Older cubers discussions

Even sub2 Mega average should be easy for you with some more practice, and now with the new X-man Mega is fun again for me no more lockups, have already gotten a 1:39 single with it.

Atm I'm planning a small Kilominx page (CO+CP), just need a nice outline templet for the LL & I'm not that good with PS :p
Like this oneView attachment 6566

I think I will give Megaminx some concentrated effort. With UK average cut usually being 2:30 I think I can aim for that. The X-Man sounds interesting, especially considering teh Tornado is my main 3x3.

I will take a close look at your LL stuff. I did learn most EO cases and most EP cases but did not do much Mega in the last few months so lost some of them.

2:41.xx PB single 5x5, still can't sub-3 regularly and many solves go beyong 3:30.xx.
First sub-8 6x6 single, 7:47.xx, not sure if I should laugh or cry. Still the least misalignment of the Yuxin 6x6 ends up in a pop or serious lockup. I got last edge, OLL and PLL parity on it, though :(

Getting so many lockups on my Moyu 7x7 to the extent I cannot get a decent mean on film as I have a serious misalignment or pop on at least 3 out of 3 solves.
 
Oh boy, that's a lot of pages to catch up on... Congrats to everyone on your recent progress. I've been MIA lately during these busy summer months. Haven't had much time for cubing though I did finally get around to swapping springs on my Yuxin 6x6 and thought I'd chime in.

The middle layers are definitely nicer now, though the outer layer has suffered. I can't quite put my finger on it but the outer layer now feels a little more catchy, less stable, and has lost a bit of it's corner cutting ability. It's still quite good, but I prefer 3x3 stage with the original springs. Tensions are very tricky to get right now as even a 1/8 turn of the screw seems to make a noticeable difference. I still get those second layer lockups like before, however they are much easier to recover from (usually as simple as reversing a 1/2 turn). I haven't had any pops since the spring swap.

Is it worth it to spring swap the Yuxin 6x6? I think so. The majority of the solve is spent in reduction, and reduction is much nicer after the spring swap. I'm disappointed that the 3x3 stage isn't as nice, but that is the shortest step in the whole solve so overall, I think this puzzle benefits from the spring swap. I bought a second Yuxin 6x6 to test the spring swap, and I'm going to leave my original alone so I can enjoy both versions :)

I also got a cubicle premium Gans 356. I fell in love with it straight out of the box, however that was during the "gummy" break in stage. Now that it's broken in I'm finding it's just a little too fast and too loose for me. They did a wonderful job setting it up, but I think it's set up for a different class of speedcuber. I'll probably end up tightening it a bit and putting a tiny bit more heavy lube in it to slow it down a tad.
 
@earth2dan Oh, not what I was expecting about the spring swap. I was hoping you would say it's great but with those so so results I don't think I do 6x6 that much for all that hassle to be worth it for me, at least until I start to get a bit more decent times (which, for me, means low 6 minutes).

I have also thought that the Gans 356 is one of the best cubes I don't own (add the Weilong GTS to that list) and thought that I could change that getting a 356 Air as soon as it's out but not sure it's going to suit my turning style and speed (or lack thereof). What do you guys think? I have come back again to the Yuexiao after a quick love affair with the Hualong that ended up just meh.

Getting more sub-3 min 5x5 solves and less sup 3:30 ones but still far from sub-3 Ao5 (current PB 3:09.xx. And that's more or less what I'm into these days: 6x6, 5x5 and swimming pool ;) and waiting for my next unboxing material :)
 
@mafergut Yeah, it wasn't quite the transformation I was hoping for either. I don't regret doing it, as it is certainly better now. And it's nice to not have to worry about pops anymore, just the occasional lockup that's easy to undo.

I will almost certainly be buying the 356 Air. I'm still torn between all these excellent 3x3's, but I find myself solving a Gans 356 more than any others and I'm anxious to try out the latest.

I got the Thunderclap V2 as well, but I haven't set it up yet. Out of the box it's really snappy and stable, it feels like a cross between the original thunderclap and a Weilong GTS. It's quite noisy though, real clacky. I like quiet cubes, probably part of why I love the Gans so much.

@Selkie I'm sure you'll be happy with that 6x6. For me, it was a clear winner over my MoYu. And the stickerless shades are quite nice :)
 
New 3x3 PB by over 1 second (17.09 improved to 15.74.)

