Older cubers discussions

[mark49152]

Okay, I so I ordered a Yuxin 6x6... I caved in. Might be a nice cube to bring on my Holiday (We go to Germany in nice hotel with swimming pool in the mountains/forrest in the Rhön area). So I can do a solve or two in the evening.

Haha! Make sure to solve it somewhere you won't lose any pieces when it pops, and make sure to take a bag to bring them home in

 

[Logiqx]

Milestone solve today... 2:29.50 on 5x5. My first single within the FK (fragmented kingdom) soft cut.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

 

[Selkie]

Things are improving as my hands get used to being more accurate, and feeling and responding to those little catches before they become locks. I now have my rolling ao12 under 6 minutes. It's a nice cube and I prefer it to the AoShi.

Thanks for the recommendation I will order one straight away

The spring swap is definitely worth doing. I was a good 20 seconds slower before doing it. Can turn as rough as you want after that. Just yknow... be careful during the swap itself... this double Yuxin explosion added almost an hour to the process.

Ouch, yes 6x6 explosions can be time consuming. There is one on my YouTube channel whilst scrambling

Changing the subject from springs, I just smashed my 6x6 single PB: 5.09. Best by 17 seconds but what I'm most pleased about is how close it is to the UK cut of 5 mins. Gives me hope I will get a mean one day.

Great Mark, that really is close to cut off. Hopefully with a bit of practice you will be there soon

Milestone solve today... 2:29.50 on 5x5. My first single within the FK (fragmented kingdom) soft cut.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

Another great cut off solve. Great progress gents. "Fragmented Kingdom" hahahah

 

[MarcelP]

Haha! Make sure to solve it somewhere you won't lose any pieces when it pops, and make sure to take a bag to bring them home in

When it explodes, how does it take you to reassemble? Sounds maybe like I will not bring to a relaxing holiday I never had a pop on my Yuxin 5x5's so I will take one of them with me.

 

[earth2dan]

Changing the subject from springs, I just smashed my 6x6 single PB: 5.09. Best by 17 seconds but what I'm most pleased about is how close it is to the UK cut of 5 mins. Gives me hope I will get a mean one day.

Very nice. Keep at it and I'm sure you'll get a sub 5 soon. I smashed my 6x6 single a couple weeks back with a similar time of 5:07 and have since gone on to best it with a 4:39.

@MarcelP I had an internal piece pop day 1, and have since had a couple individual center pieces pop due to lockups that I didn't bail out of in time. After tightening it up I haven't had any pops (and I'm going much faster now than I was day 1 with this cube). I would tighten each screw a good 1/4 turn right out of the box and then play with it a bit. If it feels a little too tight at first it's probably just right. If you tighten it a bit you probably won't have to worry about pops on your vacation. Though, the 5x5 is always a safe bet

 

[mark49152]

When it explodes, how does it take you to reassemble? Sounds maybe like I will not bring to a relaxing holiday I never had a pop on my Yuxin 5x5's so I will take one of them with me.

With the Yuxin I have never had an explosion, just jams and internal pops that required taking out and putting back 5-10 pieces. So just a few minutes.

On the AoShi I had a pop that took out about a quarter of it and it must have taken 30+ minutes to get it back together. Very fiddly.

One of the competitors at North London Open missed the first event after his 6x6 exploded on the train. His missed his stop while crawling around looking for pieces, and had to wait for a train back again.

 

[mafergut]

With the Yuxin I have never had an explosion, just jams and internal pops that required taking out and putting back 5-10 pieces. So just a few minutes.

On the AoShi I had a pop that took out about a quarter of it and it must have taken 30+ minutes to get it back together. Very fiddly.

One of the competitors at North London Open missed the first event after his 6x6 exploded on the train. His missed his stop while crawling around looking for pieces, and had to wait for a train back again.

Lesson learned: Don't use a pop-prone cube on your commute. Much less a big cube with lots of pieces. I had a pop once on a train but it was just a Weilong that popped 3 pieces, easy to collect back. Anyway I learned the lesson because I almost missed my stop as well. I have also used my CB G4 and Yuxin 5x5 on a train but the only pop I had on any of those was an internal piece of my G4 once at home.

