Older cubers discussions

[mafergut]

Marty's shop seems to have an ever-increasing stock, though no 3x3x3 ghost cube, just the 2x2x2. That's another one I'm considering, and Oskar Van Deventers Mixup cube.

For some reason or other I end up not solving very frequently, if at all, all those non-WCA puzzles I buy, like mirrorblocks, mastermorphix, dino, rex, curvycopter... but I also have thought several times I'd like an Oskar Mixup and a 3x3 Ghost in my collection. Tell us if you end up buying some of them.

 

[One Wheel]

This is my hardwritten "solution guide" (sorry, it's in Spanish) to the Rubik's Cube from 1987 By then I had spent at least 3 years hooked with the puzzle. I even had two cubes, the first one turned quite nicely but I have lost it since. The second one was an original Rubik that turned really bad. After many years lost it showed up at my parents house a couple years ago, missing some stickers and center caps and all sticky, so sadly I don't keep any of my original puzzles
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I'm feeling embarrassingly young reading this. . . . I was born in 1987 and got my first Rubik's cube in 2015. I usually gravitate toward people younger than myself, so it's kind of nice to feel like the young punk every once in a while. Thanks!

 

[mafergut]

I'm feeling embarrassingly young reading this. . . . I was born in 1987 and got my first Rubik's cube in 2015. I usually gravitate toward people younger than myself, so it's kind of nice to feel like the young punk every once in a while. Thanks!

I was born in 1970 and when I found these sheets of paper in a box a few years ago I was surprised that the "guide" was from that late into the 80s. Now I have been thinking about it for some time and I remembered the 1st time I saw a Rubik's cube it was 1984 at the latest (I know because I went to live somewhere else in the summer of 1984), but probably more like 1982. I also remember I got my 1st cube soon after that. I even remember me solving it at school when I was between 6th and 8th grade before I started high school in 1984. So probably this is not my "original" guide but a copy I made of an earlier one that I must have lost. But, in any case, all this confirms I had a sustained interest in solving the Rubik's cube for at least 4-5 years from 1982/83 to 1987. A pity I lost interest after that.

Also, you are welcome to stay here among us oldies, young punk!

 

[newtonbase]

It's my birthday imminently, so I've bought myself some toys from MartyWolfman's "thepuzzlestore.uk" shop.
A Yuxin mirrorblocks, which I've thought would be fun to solve unsighted ( Seppomania is nifty at this ), and a standard domino. I've wanted one of these for decades, but after the early eighties they seemed to stop making them, and despite looking out for them at car boot sales since the late 80's, I never saw one. Thankfully they are easily obtained now. I did try simulating one with a bandaged Revenge, but it's not the same.
And finally a great-looking novelty, the Eitan Cher Twist cube. I couldn't make up my mind which to go for, the 'standard cube' looking one, or the 'Fisher cube' type. I think the Fisher one actually behaves more like the normal cube, despite appearances. There's not much in it, so the 'standard cube' one got the vote. I just think it looks cool when solved.

Marty's shop seems to have an ever-increasing stock, though no 3x3x3 ghost cube, just the 2x2x2. That's another one I'm considering, and Oskar Van Deventers Mixup cube.

Marty is a top bloke and I highly recommend his store.

I really like the Yuxin mirror blocks, especially the pink one. Solving by touch is good fun. I once asked Seppomania if he'd tried it and he said "you mean this?" and linked to video of him doing it in about 30s!

 

[bubbagrub]

Marty is a top bloke and I highly recommend his store.

Definitely. I've bought many puzzles from him, including a delivery that just arrived today:

At first try, that crazy 4x4 seems nigh-on impossible... I can now see why there's been so much fuss about the kilominx, though -- it's really fun to solve...

 

[mafergut]

Definitely. I've bought many puzzles from him, including a delivery that just arrived today:

At first try, that crazy 4x4 seems nigh-on impossible... I can now see why there's been so much fuss about the kilominx, though -- it's really fun to solve...