Scramble: B2 L' F2 L' U2 L2 F2 U2 R2 U2 R U R2 B D' R' D' L' D2 B

I think this is the right reconstruction as it's the same OLL and PLL:

This is only my 33rd sub-20 solve, so something must have gone really right for me here.
 
Very nice @Shaky Hands!

My pb is still the 17.xx LL skip from about a month ago. Haven't practiced regular 3x3 in a while. Haven't practiced bld much either the last few days. Have too much other stuff going on right now.

The Yuxin I gummed up with too much lube turned out pretty nice after some more breaking in. So nice that I did the same to my other Yuxin. Again it was really super sticky at first, but after a couple of hours breaking in it got really nice. But now I have 6 more of those cubes coming in the mail (was my chosen mbld cube) and I realized it would be 12+ hours to break them in if I do the same process to all. Maybe I should experiment with other ways of lubing that give more instant results...
 
Train journey home... I stopped solving during F2L to allow a slightly elderly couple to sit down. Once they'd settled I resumed my solve and as I started turning he said "I bet you can do that in under 5 minutes".
I was starting my PLL at the moment when I should have responded but I waited to finish the alg and showed him the solved cube. His wife and the woman next to me thought it was pretty funny. "Smart arse" was his response. lol
 
@Shaky Hands : Nice single Andy. You seem to be getting some great improvement recently. Awesome stuff mate :)

@Logiqx : Haha Michael. I know you cube daily on yoru commute. I do whenever I can, usually on longer busines trips by train or plane. I think it helps getting used to performing in front of people for comp :)

@earth2dan , @mafergut : I was a huge advocate for the Gans 356 and 356 v2 but with the lack of a stickerless version I wont be trying another one until they bring one out. Pity, sure they can afford to bring one out with the highly escalating prices :)
 
Wow. I think I need to record some solves. That looks really slow compared to mine, but your times there are pretty close to 2 minutes better than my pb for 5x5 and 30 seconds better for 4x4.
You should. First law of video is that you look way slower than you feel. Second law of video is that those split second pauses are more like two seconds :).
 
Just ordered a Yuxin 6x6 Stickerless, X-Man Plane Stickerless Megaminx and a Stickerless QiYi Skewb. UK supplier so hopefully here this week Its a been a while since my last unboxing so will try and film it.
Are you going to buy the Gan 356 AIR? Current video's (incl Feliks's) look very good. I am very tempted to order one right now :)
 
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25000 timed solves reached. I would say I've improved almost 1 second in the last 5000 so almost good. The first peak in that chart is when I was trying the Weilong GTS, the second when I realized I had neglected CN and needed to practise for the race to sub-25 as CN.

timeline-25000-a.png timeline-25000-b.png timeline-25000-c.png
 
@mark49152 Wow a couple of lovely fluid solves there mate. Minimal pauses, great lookahead, well paced 3x3 stages. Very impressed mate :)

@MarcelP I had not planned on getting the Gans 356 Air Marcel, however temping it might seem to me, I just cannot solve on stickered cubes any more. I am afraid my eyes are now stickerless only. Now if Gans would bring out a stickerless version..... ;)

@muchacho Wow David, awesome statistics. I would find this really interesting for myself but have used so many different timers over the years I would find it impossible to construct the graphs. I did post a graph of path to sub 20 5 years ago when I graduated the thread but that was jjust results in the thread. Great you are still seeing improvement albeit at a slower rate :)

Megaminx, got a sub 3:00 Ao5 ealier yesterday on film and then this was the best 12 later yesterday. Think I will be globally sub 3:00 later today. Cannot wait for the X-Man Megaminx to be delivered :)

Megaminx Average of 12: 2:56.23
(2:31.66), 3:00.71, 3:10.32, (3:20.94), 2:43.17, 3:04.04,3:03.38, 2:55.54, 2:51.02, 2:42.35,3:02.24, 2:49.55

Current aim is to be sub 2:30 for Guildford Open in October :)
 
@MarcelP I had not planned on getting the Gans 356 Air Marcel, however temping it might seem to me, I just cannot solve on stickered cubes any more. I am afraid my eyes are now stickerless only. Now if Gans would bring out a stickerless version..... ;)

Well, it is a good thing then that The Valk will come in a stickerless version :)
 
Oh, no! I had forgotten about The Valk. So, top 3x3s that I don't own... yet: Weilong GTS, Thunderclap v2, The Valk, Gans 356 Air. Not sure if I have forgotten any, I don't have anything new since the Yuexiao and Tornado. I wish they stopped making new 3x3s... :p I'm not gonna sub-15 with any of them but the urge to buy them is so difficult to resist.