 

[h2f]

I had an explosion of Aoshi after binging it out of the box... lol After breaking in it I've made it tighter and now it's fine - now explosions, very rarer pops and lockups. It's great. But I would try Yuxin if I could.

 

[newtonbase]

Lesson learned: Don't use a pop-prone cube on your commute.

To be fair to him he wasn't actually using it. He just opened his case and it fell out. I'm very impressed that he found all the pieces. He put it back together a lot more quickly than I thought he could.

 

[Chree]

When I first got my Aoshi, but before I tensioned it at all, I was pulling apart the layers to take a look at the pieces. Boom. Luckily only 1 quarter of the cube exploded and not the whole thing.

Haven't had that problem since, thankfully!

 

[bubbagrub]

Changing the subject from springs, I just smashed my 6x6 single PB: 5.09. Best by 17 seconds but what I'm most pleased about is how close it is to the UK cut of 5 mins. Gives me hope I will get a mean one day.

Wow. I'm way behind you. My PB single is still above 7 minutes.

Today I started on Multiblind again. I got 2/4, which doesn't seem bad considering I've done almost no BLD practice at all since last year. One of the two wrong ones just had two twisted corners and the other one I slipped while executing a Y-perm and didn't manage to recover properly.

I'm still planning to try 4 before I try 5. Are you going to go for 8 again in Macclesfield, Mark?

 

[bubbagrub]

Lesson learned: Don't use a pop-prone cube on your commute. Much less a big cube with lots of pieces. I had a pop once on a train but it was just a Weilong that popped 3 pieces, easy to collect back. Anyway I learned the lesson because I almost missed my stop as well. I have also used my CB G4 and Yuxin 5x5 on a train but the only pop I had on any of those was an internal piece of my G4 once at home.

I popped my DaYan Gem VII on a plane. It's been missing a piece ever since... :-(

 

[mark49152]

I'm still planning to try 4 before I try 5. Are you going to go for 8 again in Macclesfield, Mark?

Undecided. I might be less ambitious and shoot for 6 or 7 first. I haven't done much practice and have two weeks of business travel right before the comp, so I don't really have a target or a focus event for this one.

 

[One Wheel]

I've finished ao100 on 6x6. It took me 15 days. I did more than 100 solves - some in car waiting for wife, some in garden etc. I need to work 5x5 to get better with Hoya and some cases on last four edges.

Spoiler

Generated By csTimer on 2016-5-8
solves/total: 100/100

single
best: 5:40.75
worst: 9:12.82

mean of 3
current: 6:12.49 (σ = 23.03)
best: 5:44.93 (σ = 4.73)

avg of 5
current: 6:13.40 (σ = 6.27)
best: 5:57.49 (σ = 19.67)

avg of 12
current: 6:18.55 (σ = 14.15)
best: 6:10.41 (σ = 19.17)

avg of 50
current: 6:32.76 (σ = 23.15)
best: 6:32.76 (σ = 23.15)

avg of 100
current: 6:55.08 (σ = 30.90)
best: 6:55.08 (σ = 30.90)

Average: 6:55.08 (σ = 30.90)
Mean: 6:56.65

Time List:
7:20.37, 8:08.70, 7:35.34, 7:19.39, 7:40.13, 8:36.73, 7:06.52, 6:47.02, 7:27.02, 7:47.75, 7:40.24, 7:35.56, 9:00.54, 7:04.02, 7:54.29, 7:31.08, 9:12.82, 7:23.81, 7:11.00, 7:04.69, 8:03.27, 7:34.29, 7:21.23, 6:19.34, 8:11.79, 7:21.67, 6:41.73, 7:29.98, 6:56.44, 6:31.84, 7:18.57, 6:37.59, 8:10.61, 7:05.34, 6:52.15, 7:16.02, 6:50.51, 7:43.58, 7:22.10, 6:41.48, 6:24.14, 6:55.45, 7:30.57, 6:55.44, 6:23.09, 7:22.72, 7:15.00, 6:36.14, 6:27.60, 6:48.47, 6:51.40, 6:29.66, 6:01.83, 6:43.59, 7:38.71, 6:32.04, 6:38.79, 7:09.72, 6:52.98, 6:50.00, 6:27.86, 6:22.86, 6:30.47, 6:47.36, 6:32.04, 6:17.69, 7:26.21, 6:26.46, 7:04.51, 7:38.28, 6:29.95, 7:10.53, 6:36.30, 6:45.89, 6:35.78, 6:59.66, 5:52.78, 6:01.79, 5:40.75, 6:42.15, 6:38.27, 7:00.60, 7:12.18, 6:24.26, 7:15.00, 5:42.36, 5:42.03, 5:50.38, 6:19.72, 6:24.05, 6:18.33, 6:27.68, 5:43.39, 6:37.49, 6:57.48, 6:13.74, 6:06.97, 5:46.77, 6:31.19, 6:19.49

