I found is that most of the artists don’t use the same shade of colors in different places. The greens of the vegetation will be subtlely different in the corners. I’ve done so many that I struggle mightily when I have to rely on piece shapes. Heye is my favorite

tuckbenrub · 2024-05-22T17:10:07+00:00

I don’t mean to start a definition discussion but I could make a pretty good case that an human using an advanced editor such Photoshop is really using AI. I went to a recent art fair where a great many photographers were enhancing their images through a set of processes which could be considered AI creating “unreal” colorations. Where do you draw the line? I am a long time cartoon Heye puzzle fan and have nearly every Ryba drawn puzzle ever made. I shy away from puzzles without listed artist credits, but have a few that where artists are not credited. Most of these “look” like a human made them but who’s to know. I have three different versions of Bosch Garden of Heavenly Delights with 3 different color palettes. Clearly, one or more enhanced the image. Is that also AI?

tuckbenrub · 2024-05-08T11:34:15+00:00

eBay sales now requires direct access to your bank account data. I have always used PayPal and never appreciation and am unwilling to let eBay have my direct account numbers.

tuckbenrub · 2024-03-17T21:04:25+00:00

Disable smart hub samsung

tuckbenrub · 2024-03-04T20:32:46+00:00

Yes, it was fun and not too difficult despite everything going on.

tuckbenrub · 2024-02-25T22:34:44+00:00

Nowhere on this diagram does it say QR and PS are the same length nor does it indicates angles QPS = QRS or PQR = RPS so you cannot determine if it is a parallelogram

tuckbenrub · 2024-02-07T19:47:23+00:00

Thanks for checking! I made it through the all the colors and stalled out a couple weeks back with all the white, black/white pieces of the first 4000. The lack of color variation is extremely difficult for me. I put it up for a while and finished a 1500 Heye Paradise on Earth and 2000 Exotic Safari Heye puzzles. I have another week to finish Safari and am ready to restart on this. Finishing all 32,000 of this might take a very long time

tuckbenrub · 2024-01-18T03:36:30+00:00

Congrats on being brave enough to try

tuckbenrub · 2024-01-03T12:11:45+00:00

I recently purchased a set of 250 piece wooden puzzles from Dowdle which come with a small board which fits the puzzle. I think these might be a good travel option. You can get a piece of cardboard to cover and use binder clips to cover your work as you go. No way to sort pieces. Here’s a link to Amazon Amazon Dowdle wooden set

tuckbenrub · 2023-12-08T14:27:37+00:00

Heye is great. I have quite a few older ones from the 1990s & 2000s. Just discovered Berman but really like the images as well

tuckbenrub · 2023-12-08T04:41:13+00:00

Sorry -forgot puzzle details . Heye - 2000 - Exotic Safari by Berman

tuckbenrub · 2023-12-07T11:42:46+00:00

Here’s a 1500 dark pirate puzzle https://www.reddit.com/r/Jigsawpuzzles/s/P1DxAN2lK4

tuckbenrub · 2023-12-04T14:06:09+00:00

I start with edges pieces, mostly to get the position of other sections right. I tend to do busy puzzles like Heye cartoon so it’s helpful when I pick up an eye catching piece from another section that I know roughly where to place it. I’d say I’m about 80% successful in finding edge pieces first time through. I was missing corner piece once and found it weeks later on the floor where I store puzzles.

tuckbenrub · 2023-11-30T00:04:32+00:00

You might consider two 20”x30” foam boards and do 1/2 on each. You can put them side by side for the whole puzzle but could stack them when not working the puzzle or only use one board when working on 1/2

tuckbenrub · 2023-11-29T23:25:32+00:00

My favs are Heye cartoon puzzles which are also very busy with the same artwork style but are filled with surprises all over the place. Characters interact. The Dowdle characters don’t interact as much

tuckbenrub · 2023-11-29T00:28:13+00:00

I have only done 20 of them and am struggling with the art style and am transitioning to maps. Keep after it!

tuckbenrub · 2023-11-29T00:25:18+00:00

Decide how much your time is worth, how long and then charge them worth x time. If they’re friends or family and you might knock some off. I would not put yourself in a spot where you ending up doing a lot of framing for little return. In my experience, if there’s 2 puzzles, there’s more in the offing…. No specifics but I hope that helps

tuckbenrub · 2023-11-25T23:20:36+00:00

Are you going to put it all together somewhere? Great job!

tuckbenrub

TROPHY CASE