By the way, another couple seconds off my 5x5 PB single, now 2:39.xx. Only 40 seconds more to sub-2 :p:p:p
 
Oh yes The Valk, definitely get that one :)

Some more Megaminx progression building up for the delivery of teh X-Man Mega, cant wait

PB Single: 2:13.98 (Solve 10)
PB Ao5: 2:44.21 (Solves 1 - 5)
PB Ao12: 2:49.00 (Solves 1-12)

Session average: 2:49.00
1. 2:40.24
R-- D-- R++ D++ R++ D-- R-- D++ R-- D-- U'
R-- D++ R++ D++ R++ D++ R++ D++ R++ D++ U
R++ D-- R++ D-- R-- D++ R++ D++ R++ D-- U
R++ D-- R++ D-- R-- D-- R-- D++ R-- D++ U
R-- D++ R++ D++ R-- D-- R++ D++ R++ D-- U'
R-- D++ R++ D-- R-- D-- R-- D-- R++ D++ U
R++ D-- R++ D++ R++ D-- R-- D++ R-- D-- U
2. 2:38.45
R++ D++ R++ D++ R++ D++ R-- D++ R++ D-- U'
R++ D++ R++ D-- R-- D-- R-- D++ R-- D++ U
R++ D-- R-- D++ R++ D++ R++ D++ R-- D++ U
R++ D++ R-- D-- R++ D-- R-- D++ R-- D-- U'
R-- D-- R-- D++ R++ D-- R++ D++ R-- D++ U
R++ D++ R++ D-- R-- D-- R-- D++ R++ D++ U'
R-- D++ R++ D++ R++ D++ R-- D++ R-- D-- U'
3. 3:01.10
R++ D-- R-- D++ R-- D-- R-- D-- R++ D++ U
R++ D-- R++ D++ R++ D++ R-- D-- R++ D-- U'
R-- D-- R-- D-- R++ D-- R++ D++ R++ D++ U
R++ D++ R-- D++ R-- D++ R-- D-- R-- D-- U'
R++ D-- R++ D-- R++ D++ R++ D++ R-- D-- U
R-- D-- R-- D++ R++ D++ R++ D-- R++ D++ U'
R-- D++ R++ D++ R-- D-- R-- D++ R++ D-- U'
4. 2:52.33
R++ D++ R++ D++ R++ D++ R-- D-- R++ D++ U'
R++ D-- R++ D-- R++ D-- R++ D++ R-- D-- U
R-- D++ R++ D-- R-- D++ R-- D-- R-- D++ U
R++ D++ R-- D++ R++ D-- R-- D++ R-- D++ U
R++ D-- R++ D++ R-- D++ R++ D-- R-- D++ U'
R++ D++ R++ D-- R++ D++ R-- D++ R-- D++ U
R++ D-- R-- D-- R++ D++ R++ D-- R-- D++ U
5. 2:40.05
R-- D-- R++ D++ R++ D-- R++ D++ R-- D++ U
R++ D-- R++ D++ R++ D++ R-- D-- R-- D++ U
R++ D++ R-- D-- R++ D-- R-- D-- R++ D-- U'
R++ D-- R-- D++ R++ D++ R-- D++ R++ D-- U
R++ D++ R++ D-- R++ D++ R-- D++ R++ D++ U'
R++ D-- R-- D++ R-- D++ R-- D++ R++ D++ U
R++ D++ R-- D-- R-- D-- R++ D++ R++ D++ U'
6. 3:02.43
R++ D++ R++ D++ R++ D-- R-- D++ R++ D++ U
R++ D-- R++ D++ R-- D++ R++ D-- R++ D-- U
R-- D++ R-- D-- R++ D-- R-- D-- R++ D-- U
R++ D++ R++ D-- R++ D++ R++ D-- R++ D-- U
R-- D++ R-- D-- R++ D++ R-- D++ R++ D++ U
R-- D-- R++ D-- R++ D-- R++ D++ R-- D-- U
R++ D-- R-- D-- R-- D++ R++ D-- R-- D++ U'
