"Must have" Jigsaw Puzzle Accessories

Doing a  jigsaw is all about separating, sorting, piecing together, and then storing - completed or incomplete.  Special jigsaw accessories are available that take away the hassle, and make puzzling even more fun.
We think that sorting and storing your pieces by colour not only helps keep your puzzling area tidy, but also helps you complete the jigsaw faster. Sorting through a lot of pieces using a few old yoghurt pots or meat trays, or just spreading them out on your table, and then picking them up again when you have to pack up is not necessarily the best way!
We have two specially designed puzzle sorters that you will not be without once you have them. Believe me, mine are in constant use!

Sort and Go



Sort your puzzle

Both are in stock on our website. They also make great gifts - and Father's day is coming up!

Jigsaw Puzzle accessories

If you know someone who enjoys jigsaws, and you are looking for something a bit different for them for Christmas, How about a puzzle roll, or a puzzle store so the jigsaw can be put away without being broken up??

We use a puzzle store all the time for the puzzle we are working on here at Pathway Puzzles, and we use a puzzle roll for that special puzzle that we don't want to glue up, but don't want to break up yet. So, both come highly recommended!

Gluing a puzzle

After all the hard work of piecing together a jigsaw puzzle it is very rewarding to glue the finished work and mount it on the wall for all to see. A common mistake people make is to use PVA, or a wood glue, and glue it from the back. Not a good idea! Not only can this cause the pieces to swell, and then the puzzle won't lie flat, but it is messy to do. Especially formulated puzzle fixative is available, and it is gently applied to the front of the puzzle with a soft cloth, finger or the applicator sponge that comes with some brands. It seeps into the joins and also adds a gloss to the surface of the puzzle, which improves the look, and also helps to repell dust.
Pathway Puzzles sells the puzzle fixative and can also send a tip sheet we have developed after a number of years gluing jigsaws. Just send us an email and we will happily send it to you.

Gluing a puzzle

Just recently I was talking to a customer who was having one of our puzzles framed. She had paid over $20 to the framer to get the puzzle glued. She was somewhat dismayed when I told her we could have sold her a whole bottle of puzzle fixative (enough for two 1000 piece puzzles) for $10.00.


There are two brands of fixative available on our website. The Holdsons brand has enough fixative for two puzzles, depending on how thickly you put it on. The Ravensburger one is larger, will do 6-8 puzzles, and has a useful sponge tip to help with the spreading.


The other key thing about gluing jigsaws with proper puzzle fixative is to glue it on the picture side, not the back of the puzzle. It gives a lovely gloss finish - the more coats, the higher the gloss. It also helps as a dust repellent.

Portapuzzle

Sometimes it is a real problem to find a space large enough to do a jigsaw. Especially if you have kids or cats in the house and can't trust leaving the jigsaw out. I have used a portapuzzle for the last 2 years, and wouldn't be without it now. It is like a large puzzle size suitcase that unzips and opens out to fit a 1000 piece jigsaw. It has two trays for sorting and the whole thing zips up to be put under the sofa or bed out of the way when not in use. I also take mine with me on holiday so I can keep doing my puzzle while away. It is lined in felt so the pieces stay put.