[Help Thread] Clock Discussion

[Note]

Does anyone else's clock have corner clocks that don't properly point to 12 for some reason? :/ It's hard to explain, but no matter what the clock face on the corners slightly touch 12, but are never on it exactly. (I might edit this post with pictures when I'm able to.) I use the new (I think) LingAo clock, by the way.. And yes, I've taken it apart, but the face doesn't line up to 12 by default..

 

[Kudz]

Does anyone else's clock have corner clocks that don't properly point to 12 for some reason? :/ It's hard to explain, but no matter what the clock face on the corners slightly touch 12, but are never on it exactly. (I might edit this post with pictures when I'm able to.) I use the new (I think) LingAo clock, by the way.. And yes, I've taken it apart, but the face doesn't line up to 12 by default..

I got same clock and same problem. Really annoying, I don't know how to fix it unfortunately.

 

[newtonbase]

I'm getting a lot of lockups with my Rubik's brand clock. Is this normal? Can I do something to it or do I just need to be more accurate with my turning?

 

[Shaky Hands]

I'm getting a lot of lockups with my Rubik's brand clock. Is this normal? Can I do something to it or do I just need to be more accurate with my turning?

Lockups on the pins or the cogs? Accuracy is certainly part of it, but I find Clocks need a lot of breaking-in time as they were made at a time when speedsolving wasn't really "a thing."

If it's the cogs, I find different amounts of force are needed for the top 2 cogs compared to the bottom 2 cogs.

You might want to have a quick chat with Evan at the next comp.

 

[newtonbase]

Lockups on the pins or the cogs? Accuracy is certainly part of it, but I find Clocks need a lot of breaking-in time as they were made at a time when speedsolving wasn't really "a thing."

If it's the cogs, I find different amounts of force are needed for the top 2 cogs compared to the bottom 2 cogs.

You might want to have a quick chat with Evan at the next comp.

It's pins mainly. If I give the right cogs a wiggle it releases them. I figure that if the springs were stronger it might force the cogs into the right position or maybe I could loosen something for the same effect.
The clock was in excellent condition but vanilla when I got it and barely moved. I cracked and lubed it with shock oil so it's far better but maybe not as smooth it could be.
I was definitely planning on asking one of the better guys at Guildford. I'm hoping to set an average.

 

[Camilo Chapman]

I've lubed my Rubiks clock with weight 3 and its better but still quite stiff.
I opened it up and lubed the inner black frame.

 

[newtonbase]

I think the stuff I used was too thick though it was a vast improvement on nothing. I've ordered some silicon spray as that seems quite popular.

 

[kameron9291]

I am going to start making a faster method for clock and this is how I think it may go
1 alg cross
1 alg corners
Then same for other side
I am just thinking what I could do, like maybe a layer by layer where 1 alg to solve bottom both sides on clock 1 alg to solve 2nd layer and same alg set for top layer as bottom, just rotate the clock, of course I am going to try to do this so here are a couple of turnouts for this project
1: abandoned
2:new method in a year. Im guessing

Just wondering what are your guys opinions, also I may just make an adon to the regular clock method, so idk how I will do but ill try

Ill update this everytime I need to

 

[1973486]

Have you ever used a Clock before?

 

[Cale S]

God's number for clock is 12 and the standard method guarantees solves of 14 moves or less, there isn't much to improve in terms of solutions

 

[AlphaSheep]

Before you try come up with a clock method, you should learn a little about what makes clocks so different from cubes.

The most important thing to know is that you can change the order of moves and it does not change the outcome of the alg. Secondly, it doesn't matter which wheels you turn; all that matters is the pin positions and whether the pin next to the wheel that turns is up or down. This means that any solution, no matter how long, can be sorted so that moves with the same pin position are next to each other, and then all of the turns of a wheel next to any up pin can be added together, and all of the turns next to a down pin can be added together.

The implication of this is that any solution that involves using the same pin position more than once is guaranteed to be wasting moves. This kind of makes algs difficult to use in an efficient manner.

One method using algs that could work quite well is this

1. Cross on the front face (max 5 moves)
2. Flip
3. Cross on the back face (max 4 moves)
4. Corners (max 5 moves)

The problem is, you'd have to recognise how many clicks to move each wheel. This is tricky to do, so a reasonable strategy is to memorise the pin orders and wheels to turn as algs, then judge the distance to turn each wheel visually as you turn.

The thing is, since the order of moves doesn't matter, the pin order of your algs can be swapped so that all of your algs have the same pin order. That means you now only need one "alg" for each step.

What you're left with is the standard clock method that almost everyone uses.

 

[Rubix Cubix]

Is it better to use thicker or thinner lubes on clock if I don't have any silicone spray? I've got weight 1,3,5, maru and DNM-37. Has anyone tried putting dnm-37 in a clock, do you think it would be a good idea?

 

[Underwatercuber]

Is it better to use thicker or thinner lubes on clock if I don't have any silicone spray? I've got weight 1,3,5, maru and DNM-37. Has anyone tried putting dnm-37 in a clock, do you think it would be a good idea?

I have tried 10k-50k and I personally like 10k. I have tried Maru but it only felt a little softer for a short time. I though about dnm37 but I don't own any but I have ordered some to try it

 

[Rubix Cubix]

I have tried 10k-50k and I personally like 10k. I have tried Maru but it only felt a little softer for a short time. I though about dnm37 but I don't own any but I have ordered some to try it

I ended up putting a bit of weight 5 in it and it has turned out pretty well I think, definitely significantly better than before

 

[Underwatercuber]

This is just a place for the last of the dying clock solving race to discuss clock, get feedback and tips from others, and to have fun with clock.

Question for discussion:
Why do people hate clock?

 

[Ronxu]

Because every solve is the same and there's no variety in methods so it gets really boring really quickly.

 

[turtwig]

Because every solve is the same and there's no variety in methods so it gets really boring really quickly.

It's kind of weird how you say that when you're really good at clock.

 

[Ronxu]

It's kind of weird how you say that when you're really good at clock.

It got pretty old somewhere around 2014 and the only reason I've kept doing it is because it's the only event I'm good at. It would be interesting to see how fast I would be if I kept practicing it as much as I did other events.

 

[Rcuber123]

1. I haven't seen I clock IRL ever but I already know how to solve it.
2. It's not a twisty puzzle.
3. It's so trivial that people get 5 second averages even though the hardware is *%$&&^ that the Rubik's brand is considered the best.
4. U need to be right next to the puzzle to even tell if it's solved
5. It's people spinning wheels that always look the same to alter little clocks that u either can't see because ur standing in the wrong place or the solvers thumbs are in the way or both.

 

[Jaysammey777]

Because every solve is the same and there's no variety in methods so it gets really boring really quickly.

If you look at the puzzle a different way you'll find a new method I've played around with 4-5 techniques/methods since I started. But just solving it differently can open up a new door of possibilities.