Older cubers discussions

[mafergut]

Hey guys, if you want a nice scramble on white cross please pay a visit to my Race to sub-15 thread and check the 5th scramble of this week's average. And, why not, all of you that are already sub-20 are invited to participate, of course (and the ones that aren't ).

 

[pglewis]

Closer. This one did get a "YES!" and clap of the hands. Rare OLL skip, no idea what the PLL was, I was in shock at the time.

 

[newtonbase]

I see that there's quite a few Oldies registered for the World Championships already.

Finally got 4/4 in a very slow 31:22 (+2). Spotted a mistake in the memo review @mark49152! Nothing was going in but I stuck at it. That's a 2017 goal out of the way. On to 5 cubes now.

 

[mark49152]

Finally got 4/4 in a very slow 31:22 (+2). Spotted a mistake in the memo review @mark49152! Nothing was going in but I stuck at it. That's a 2017 goal out of the way. On to 5 cubes now.

Nice job, congrats

 

[phreaker]

New PB for 3x3: 44.025 (OH). Times seem to be coming down.

At this point my OH and non OH times are probably off ~3-4s in favor of non.. at the most. So I tend to practice OH .

 

[mafergut]

Hi guys. Looking for some new 3x3 that are available in stickerless. Not that I don't like my Valk3 but I would like to try something else as I think I catch a bit at times. Maybe the Yan3? Other recommendations? A Windmirror would probably come with the order. Isn't it a nice little puzzle? [emoji3]

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[phreaker]

Hi guys. Looking for some new 3x3 that are available in stickerless. Not that I don't like my Valk3 but I would like to try something else as I think I catch a bit at times. Maybe the Yan3? Other recommendations? A Windmirror would probably come with the order. Isn't it a nice little puzzle? [emoji3]

Have you used a GAN cube before? If so what did you think of which one?

 

[mafergut]

Have you used a GAN cube before? If so what did you think of which one?

I have a 357 which I don't particularly like. Not wanting to here the advice of "if you didn't like previous GAN cubes don't buy the Air" I got an Air and, not surprisingly, I don't like it. It also does not come in stickerless. Not sure what it is I don't like of it but I don't get my times on it so that's a clear no go.

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[phreaker]

I have a 357 which I don't particularly like. Not wanting to here the advice of "if you didn't like previous GAN cubes don't buy the Air" I got an Air and, not surprisingly, I don't like it. It also does not come in stickerless. Not sure what it is I don't like of it but I don't get my times on it so that's a clear no go.

I tend to believe that GAN cubes show a clear line from the 357 -> 356 -> 356 AIR. They improve along the way, but there's a feeling they give that other cubes tend not to.

What cubes have you liked?

Cubes I like that are stickerless: Yuexiao, Thunderclap V1, Aolong V1, The Valk. No idea on the Yan 3. I haven't heard enough about it to make me want to get it. The Valk is good enough for me 99% of the time.

Do you know why you are catching on your Valk?

 

[mafergut]

To be honest I think my catching problems come from squared corners and the fact that it does not retain well its cube shape, plus the small size

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[phreaker]

Do you have a Thunderclap V1 and/or Aolong V2?

Those are the type of cubes that would avoid tha issue. Maybe a Weilong GTS?

 

[JanW]

Hi guys. Looking for some new 3x3 that are available in stickerless. Not that I don't like my Valk3 but I would like to try something else as I think I catch a bit at times. Maybe the Yan3? Other recommendations? A Windmirror would probably come with the order. Isn't it a nice little puzzle? [emoji3]

I still use the stickerless MoJue M3 as my main. I like it a lot more than the Valk3. A lot more than any of my other cubes for that matter. I think the Weilong GTS in my second favorite, but unfortunately it doesn't come in stickerless.

 

[newtonbase]

To be honest I think my catching problems come from squared corners and the fact that it does not retain well its cube shape, plus the small size

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Loosen it and add magnets!

 

[mafergut]

Yeah, I should probably go for a magnetized 3x3 but I don't want to spend $50 on one and I'm not sure about doing it myself. The MoJue M3 is another option that I had not considered. And regarding @phreaker advice about non-squared corners cubes... well, I have both a Thunderclap v1 and an Aolong v2 and also a Weilong GTS but the GTS is too unstable and the other two feel a bit... dated? I would have to go back to them and try. At least the Thunderclap v1 can be bought in stickerless.

Not sure if the issues with squared corners catching will be present with all other cubes or a more stable one would avoid them while also preventing corner twists.

Oh, and I did some solves with my GAN 356 Air and now I remember why I hate is so much. It does not catch like the Valk but it, instead, turns in unexpected directions if not accurate and also, at times, it rebounds quite strongly when cutting significant angles. All in all I'm terribly inconsistent with it. I can get very nice times but also terrible ones. It happens to me with this cube something that I haven't experienced with any other. OLL/PLL algs that apparently were correctly executed but end up with a messed up cube, because at some point the cube turned wrong and I barely felt it (maybe it just cut on the wrong direction or something like that, I really don't know). Maybe it's just me turning very inaccurately.

 

[pglewis]

I see that there's quite a few Oldies registered for the World Championships already.

Finally got 4/4 in a very slow 31:22 (+2). Spotted a mistake in the memo review @mark49152! Nothing was going in but I stuck at it. That's a 2017 goal out of the way. On to 5 cubes now.

