Gears Up N Down

One of the little stalks that joins a gear to its wheel gave way while I was fitting it, and I repaired it myself because I did not fancy waiting on support. Those stalks are the weak point of the entire design and anybody who builds this will tell you the same. Thicken them by a millimetre and most of the breakage complaints you are getting disappear. The rest of the build was a pleasure.

The gear train is lovely once it is actually running, and watching the vertical travel is more absorbing than it has any right to be. It took me noticeably longer than the box suggested and I enjoyed every extra hour of it, so treat the stated build time as optimistic rather than wrong. Everything fitted, nothing needed forcing, and the finish on the wood is good enough that I have not bothered to oil it.

The gears mechanism is the star here. Watching everything turn in sync after hours of careful assembly is incredibly rewarding. Only small note — a couple of pieces fit very tightly and I was worried they'd crack. They held up fine, but a tiny bit more tolerance would help. Overall, fantastic product.

I practice mindfulness and this puzzle gave me one of the deepest flow states I've experienced outside meditation. Something about the repetitive focus of assembling gears is deeply calming. The finished product is beautiful and functional. Kenzai has found a brilliant niche — please keep making these.

The gear mechanism is brilliant but some of the smaller gear teeth needed very careful handling. I'd suggest having tweezers handy for a few of the finer pieces. Once assembled though, the motion is smooth and mesmerizing. Looks stunning on my bookshelf. Would recommend to anyone who enjoys a real challenge.

I've done Loop De Loop and Ferris Wheel before this, and Gears Up N Down is definitely the most satisfying. The complexity is a step up and watching multiple gears drive the marble up and down is hypnotic. My kids love cranking it. Build quality is solid — no breakage issues at all.

My brother is an architect and loves anything mechanical. He sent me a video of the finished build and was genuinely thrilled. He said it reminded him of old clock mechanisms. At ₹2,699, it feels premium — the unboxing experience and the wood quality are excellent. Already planning to get him the Zig Zagger next.

This one tested my patience in the best way. The gear assembly required careful alignment — rush it and things won't mesh properly. Took me about 9 hours over three sessions. The moment everything clicked and the gears started turning smoothly together was pure magic. A couple of instructions could be clearer for the gear alignment steps.

As a mechanical engineer, I was impressed by how well the gear train works. 254 pieces kept me busy for a solid 7-8 hours and the interlocking gears are incredibly satisfying to watch. This isn't just a puzzle — it's a working machine. Best hobby purchase I've made this year.