I just ordered my first 6x6. I'll get it Monday or Tuesday, then I think I'll be doing this. Your 6x6 times look remarkably similar to my current 5x5 times, so I'll probably be slower, but this is a good benchmark to beat.

It's been a while on this, but I just finished my first 100 timed 6x6 solves. There has clearly been some improvement, but I've got a lot of catching up to do. The 10:58.85 near the end (solve #93) was likely a ~7:30-8 minute solve, maybe better, except for a really nasty lockup as I was finishing the last two centers.

Spoiler: 6x6 Times

Generated By csTimer on 2016-6-28
solves/total: 97/100

single
best: 7:33.67
worst: 20:46.34

mean of 3
current: 8:06.20 (σ = 36.50)
best: 8:06.20 (σ = 36.50)

avg of 5
current: 8:08.61 (σ = 33.38)
best: 8:05.96 (σ = 28.99)

avg of 12
current: 8:51.43 (σ = 54.67)
best: 8:49.39 (σ = 32.83)

avg of 50
current: 9:05.11 (σ = 39.91)
best: 9:05.11 (σ = 39.91)

avg of 100
current: 10:23.97 (σ = 131.07)
best: 10:23.97 (σ = 131.07)

Average: 10:23.97 (σ = 131.07)
Mean: 10:27.10

Time List:
17:42.23, 17:43.13, 15:21.09, 14:24.78, 18:09.00, 20:46.34, 12:40.91, 16:44.01, 13:23.53, 16:29.84, 16:22.58, 13:53.88, 9:29.94, 12:09.39, 11:43.18, 10:18.16, 11:20.34, 9:43.86, 10:44.18, 10:27.72, 10:04.42, 9:21.94, 9:50.59, 13:09.61, 11:52.95, 13:08.03, 12:49.79, 9:04.96, 10:33.57, 11:43.07, 11:00.37, 10:03.75, 9:33.89, 10:24.34, 10:17.42, 10:11.71, 8:56.77, 10:30.89, 9:09.22, DNF(6.43), 8:58.10, DNF(1:39.86), 9:19.13, 10:10.94, 9:16.36, 11:28.36, 8:47.91, 8:57.85, 10:18.22, 9:23.93, 8:58.63, 8:50.15, 9:28.87, 11:28.47, 8:41.22, 8:26.13, 9:56.16, 9:17.97, 9:31.86, 9:26.36, 8:50.27, 9:19.92, 9:05.45, 9:45.12, 8:26.27, 8:54.04, 10:30.37, 8:59.69, 8:12.75, 7:39.72, 11:35.05, 8:25.00, 9:55.29, 9:29.28, 9:06.15, 10:04.40, 8:31.03, 9:26.94, 8:50.68, 8:21.79, 8:32.40, 9:42.81, 8:50.77, 8:02.41, 9:55.21, 9:44.39, 8:05.09, 9:06.47, 8:33.49, 8:41.25, 8:35.38, DNF(8:03.24), 10:58.85, 9:08.09, 8:37.72, 7:40.92, 9:33.66, 7:59.23, 7:33.67, 8:45.67

 

[bubbagrub]

Second attempt at 4 cube multiblind: 0/4. :-( Oh dear. Lots more practice required, I think...

 

[phreaker]

I may be wrong, but I'll give my opinion anyway, which is based on reason rather than experience.