Yes, I knew it was comin'! Congrats and looking forward to the next plateau.

Hi guys. Looking for some new 3x3 that are available in stickerless. Not that I don't like my Valk3 but I would like to try something else as I think I catch a bit at times. Maybe the Yan3? Other recommendations? A Windmirror would probably come with the order. Isn't it a nice little puzzle?

Valk3 stickerless is still my "main". I usually rotate through 7 or 8 cubes while practicing... but if I'm specifically out to set an aoX or at comp I'm reaching for the Valk right now; it's the most reliably predictable for me despite a few flaws. Everyone's take on cubes is different but here's my current opinions on the stickerless ones I have:

* Aolong V2: my first stickerless and has a lot of hours on it. Known for being a little prone to corner twists, though I don't turn roughly enough to see that happen often. Feels somewhat heavy to me compared to the more recently designed cubes. Mine has not been in the active rotation for a while and would need some setup tweaking to evaluate fresh. Shades are on the darkish side, which I find good for recognition and not so great for poor lighting.

* X-Man Tornado: I think this is one of @Selkie's favorites. Kinda reminiscent of the Aolong V2 to me but feels lighter and more refined. My opinion of this one keeps shifting, I think it needs some setup and break-in before it's really doing its thing and the tensions seem to have a small-ish "butter zone" to find. That said, I'm beginning to warm up to it. Shades are excellent, very close to Valk shades.

* MF3R: Very light, very fast but I find the speed controllable (again, I'm not a very rough turner). If you find the Valk3 catchy then this one is likely to be a little worse (another squared corner design). I got my 22.20 PB with it but beaten by the Valk with a mid 21 last night. Shades are very good and close to the Valk, yellow isn't fluro and red is a little brighter.

* Thunderclap V1: Still not as joy-inducing as either of my black ones but it's coming around. The plastic feels softer to me than its stickered cousins. Mine wasn't setup much to my liking out of the box but it's a Thunderclap; they're very tweakable cubes. I think some break-in has helped it too, starting to warm up to it more. It landed my 23.0 during my single PB-fest the past couple weeks. Colors are more "washed out" vs. the Valk, non-fluro yellow and a green on the pea-green side.

 

[phreaker]

Yeah, I should probably go for a magnetized 3x3 but I don't want to spend $50 on one and I'm not sure about doing it myself. The MoJue M3 is another option that I had not considered. And regarding @phreaker advice about non-squared corners cubes... well, I have both a Thunderclap v1 and an Aolong v2 and also a Weilong GTS but the GTS is too unstable and the other two feel a bit... dated? I would have to go back to them and try. At least the Thunderclap v1 can be bought in stickerless.

Not sure if the issues with squared corners catching will be present with all other cubes or a more stable one would avoid them while also preventing corner twists.

Oh, and I did some solves with my GAN 356 Air and now I remember why I hate is so much. It does not catch like the Valk but it, instead, turns in unexpected directions if not accurate and also, at times, it rebounds quite strongly when cutting significant angles. All in all I'm terribly inconsistent with it. I can get very nice times but also terrible ones. It happens to me with this cube something that I haven't experienced with any other. OLL/PLL algs that apparently were correctly executed but end up with a messed up cube, because at some point the cube turned wrong and I barely felt it (maybe it just cut on the wrong direction or something like that, I really don't know). Maybe it's just me turning very inaccurately.

The Gans AIR cuts SO easily, it is easy to make mistakes with. It is insane what that cibe will do. I actually dislike how easy it cuts because you get no warning on an absurd cut. And by the time you try to do a cut you shouldn't.. there was no warning.

I like the AIR UM because I tend not to make absurd cuts with it... leaving only the nice smooth cutting and turning.

I like The Valk. If you don't like the hollowed corners, most modern designs won't be to your liking.

My personal favorite cubes in order: The Valk M, Gans Air UM, The Valk, Gans AIR, Gans 356, Yuexiao, Weilong GTS. TC v1. Dayan Zhanchi 42mm.

(This is in the order I reach for them in my box... I may prefer the Yuexiao, a bit more... but it is very Valk like.)

 

[Logiqx]

Good to see this thread is busy as usual. Nice progress everyone!

News from my end:
- I've registered for Worlds and booked my travel + accommodation. Hopefully I'll see some of you guys in Paris!
- I've added some additional 4LLL alg sets to my website; OLL+PLL, CLL+ELL, CPEOLL+2GLL, LLEF+L4C
- One of my team has properly caught the cubing bug. A few of the others still solve it casually

 

[pglewis]

Aolong V2 [...] Mine has not been in the active rotation for a while and would need some setup tweaking to evaluate fresh.

Of course, after taking it off the shelf I had to do some solves and dial the tensions in. Now I'm putting it back into the rotation after a fairly long absence.

 

[JohnnyReggae]

Of course, after taking it off the shelf I had to do some solves and dial the tensions in. Now I'm putting it back into the rotation after a fairly long absence.

I pull my Aolong V2 out of the draw fairly often these days. I always pleasantly surprised at how well it does turn and how nice it feels in the hands. It's also done over 13000 solves so it is well worn in.

 

[mitja]

Hi,
I haven't posted in this thread for a while, even though by the title I definitely fit in. Do you all have problems with Wuque corner twist? I have about 10 4x4 cubes but this is my first to cornertwist. It is a great cube, ( I wish for 60mm ), but the unpredicted twists are a surprise.