[Help Thread] Lubrication Thread

[windhero]

Both are as good as in they are the exact same stuff pretty much.

Calvins High viscosity is 50k differential oil, and to my guess Lubix is 40-42kish diff oil. Neither is the perfect lube (mainly because there is no such thing as perfect all around lube. Most puzzles work best with different lubes depending on the complexity of the mechanism inside and other factors). A great choice would be to buy 50k and 30k differential oil and mix them to your liking. 50k is perfect for the core and 30-40k is great for pieces on a 3x3 (if your puzzles needs it)

If I had to choose from the two, I'd choose Calvins. Lubix is very overpriced but then again, so is Calvins. Any branded lube is basically just a rip off usually.

Traxxas 30k and 50k differential oil is what you want. 50ccs of both costs around 12 dollars from ebay, or you can try to find it from your local rc-shops. You would also need a plastic syringe to disperse the lube better, even though the dispensing tip traxxas lubes come with is pretty good too. If you want to mix those lubes you'd need a dispensing tip.

I have tried Maru lube, Calvins lube, 10k, 30k, 50k diff oils, 20k shock oil, lubix and CRC on my own puzzles.

 

[Michael Womack]

Silicone sprays usually contain petroleum which dissolves the plastic and ruins the cube. Differential oil does not harm the cube and gives a much better result. You should also lubricate the core, not just the pieces. There are tutorials on this online.

Not all of them.

 

[windhero]

Not all of them.

Most silicone sprays do. A good rule of thumb is not to use them whether a version of it exists somewhere that does not contain petroleum, as cheaper and better alternatives exist.


Edit:
The following sums up my personal opinion about all of the most common lubing options on the market. Also some factual knowledge is included.

 

[Lchu613]

Dat olive oil.

I prefer Lubix to my Calvin's high viscosity. Interestingly enough I got both for free, Lubix from B-day and Calvin's with the Fangshi due to shipping delays.

 

[BrandonSky]

Is this type of silicon spray good for ur cube?

http://www.qwikfast.co.uk/shop/everbuild-plumbers-p19-ptfe-silicone-spray-200ml/

 

[DAoliHVAR]

how do i make maru lube last longer?
it was really expensive for me to get
i heard that you have to relube everyday
is there any way arround this?

 

[pipkiksass]

how do i make maru lube last longer?
it was really expensive for me to get
i heard that you have to relube everyday
is there any way arround this?

Don't use Maru!?

Is this for 3x3, or bigger cubes?

 

[DAoliHVAR]

Don't use Maru!?

Is this for 3x3, or bigger cubes?

i lubed my 5x5 with it and megaminx
but i mainly want to use it for 3x3
cause thats the only thing i speedsolve
my brother went in germany and he brought me back some stuff,now that he's back home i basically can't get any other lube except maru

 

[pipkiksass]

i lubed my 5x5 with it and megaminx
but i mainly want to use it for 3x3
cause thats the only thing i speedsolve
my brother went in germany and he brought me back some stuff,now that he's back home i basically can't get any other lube except maru

Yeah, don't use maru for your 3x3, use diff oil, it's thicker and better and doesn't dry out, so lasts thousands of times longer. Plus is cheaper.

You WILL be able to buy diff oil, where do you live?

 

[DAoliHVAR]

Yeah, don't use maru for your 3x3, use diff oil, it's thicker and better and doesn't dry out, so lasts thousands of times longer. Plus is cheaper.

You WILL be able to buy diff oil, where do you live?

i might be able to buy it in some department store
but it might not be called differential oil'
and since there are so many things that can harm my cube
im really scared to try them,if my zhanchi goes kaput no 3x3 speedsolving for me for like who knows how long

 

[Ninja Storm]

i might be able to buy it in some department store
but it might not be called differential oil'
and since there are so many things that can harm my cube
im really scared to try them,if my zhanchi goes kaput no 3x3 speedsolving for me for like who knows how long

The best place to buy differential oil would be from a hobby shop. It's also used for model RCs, so you ask for that too.

 

[pipkiksass]

i might be able to buy it in some department store
but it might not be called differential oil'
and since there are so many things that can harm my cube
im really scared to try them,if my zhanchi goes kaput no 3x3 speedsolving for me for like who knows how long

What Ninja said.

Where are you from? Let us know and someone on the forum will tell you the best place to get it near you.

 

[Lchu613]

Or online.

 

[cubeaddicted]

What should I use for big cubes? Low viscosity or medium viscosity?

 

[windhero]

What should I use for big cubes? Low viscosity or medium viscosity?

Depends. SS 4x4s and 5x5s work fine with medium viscosity, but for anything bigger I use low viscosity without a doubt. Shock oil would be a pretty good choice in general.

 

[DAoliHVAR]

i am from macedonia(a place in the balkan)
as i said above buying online isn't an option for the time being

 

[windhero]

i am from macedonia(a place in the balkan)
as i said above buying online isn't an option for the time being

If you can find a shop dedicated to radio controllable cars you are pretty much guaranteed to find differential oil. It's very commonly used by rc-hobbyists.

 

[bundat]

i am from macedonia(a place in the balkan)
as i said above buying online isn't an option for the time being

One of the shops listed here or here may have it.
I used a similar approach to find the store where I got my 40000 cst silicone differential oil (and I live in a 3rd world country where a lot of things are hard to find in stores).

 

[DAoliHVAR]

One of the shops listed here or here may have it.
I used a similar approach to find the store where I got my 40000 cst silicone differential oil (and I live in a 3rd world country where a lot of things are hard to find in stores).

thanks mate

 

[AFatTick]

I bought Traxxas 50k. I tried it on my Guhong and Fangshi, it makes them feel like they are in glue. I tried putting a lot and a little bit. They both make it feel like that. :/ Any tips? I am looking for a speedy fast cube.