Solving the Over-The-Top 17×17 puzzle cube

Today during my daily crawl through blogs using Pulse, I stumbled across this video of a guy solving the Over-The-Top puzzle from creator Oskar Van Deventer. If you’ve not seen it before, it’s basically a huge version of the Rubik’s Cube designed to mess with your mind even more. I struggle with the 2×2 but this guy, Kenneth Brandon reckons if you’ve got the 4×4 cube licked, then you can do this mammoth 17×17 beast.

“The 17 x 17 isn’t that hard, but it is very, very tedious.”

It took Kenneth 7.5 hours in total to solve over the space of 5 days. I imagine if you went at it in one hit, your eyes would start to hate you after not long. Anyway, below is the time-lapse with some interesting explanations at the start. But you can also see the full 7.5 hours on his YouTube channel if you’re interested…

via :: The Verge

5th January 2015 Surface Tension , , No comments
Surface TensionSolving the Over-The-Top 17×17 puzzle cube
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hangUP arcade coat hooks - Red and black balltops now back in stock!

…which gave us an excuse to fool around with them before packing them up ready to ship out.


We’ve been without our 30mm balltops for a few months, but they are now back in stock. The 35mm LB35 is plentiful, but it’s just that bit too big for the loop on your jacket, so we just weren’t going to sell our hangUP arcade coat hooks with those!

Available in walnut, black and white back panel with a choice of red, black, yellow, green, white, blue and pink balltops.

28th August 2014 Surface Tension , , , , , , No comments
Surface TensionhangUP arcade coat hooks - Red and black balltops now back in stock!
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Rubik’s Cubes back in stock!

We now have a new batch of Rubik’s Cubes back in stock at surface tension!

Measuring in at 45cm x 45cm x 45cm and weighing around 20Kg, they will catch everyone’s eye whatever you choose to use it for. Made from 18mm MDF and finished to a high quality in black gloss, you can choose order or chaos with a solved or unsolved sticker finish!

Back in stock at £199.

Go to the surface tension website to find out more…

2nd July 2013 Surface Tension No comments
Surface TensionRubik’s Cubes back in stock!
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Space Invaders Acrylic Chess Set

There’s a lot of great stuff appearing with the Kickstarter revolution. This Space Invaders chess set effortlessly caught our eye. The pieces are made from laser-cut fluorescent acrylic which snap into black bases so they can move around on the laser-cut, etched chess board.

As mentioned, this is a Kickstarter project, though the goal has already been reached, there are some full sets remaining at $65 but no early bird sets.

You can find the project here on Kickstarter.

6th February 2013 Surface Tension No comments
Surface TensionSpace Invaders Acrylic Chess Set
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Mario Aluminium Can Art

When it comes to recycling aluminum cans, most people don’t go beyond hauling them to recycling facilities, however there are a rare few that take old cans and turn them into art. I am the proud owner of a tuk-tuk made from Singha beer cans, but Japanese artist Makaon has produced something even more awesome than my Thai taxi.

I can’t find much information about the artist or how many cans he used to make Super Mario and Luigi but if this is where skill, vision and the results of an unending thirst collide, then it’s a beautiful place that I wish we could all visit.

Makaon’s website, Empty Can Craft, shows just what can be done with a lot of empty cans, some imagination and a lot of patience.

via: Global Geek News

22nd October 2012 Surface Tension No comments
Surface TensionMario Aluminium Can Art
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Map for Movie Lovers

I bet this map was a blast to put together, the Film Map is loosely based on those vintage Los Angeles streep maps. It features over 900 film titles and includes such favorites as Forrest Gump (which is, of course, a forest), The Green Mile, Reservoir Dogs, and the Valley of the Dolls. It even has its very own Red Light district.

Designed by Dorothy design company there is also a Song Map available. I’m hoping that one day Dorothy may put together a Retro Games Map, now that would be awesome!

Available from Dorothy, the open edition prints cost £25 each and the limited edition signed and stamped prints are going for £100. Of course this begs the question: Where would you want to live?

23rd July 2012 Surface Tension , No comments
Surface TensionMap for Movie Lovers
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Pac-Man word search

It’s a Pac-Fan’s dream: a maze filled with fruit—and ghosts that can’t catch you. Starting from the Pac-Man, trace your way through the maze, gobbling letters as you go.

You can move just like Pac-Man, through the letter-free area in the middle of the maze. Plus, when you exit one side you pop up on the other. Once you consume a letter, it’s gone; keep going until you get to the next uneaten one. Without doubling back, find the path that lets you eat all 32 fruits.

15th July 2012 Surface Tension , No comments
Surface TensionPac-Man word search
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N+ew Stool = stool-sculpture-instalation

I’m completely in love with these wonderful N+ew stools from Chillian artist Rodrigo Alonso. They look amazing and I could imagine myself spending hours gazing at my N+ew stool trying to figure out all the different computer parts used to make them into fully functional furniture.

(N+ew: No More Electronic Waste) Stool-sculpture-instalations are produced with electronic waste, epoxic resin and melted aluminum. Alonso’s collection is posible thanks to the support of Recycla, a great organisation which raises awareness and supports the recycling of electronic waste.

Handmade in limited editions, or special orders. Each is a single, unique piece; none is equal in its filling. Alonso is able to personalize your N+ew stool if you wish. If you want one, head over to Alonso’s site and send him an email.

13th July 2012 Surface Tension , No comments
Surface TensionN+ew Stool = stool-sculpture-instalation
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