LUBRICATION PROBLEM

[rjohnson_8ball]

I can definitely recommend NOT using graphite.

I tried powdered graphite back in the mid 1980's. It was disastrous in my cube. Maybe it helps reduce friction between metals, but apparently not plastic cube pieces.

Also, as someone said earlier, petroleum jelly and oils soften cube pieces, and they remain softened even after cleaning.

 

[Hadley4000]

What about Petroleum Distallites (SP?)? I heard those ARE what you want.

I don't think. I've always heard pure silicone is the best. Granted petroleum distillates would erode the cube more slowly, but I doubt it would survive.

Pure silicone is solid.

 

[brunson]

No, pure silicon is solid. Silicone is not a single substance, it is a class of polymers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicone

 

[howtocube (JB)]

I can suggest other lubricants, but the fact is that almost anything alternatvie that one comes up with is going to have silicone in it one way or another. I've heard skateboard wheel bearing oil works well, and I'm sure there are so food industry silicone products that would also work well. To me rubiks.com injectable lube and Jig a Loo are the best

 

[Deleted member 2864]

I've heard of people using (is it floor polish?). It was something weird like that.

Yes. The lube puzzleproz and rubiks sells on ebay and the rubiks website is supposedly a floor polish. It's my favorite lube for my type a.

 

[howtocube (JB)]

quick caution on Jig A Loo, in searching the forums I see there is much dissension on it. While it can make a cube turn extremely well, It doesn't contain silicone and it will erode and/or down right melt a cube if applied incorrectly.

Also even when applied correctly it has some worrisome effects on store-bought cubes and JSK's. Notice the dried mud like cracks in these cubies? The edge pieces are from a store bought and the corners are from a JSK, while neither of these cubes seems to be effected adversely by jig a loo application it still makes me raise questions about its long term effects.

After all that though, it's still one of my favorite lubes. I thing the method of poping 4 edges and working in is the best for Jig A Loo. I would never completely disassemble and lube with it, unless you are experienced with it as it can easily pool and eat huge pits in your cube.

 

[WakDooD]

Although the choice of lubricant is important, I think that the method of application correlates with the kind of damage you'd might expect.

Here are my thoughts about different forms of application:

1. Popping an edge (or edges) and spraying in:
Works in an pinch. Very easy to apply, but may not cover completely (depending on how much you spray) or evenly. May cause lube leakage (dripping from the bottom face after spraying too much). Leakage with jig-a-loo leads plastic deformation.

2. While cutting a corner, spray lubricant in:
While I see this being used for big cubes (no idea how the lubricant spreads evenly, or at all), using this on 3x3x3 leads to the mud-cracked edge and corner pieces. (perhaps this is just my experience)

3. Full dissassembly:
Very good for covering each piece completely. Use maybe 2 sweeps or 3 (if you like a lot of lube). When doing this, if jig-a-loo is allowed to pool, the edges of the pieces will be affected. To minimize this, try grouping corners and edges together and spray, then after spraying separate each piece from each other and the surface.

4. Dipping:
I prefer this method for periodic re-lubrication. This puts lube only on the internal pieces of the cube. To do this, spray jig-a-loo into a metal tart tray (or some other container...there is a reason i use a tart tray. if you spread out one side of the tray so that it is flat, you can use it to closely lube the edges). When spraying, ensure proper ventilation so that you don't breathe in any propellant. Dip the 2 sides of the internal corner piece (not the side with the hole) and place with the hole facing up to allow lube to dry. Dip the edge by slipping the tray into the gap between the edge and the internal piece and tilting so that the lubricant flows to touch the internal piece without being poured into the edge. Also dip the front side of the internal piece. Then place it with the hole on the internal piece facing forward. This allows any excess jig-a-loo to not flow on to the sides of the edge/corner and cause damage. This sounds like a lot of work, but it is faster than a complete disassembly and covers more evenly and completely than just spraying in. It also, if done carefully, prevents jig-a-loo from damaging pieces.

This is just some of the ways I used up my can of jig-a-loo and "destroyed" my first storebought. (I cut the centers off the core and used a new core + screws + springs = new cube)

P.S. Admittedly, this is kinda straying from the OP's topic. =p

 

[4Chan]

quick caution on Jig A Loo, in searching the forums I see there is much dissension on it. While it can make a cube turn extremely well, It doesn't contain silicone and it will erode and/or down right melt a cube if applied incorrectly.

Also even when applied correctly it has some worrisome effects on store-bought cubes and JSK's. Notice the dried mud like cracks in these cubies? The edge pieces are from a store bought and the corners are from a JSK, while neither of these cubes seems to be effected adversely by jig a loo application it still makes me raise questions about its long term effects.

After all that though, it's still one of my favorite lubes. I thing the method of poping 4 edges and working in is the best for Jig A Loo. I would never completely disassemble and lube with it, unless you are experienced with it as it can easily pool and eat huge pits in your cube.

There have been multiple posts on jigaloo, and threads as well.

It's a fact that jigaloo IS silicone based, unlike what you say.

The only problem ive had with jigaloo is in storebought cubies. My jsk clones dont have those cracks that you describe, and neither do any of my other cubes which i have used it on.

 

[howtocube (JB)]

quick caution on Jig A Loo, in searching the forums I see there is much dissension on it. While it can make a cube turn extremely well, It doesn't contain silicone and it will erode and/or down right melt a cube if applied incorrectly.

Also even when applied correctly it has some worrisome effects on store-bought cubes and JSK's. Notice the dried mud like cracks in these cubies? The edge pieces are from a store bought and the corners are from a JSK, while neither of these cubes seems to be effected adversely by jig a loo application it still makes me raise questions about its long term effects.

After all that though, it's still one of my favorite lubes. I thing the method of poping 4 edges and working in is the best for Jig A Loo. I would never completely disassemble and lube with it, unless you are experienced with it as it can easily pool and eat huge pits in your cube.

There have been multiple posts on jigaloo, and threads as well.

It's a fact that jigaloo IS silicone based, unlike what you say.

The only problem ive had with jigaloo is in storebought cubies. My jsk clones dont have those cracks that you describe, and neither do any of my other cubes which i have used it on.

The JSK pictured is not a clone, it's an actual JSK maybe that's the reason for the difference. And as far as it being silicone based, Jig A Loo's website does claim that it is silicone-based, still the MSDS available on their website shows the following ingredients:

Methylene Chloride
Perchloroethylene (tetrachlorethylene)
Propane
Isobutane


I'm sure one of those solvents has some root chemistry in silicone for them to claim "silicone based" but their website doesn't include plastic under it's "ideal for" list.


But despite all of that It's still one of my favorite lubes, I'm not here to diss it just to provide words of caution


but as WakDoode says I think I got this thread a bit off topic...

sorry guys

 

[endless_akatsuki]

I don't really like silicone that much. It is okay. It kills some of my cubes....