Making a Cryptex

I've wanted to make a cryptex for a while, so that's what I did. A cryptex is a small, personal safe. Basically it works like a bicycle lock and can be used to secure small objects. These were invented as a plot device by Dan Brown in the novel "The DaVinci Code". This is one of the more complicated small objects I've ever made.

[@billymacmakes]

That was an awesome build! I love how it turned out. Well done.

[@catspawcustoms]

Thank you!

[@cylong72]

Holy Cryptex, was that intense.😉 Absolutely amazing brotha. Another fine creation from CatsPaw. Furthermore, I love how your videos shows the complete workmanship required to make these “custom” pieces and silently express the reason these pieces are so expensive in a shop/marketplace. I’d hate to see the cost of “this” masterpiece. Great work Pat. ❤️❤️🤙🏾

[@catspawcustoms]

Thanks brother!

[@tree_carcass_mangler]

Outstanding. Thanks for posting - thumbs way up.

[@robertkline2752]

Exceptionally well done

[@MCsCreations]

Really beautiful work, dude! It turned out stunning! 😃
But here goes a tip... If you ever need to make another of this, don't make the letter strip out of wood, but out of leather!
Anyway, stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@KrazeeKraftZ]

How would I laser engrave the letters into leather?? Or do you suggest a different method for the lettering?? As I don't have a laser engraver anyways.

[@ghhales]

Thank you for sharing this video with me !

[@johnrazor8720]

Where do I buy one cause no way in hell can I make it. Astonishing!

[@richardh6964]

That was awesome. Well done and great explanation of how all the pieces came together. Will you be offering plans?

[@catspawcustoms]

Thanks, I didn’t make plans for it. The digital parts were just to best illustrate how it was done. All the measurements are based off of the prices themselves, so I didn’t even know how big the outer cylinder would be until I made the inner one, etc…

[@richardh6964]

@@catspawcustoms Your video is very well done and has enough details to recreate it the same. Thanks again for so well documenting such an awesome build.

[@KouroshKeshavarz]

Awesome work. That was a great build.

[@catspawcustoms]

Thank you, I appreciate that.

[@dogsoupblues]

Man, this is incredibly cool, and very tastefully done! Now i want to make one 😂
For the dust, maybe a lexan enclosure over the cylinder jig with a dust port on the top would work? You'd have transparency and hopefully decent collection. Put some air vents along the bottom and you might be good. I'm just guessing, tho. I've never used a jig like that

[@catspawcustoms]

I’ve seen a version of the jig like that and I considered it. If I make more, I might do that, but for one or two cylinders, this was okay.

[@CaptainTwitchy]

Dude I would have fucked that up so many times! Great work. I love objects like this that are mysterious, eclectic, and beautiful but also somewhat pointless.

[@claytonstarwalt9914]

How many possible combinations? Great work!

[@catspawcustoms]

The total is in a shot towards the end. It’s 14^26 power, so there’s like 19 zeros after the number.

[@biancaw.5987]

Patrick, another fun one, to be sure. My only complaint is that you covered up your final line with a link to another video. That was disappointing; I really wanted to read what you had there.

[@catspawcustoms]

Dang, I’ll need to go into TH-cam studio and see if I can adjust when that starts. It was a screen showing how many possible combinations the cryptex has, 14^24, so it’s a pretty huge number.

[@biancaw.5987]

@@catspawcustoms That's what I figured it was--I hope you can uncover it. 14^24 is an awesome number. 🙂

[@catspawcustoms]

@@biancaw.5987 I was able to adjust the card so it doesn’t start so soon, thank you for letting me know about that issue.

[@fcschoenthal]

Yet another fascinating build. Steaming the letter strips probably would have helped with the frustration for part of it. Most of the things I build are the "on the fly" variety, so I understand your pain. Most people need measured drawings to build anything these days. - Chris

[@KrazeeKraftZ]

I want to buy/build one for my escape roon venue, large like this. How much to make one and oost to Australia?? PS I'm not open yet so funds are tight!!

[@catspawcustoms]

Sorry, I’m not planning on making any to sell.

[@KrazeeKraftZ]

@@catspawcustoms damn lol thanks for responding!! I don't have half the equipment you used to make it so unlikely I can make one myself. Will have to keep thinking on it, but at least I now have some ideas from your video.thanks.