I don't see how spring swaps can make a significant difference on a cube where the springs move through such a tiny range of motion. Sure I can pull the corners out a little on my 6x6, but when pulling the edges or layers evenly there is virtually no movement. The puzzle has to be almost tightened to the limit just to stay together.

On the other hand, because it has to be so tight just to stay together, tiny adjustments to the screws, even of 1/8 turn, make a big difference.

I would suggest that after a spring swap it's not the springs that make the difference, but the different adjustment after the screws were put back in.

As I said, I might be wrong because I haven't tried it myself, and I don't intend to either .

Depends on the cube and the springs.

Some cubes, hardly a difference. But on my 42mm Zhanchis... it is a large difference. I could hand all three to you, and you'd know the difference between them. None of them use stock springs. A stock 42mm Zhanchi just feels... way too tight and hard to turn for OH use.

To get it to where it should be you'd have to loosen the screws so much the end caps pop off . That's why people complain about corner caps popping of the 42mm. It is really a spring problem. Get the right springs, and it just doesn't happen.

 

[phreaker]

Interesting, that's counter-intuitive, to me. I would have expected it the other way around. Anyhow, I think the major problem with my cube is not the springs but the lack of skill in the user .

For OH, I find I need a cube that is close to right... otherwise I'm with you on it being the user not the cube .

 

[Jason Green]

After being at camp with my kids for 4 days with basically no internet, I just caught up quickly on the thread.

...maybe COLL would be a nice next step in alg learning (it would be handy for ZZ OH and 2H and for big cubes also) but I agree that there are lots of things that can be improved in F2L, cross, etc.

As a CFOP solver that knows full OLL/PLL, how exactly would I use COLL, I've wondered about that and never took the time to research it. Would it help with easier OLL cases, or skips, etc?

...about handling nerves, I think @Selkie nails it, focus on doing Cross and first pair slow and after that let the solve flow. You have to deliberately do it, if not, the nerves will take over and control your solve.

When I'm at a comp I usually just focus on a good cross *start*. Usually I plan my whole cross at home, but occasionally I will goof it up pretty badly which I'm scared of at a comp. So if I see the whole cross right away that's good, otherwise I plan two or three pieces and start. I should maybe use a little more time and try harder, but with the nerves I'm worried of getting flustered and really hosing things up. So far it's worked for me. Actually I'd say most solves I still planned the whole cross, but ones I did not I didn't let it bother me.

All this 6x6 talk... anyone want to wager $1000 that my next 6x6 solve will be a PB? I can document the solve however you like (video, etc.). If any takers just let me know and I'll order one right away.

 

[JohnnyReggae]

As a CFOP solver that knows full OLL/PLL, how exactly would I use COLL, I've wondered about that and never took the time to research it. Would it help with easier OLL cases, or skips, etc?

From what I understand the COLL algs could help you getting more PLL skips if the edges are permutated correctly. Also after doing COLL you will be left with either a U, H, or Z perm for a PLL as you will only be left with edges to permutate. The trade-off is learning a bunch of additional algs. Seeing that I've made my way through full OLL and PLL plus some more alternate algs and a bunch of unique OH algs, I think that learning the additional algs is not going to be much of a problem. It's just the recognition of each case that will take some time.

I've also started looking into the ZZ method, and with ZZ you will always have your top edges oriented once your F2L is finished so knowing the COLL algs and the recognition will help. However for now with ZZ I'm using OCLL and PLL

 

[Shaky Hands]

Just back from my holidays with pretty much no practice. Mostly been concentrating on 5x5 since I got back and I've broken all my Average PB's since returning, so there's hope for the next comp there.

Also learned the (Uw2 Rw2 F2 u2 F2 Rw2 Uw2) 5x5 parity algorithm as I was fed up of this case appearing.

Good to see @Selkie making a return to the forum as well. Any chance of a guest appearance at Macclesfield?

Caught up with this thread yesterday. Read it all, too much to respond to as I expected, although...

All this 6x6 talk... anyone want to wager $1000 that my next 6x6 solve will be a PB?

Ha ha. $1000? Not that anyone has that sort of money going spare, but wow did Brexit destroy the value of the Pound while I was away! (http://www.xe.com/currencycharts/?from=GBP&to=USD&view=1M for currency junkies.)