Is lube really that useful?

[Zarxrax]

I've tried lots of different things as lubes in the past, but jig-a-loo is what I normally use. However, recently I've noticed that, well, I don't really lube anymore.

Whenever I get a new cube, lube can often help it to feel awesome. But after a while, the lube dries up, and I can't even tell that its gone. I haven't lubed most of my cubes in months, yet they still feel very smooth and nice. The thing is, if I put lube into these cubes now, I really can't say that anything has improved. In fact, lately I've actually had bad experiences with lube. I tried spraying my F-II with jig-a-loo, and I guess some got on the outside of the cube. It was so slick in my hands that I couldn't cube with it, even after trying to wash it off. I just had to switch to another cube for about 2 weeks while it went back to normal.

I see a lot of people really stressing how important lube is, but, aside from the initial lubing, I'm just not seeing it.

 

[Edward]

After about a good week or 2, my cubes don't need lubing, but that's because I clean them out alot.

 

[TheMachanga]

Cubes are getting better and better these days and some are great without lube.

 

[Zarxrax]

Cubes are getting better and better these days and some are great without lube.

Well I've got lots of old cubes too, like old Type A, Type D, Diansheng, etc. They all feel really great and smooth without any lube. (Diansheng is unlubed for over a year). Heck, even my storebought feels pretty smooth and slick and its probably been a year since I lubed it.

 

[StachuK1992]

It really depends on the type of cube.
Edisons don't really need lube, Cs do well with a medium amount, etc.
The type of plastic really makes a difference.

 

[bigbee99]

Lube is important in the begginning of getting a new cube, but after a couple of months, there is no need for lube. And like it was stated above, the new cubes are getting better.

 

[hawkmp4]

This is all IN MY OWN EXPERIENCE:
Lube makes a puzzle feel better generally, but I have never seen any decrease in times except for in the following case-
Some cubes are very tight (like a storebought) and an initial lubing loosens it up. Don't ask me why, I don't know.

 

[nck]

IMO fII works better with lube
Edisons need the minimum amount of lube and a lot of breaking in to be awesome

 

[ThatGuy]

insert waffle's normal response here

 

[endless_akatsuki]

It's just how the cube feels...

for me, the initial lubed-state is the best the cube will ever be (or feel). then it dries and gets slower (for me, very noticeably), until I lube it again, but it never reaches the previous level ever again, unless I actually decide to clean the cube out.

 

[DavidWoner]

I think jigaloo sucks for 3x3s

 

[Sin-H]

I haven't lubed some of my cubes in ages, but they needed a lot of lube to become what they are now

 

[Stefan]

after a while, the lube dries up, and I can't even tell that its gone.

dried up ≠ gone

 

[jiggy]

I definitely think that lube is important, it doesn't just improve the turning speed or feel of the cube. During a solve, the cube might catch on something internally and cause a lock. Lubricant can help the cube slide over these locks instead of catching them.

And, as Stefan said, it stays around longer than might be obvious.

 

[Zarxrax]

after a while, the lube dries up, and I can't even tell that its gone.

dried up ≠ gone

Interesting, I hadn't considered that. I guess it makes sense that the lube residue would stick around for a while.

I've always seen people making comments about how they lube once every week or two, and I've just been thinking "seriously? is that really necessary?"
Recently I've seen it taken to the extreme, with people talking about how maru lube dries up in only a couple of days, so they have to keep reapplying all the time.

 

[coinman]

I didn't lube my type C (i think it's a Typ C) for a few months but did it the other day and it became mush much better! Then i also decided to lube my black Ghost hand cube and it became mush worse from the silicon spry, almost like it dissolved the plastic.
I think i depends a lot on what type of plastic the cube is made of.

 

[Hadley4000]

Spray silicone is a dry lube.

I see lubing as important. About once a month I take my cubes apart, clean them out and re lube them.

Also, lubing OH cubes is a good idea.

 

[TheCubeMaster5000]

after a while, the lube dries up, and I can't even tell that its gone.

dried up ≠ gone

Interesting, I hadn't considered that. I guess it makes sense that the lube residue would stick around for a while.

I've always seen people making comments about how they lube once every week or two, and I've just been thinking "seriously? is that really necessary?"
Recently I've seen it taken to the extreme, with people talking about how maru lube dries up in only a couple of days, so they have to keep reapplying all the time.

I used to lube my main cubes every week or so, and this is what I've found now that I don't:

Just like someone said already, it doesn't improve my times. It prevents my hands from hurting after many hours of cubing.
And if I force myself to get used to it not being there, then I don't need it. My times are just as good as ever and slowly improving. I haven't used my tiny 3 oz can of jig-a-loo in more than a month, and I don't see myself using it much again in the future.

 

[waffle=ijm]

insert waffle's normal response here

w/e man bacon grease does me wonders.

 

[Thomas09]

I normally don't notice when the lube dries, but when I do re-lube it's like whoa.