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Magnets Discussion and Help thread

Sergey

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Feb 16, 2018
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288
Very weak, too weak for most people taste.
Sorry for misunderstanding. I asked about magnets grade (N35, N42, ...). I personally like factory strength and want to magnetize GTS2 by myself.
 

Sergey

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Feb 16, 2018
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288
Why did you put them so far back towards the core?
Just for testing this idea - the closer to the center of rotation - the sooner magnets will meet each other. Earlier magnets reaction, earlier piece alignment.
magnets.gif
And I don't like magnets visibility through plastic :).

5.jpg

Maybe I'll buy another one YLM for testing different placement.
 
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pglewis

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2016LEWI07
Just for testing this idea - the closer to the center of rotation - the sooner magnets will meet each other. Earlier magnets reaction, earlier piece alignment.

I like this theory and I'm curious how it will pan out.

The weak feeling may simply be from moving the magnets closer to the pivot point and away from the point of torque.
 

Sergey

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Feb 16, 2018
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The weak feeling may simply be from moving the magnets closer to the pivot point and away from the point of torque.

Agree. Because of smaller moment arm, the more force need to be applied to achieve the same torque. The closer the location of the magnets to the core - the stronger magnets should be used. And with adjustment for friction. In this particular cube, IMHO, the contact area is very large. The pieces are large. I think that designers tried to achieve stability with this. On the other hand, stronger magnets will require more effort to push the layers. Achieving balance is not such a trivial task, I think.
6.jpg
 
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chron0s

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Feb 20, 2017
Messages
164
Did some more cubes lately:

MF3RSM black - 5x1 N48 from apex (correction, originally said gaussboys, thanks DMCubing!)
MF3RSM black - 4x1.5 N38 from gaussboys
Yuxin Little Magic black - 4x1.5 N38 from gaussboys
YueXiao Pro black - 5x1 N48 from apex

All four cubes lubed with lubicle black on the core, angstrom gravitas on the tracks and dignitas on the pieces. I also need to put a drop of silk on the core and pieces after breaking in - improves the feeling to me a lot.

Both MF3RSMs are really nice. With just the setup above they are great, and after adding DNM-37 both speed up while still having good control. The 4x1.5 N38s are on the 'lite' er side but still has a nice feedback when turning, stronger than a 'lite' cube from cubicle labs. Hard to pick a favorite between the two magnets and I won't try any others.

The YueXiao Pro feels stable and good with these magnets to me as well. I still feel like I have to turn kind of hard with this cube, but I love the feel and stability.

The little magic is a quick and papery cube to me, really nice! And transformed with magnets. I didn't add DNM-37, this cube is quick and I feel like any faster these magnets won't be enough and the cube will be unstable, its a little too quick for me right now as is. I want to try 5x1 N48 in this cube, I'll do that next on a stickerless. If that's not enough, I'll try 4x2 N35 from gaussboys.

Angstrom lubes are great in all these cubes but shine in the little magic. The lube preserves the papery feel of the cube. Also, I pulled out a YAN3 I magnetized, cleaned it, and put in angstrom and the YAN3 feels _awesome_ with these lubes, I always had a hard time getting that cube lubed without making it gummy - angstrom solves the problem. I also lubed some UM and SM puzzles and the results are nice and predictable.

I just ordered some magnets to try in a Volt Square-1, and still want to magnetize some small cubes (Valk mini) and big cubes (Sail), will report once I find some magnets that feel ok.
 
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chron0s

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Feb 20, 2017
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Ah also on my list - valk power with 4x2 N35, soft springs - thanks so much to DMCubing for making the video, this one is a little tricky it looks like to get magnets fitting, 5x1 doesn't look like it will work!

Forgot to mention also - for the YueXiao Pro I have to have the 5x1 magnet slightly protruding upwards to get it to stay flat on the corner piece - something to keep in mind. test fit with no glue.

The discussion about placement + radius from center above is really useful as well! I tend to place my magnets as far away from the center as possible.
 
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One Wheel

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Feb 24, 2016
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Wisconsin
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2016BAIR04
I still want to magnetize some . . . big cubes (Sail)

Just FYI: the 60mm Sail has some weird posts that would make it difficult to magnetize. I've done 2 68mm Sails, one with 5x2 n52 and one with 6x2 n38. Both are pretty strong, not half bad for feet, too much to be good for hand solving. I can't do a good comparison because I lost the one with 5x2 before I made the second.
 

DMCubing

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Feb 19, 2017
Messages
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Location
Shreveport, LA
Did some more cubes lately:

MF3RSM black - 5x1 N48 from gaussboys
MF3RSM black - 4x1.5 N38 from gaussboys
Yuxin Little Magic black - 4x1.5 N38 from gaussboys
YueXiao Pro black - 5x1 N48 from gaussboys

All four cubes lubed with lubicle black on the core, angstrom gravitas on the tracks and dignitas on the pieces. I also need to put a drop of silk on the core and pieces after breaking in - improves the feeling to me a lot.

Both MF3RSMs are really nice. With just the setup above they are great, and after adding DNM-37 both speed up while still having good control. The 4x1.5 N38s are on the 'lite' er side but still has a nice feedback when turning, stronger than a 'lite' cube from cubicle labs. Hard to pick a favorite between the two magnets and I won't try any others.

The YueXiao Pro feels stable and good with these magnets to me as well. I still feel like I have to turn kind of hard with this cube, but I love the feel and stability.