7. 2:52.03
R++ D++ R-- D++ R++ D-- R++ D-- R-- D-- U
R++ D++ R++ D-- R-- D++ R++ D-- R-- D-- U
R++ D-- R-- D-- R++ D++ R++ D-- R++ D-- U
R-- D-- R-- D-- R++ D-- R-- D++ R++ D++ U
R-- D-- R++ D++ R-- D-- R++ D-- R++ D++ U
R-- D-- R++ D-- R++ D++ R-- D++ R++ D-- U'
R++ D-- R++ D-- R++ D-- R-- D++ R++ D-- U'
8. 2:35.57
R++ D-- R-- D++ R-- D++ R++ D-- R++ D++ U
R++ D-- R++ D++ R-- D++ R++ D-- R-- D-- U
R-- D++ R-- D++ R-- D-- R-- D++ R-- D-- U
R-- D++ R++ D-- R++ D-- R++ D++ R++ D++ U'
R-- D-- R-- D++ R++ D-- R-- D-- R++ D-- U
R-- D++ R-- D++ R-- D-- R-- D++ R-- D++ U
R++ D++ R-- D++ R-- D-- R++ D++ R++ D-- U'
9. 3:01.03
R-- D-- R-- D-- R++ D++ R-- D++ R-- D-- U'
R++ D++ R++ D++ R-- D++ R-- D++ R++ D++ U
R-- D-- R-- D-- R-- D-- R-- D-- R++ D-- U'
R-- D-- R++ D-- R++ D++ R-- D-- R-- D++ U'
R++ D++ R-- D-- R-- D++ R-- D++ R++ D++ U
R++ D++ R++ D++ R++ D++ R++ D-- R-- D-- U
R-- D++ R-- D-- R-- D++ R++ D++ R++ D-- U
10. (2:13.98)
R++ D++ R-- D-- R++ D-- R-- D++ R++ D++ U
R++ D++ R-- D++ R++ D++ R++ D++ R-- D++ U'
R-- D++ R++ D++ R-- D++ R-- D-- R++ D++ U
R-- D-- R++ D-- R++ D++ R-- D++ R-- D-- U
R-- D-- R++ D-- R++ D++ R++ D++ R-- D++ U
R++ D-- R++ D++ R-- D-- R-- D++ R++ D-- U
R-- D++ R-- D++ R-- D-- R++ D++ R++ D-- U'
11. 2:46.73
R-- D++ R++ D-- R++ D-- R-- D++ R-- D-- U
R-- D++ R++ D++ R++ D-- R-- D-- R-- D-- U'
R++ D-- R++ D++ R++ D++ R++ D-- R-- D-- U'
R-- D-- R-- D-- R-- D++ R-- D-- R-- D++ U
R++ D-- R++ D++ R-- D-- R-- D-- R++ D-- U'
R-- D-- R-- D-- R-- D++ R-- D-- R-- D++ U
R-- D-- R++ D++ R-- D-- R++ D++ R++ D-- U'
12. (3:09.43)
R-- D-- R-- D-- R++ D++ R-- D-- R-- D-- U'
R++ D-- R++ D++ R++ D++ R-- D-- R++ D-- U'
R-- D++ R++ D++ R++ D-- R++ D-- R++ D++ U
R-- D++ R-- D++ R++ D-- R-- D-- R++ D++ U'
R++ D++ R-- D++ R-- D-- R-- D-- R++ D++ U'
R++ D++ R++ D-- R-- D-- R++ D++ R-- D++ U'
R++ D-- R-- D-- R-- D-- R-- D-- R-- D++ U

Really need to work on my LL. Currently I do:-
  • EO - F(RUR'U')F' and inverse
  • CO - Usually sune/antisune to solve or leave 2 corners
  • EP - J-Perm / Y-Perm / R2 U2 R2' U R2 U2 R2' (And Inverse)
  • CP - Comms
Anyone know of a good intermediate method. I am thinking @Lid here ;)
 
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