The little magic is a quick and papery cube to me, really nice! And transformed with magnets. I didn't add DNM-37, this cube is quick and I feel like any faster these magnets won't be enough and the cube will be unstable, its a little too quick for me right now as is. I want to try 5x1 N48 in this cube, I'll do that next on a stickerless. If that's not enough, I'll try 4x2 N35 from gaussboys.

Angstrom lubes are great in all these cubes but shine in the little magic. The lube preserves the papery feel of the cube. Also, I pulled out a YAN3 I magnetized, cleaned it, and put in angstrom and the YAN3 feels _awesome_ with these lubes, I always had a hard time getting that cube lubed without making it gummy - angstrom solves the problem. I also lubed some UM and SM puzzles and the results are nice and predictable.

I just ordered some magnets to try in a Volt Square-1, and still want to magnetize some small cubes (Valk mini) and big cubes (Sail), will report once I find some magnets that feel ok.
Gosh, it's been forever since I was last here.
FYIW, Gaussboys doesn't sell N48 5x1s- those are available from Apex. Gaussboys' 5x1s are N42 in grade.
 

chron0s

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Joined
Feb 20, 2017
Messages
164
Ah my mistake DMCubing, thanks for pointing that out! Will edit the original post.

I magnetized the slice on a Volt Sq-1 last night with 3/16'' x 3/16'' x 1/2'' N42 blocks from K&J Magnetics. Pretty happy with the results! Size is perfect, but strength wise, this is a little heavier turning than the cubicle labs version, with a more noticable clunk. Feels good but I want a little less power. I'll try to track down N38 in this size, I think that'll put the strength where I want it - though if you found the cubicle labs version too light for your preferences these are a good choice.
 

fxy

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Joined
Oct 22, 2017
Messages
3
Hi, currently hesitating between n42 and n45 5x1 for a GTS2, any thoughts on that? I know @DMCubing used to prefer n48, and now prefers n42. n45 sits right in the middle, wondering if it might be an even better choice.
 

DMCubing

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Feb 19, 2017
Messages
137
Location
Shreveport, LA
Hi, currently hesitating between n42 and n45 5x1 for a GTS2, any thoughts on that? I know @DMCubing used to prefer n48, and now prefers n42. n45 sits right in the middle, wondering if it might be an even better choice.
Yes, I love how the N42 5x1 feels in the GTS2M! To me, it's the perfect medium magnetic feel. I've actually approximated an N45 feel by using N48 in the edges and N42 in the corners. The two different magnetic strengths tend to balance out and you get an average of the two. It's a great feeling cube, particularly if you want just a slight increase in magnetic feel from the N42. Im fairly certain the N45 would give a similar feel.
 
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fxy

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Oct 22, 2017
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Hey, thanks for stopping by! Being new to magnets I'm glad that experienced people like you share their knowledge. It's great that you could try both grades (even if approximated). I'll follow your preference and go with N42.
Also, thanks a lot for your video tutorials. I could magnetize a Gan Air with one of them, using N35 4x2, and now I'll do the same for the GTS 2 with those N42 5x1. I expect a lighter feel compared to the Gan Air if I'm not mistaken.
 

DMCubing

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Feb 19, 2017
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Shreveport, LA
Hey, thanks for stopping by! Being new to magnets I'm glad that experienced people like you share their knowledge. It's great that you could try both grades (even if approximated). I'll follow your preference and go with N42.
Also, thanks a lot for your video tutorials. I could magnetize a Gan Air with one of them, using N35 4x2, and now I'll do the same for the GTS 2 with those N42 5x1. I expect a lighter feel compared to the Gan Air if I'm not mistaken.
Right, probably so depending on the N35 4x2s you used. In the Air, I really like the magnets365 N35 4x2 that actually measure 4x1.7. So they're just slightly undersized. And with any magnet in the Air, you can reduce the overall perceived magnetic pullforce by positioning them further in to the pieces. The Air is one of those cubes that just doesn't require much magnetic strength to be effective. I recently got some N35 4x1.5 (Omo) that I want to try in the Air. And since the factory magnetized SM uses a stronger high grade 3x2, I want to try that too.
But yeah, I think you'll really like the N42 5x1s. Let me know what you think!
I've tried N35 5x1 before and found them too weak. But for my next experimental GTS2M, I plan on a combination of N35 5x1 and N42 5x2. That might make for a great cube too!
 

DMCubing

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Feb 19, 2017
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Just for testing this idea - the closer to the center of rotation - the sooner magnets will meet each other. Earlier magnets reaction, earlier piece alignment.
View attachment 8960
And I don't like magnets visibility through plastic :).

View attachment 8961

Maybe I'll buy another one YLM for testing different placement.

You reduce the perceived magnetic pullforce strength significantly when you position the magnets closer toward the core. When I want to dial down the magnetic strength in a cube like the Air, I do this.

Fwiw, the factory GTS2M magnets are 4x1.5, and most likely an N35. To most people, not a particularly good magnetic strength for the GTS2M. Imo, N42 5x1 is perfect for a medium magnetic feel. For a Cubicle feel, N48 5x1. The additional width of the magnets extends, somewhat, the magnetic field. The end result is a softer, mushier bump, and the ability to use a magnet of lower pullforce strength to accomplish what a stronger magnet would do.
I think if you'd ask around, a lot of cubers like the engagement of the magnets at the end of a rotation. But it's all pretty much subjective, honestly.
 

Sergey

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Feb 16, 2018
Messages
288
Fwiw, the factory GTS2M magnets are 4x1.5
You're right, my fail. The factory spare magnets are exactly 4x1.5.
1.jpg
If you compared factory GTS2M with yours N42 5x1 version - which one has stronger feel?
 
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