That Dayan Gem looks pretty. And that crazy 4x4 looks like a nice challenge. How do they turn? And what brand is the 4x4... just in case I decide to get one
You're the 2nd one in the forum that gets the 356 Air before I do. But, at least, SCS has shipped mine already yesterday!!!

 

[bubbagrub]

That Dayan Gem looks pretty. And that crazy 4x4 looks like a nice challenge. How do they turn? And what brand is the 4x4... just in case I decide to get one
You're the 2nd one in the forum that gets the 356 Air before I do. But, at least, SCS has shipped mine already yesterday!!!

The Dayan Gem turns pretty nicely, although it's very light because it's pretty much hollow, so it feels quite fragile (and has popped already...)

The crazy 4x4 is fairly stiff, and will never be a speed puzzle, of course. So far I've managed to solve the centres, like a 2x2, but I guess the right first step is to pair up the little edge pieces, which I have no idea how to do. It's a Dayan & MF8, version 3: http://thepuzzlestore.uk/dayan-mf8-crazy-4x4-version-iii/

The Air seems nice, although I've not yet tried playing with the tensions and such.

 

[SenorJuan]

I'm curious as to what parity type problems may occur on that 4x4x4.

 

[bubbagrub]

I'm curious as to what parity type problems may occur on that 4x4x4.

If I ever get that far, I'll let you know...

 

[Selkie]

Finally first PB with X-man: 1:36.66 single, will try to push for sub1:50 a12 this month.
All the recent 2x2 practice is showing also, 4.65 a12 today, 11 CLL & 1 EG-1 used.

Loving the X-Man myself Stefan. Had an insane 1:44.xy PB single yesterday together with a sub 2m Ao5 but coouldnt get a sub 2 avg on film today. Will try again tomorrow.

It's my birthday imminently, so I've bought myself some toys from MartyWolfman's "thepuzzlestore.uk" shop.
A Yuxin mirrorblocks, which I've thought would be fun to solve unsighted ( Seppomania is nifty at this ), and a standard domino. I've wanted one of these for decades, but after the early eighties they seemed to stop making them, and despite looking out for them at car boot sales since the late 80's, I never saw one. Thankfully they are easily obtained now. I did try simulating one with a bandaged Revenge, but it's not the same.
And finally a great-looking novelty, the Eitan Cher Twist cube. I couldn't make up my mind which to go for, the 'standard cube' looking one, or the 'Fisher cube' type. I think the Fisher one actually behaves more like the normal cube, despite appearances. There's not much in it, so the 'standard cube' one got the vote. I just think it looks cool when solved.

Marty's shop seems to have an ever-increasing stock, though no 3x3x3 ghost cube, just the 2x2x2. That's another one I'm considering, and Oskar Van Deventers Mixup cube.

Marty is a top bloke and I highly recommend his store.

I really like the Yuxin mirror blocks, especially the pink one. Solving by touch is good fun. I once asked Seppomania if he'd tried it and he said "you mean this?" and linked to video of him doing it in about 30s!

My last order was from him and my next one is. Seems like a great store. Does the guy compete at comp?

 

[newtonbase]

Does the guy compete at comp?

No. He's not a speedcuber. He's a fan of all things twisty. I've followed him on YouTube since I started solving as he has some excellent tutorials on less common puzzles.

 

[Jason Green]

All those old handwritten papers are really great!

 

[Selkie]

@newtonbase Thanks Mark, did not realise, will add to my subscribed lists!

Decided I could not wait for the stickerless Weichuang 5x5, placed the order including the black version for:-

• 1 x QiYi New Thunderclap (v2) 3x3 Speed Cube
  (Color: Stickerless / Coloured plastic)
• 1 x Shengshou 2x2 Megaminx AKA Kilominx
  (Colour: White Body)
• 1 x Moyu 5x5x5 Weichuang GTS
  (Color: Black Body)
• 1 x QiYi Valk 3
  (Color: Stickerless / Coloured plastic)(Expected release date is 4th Sep 2016)

Will do an unboxing of course

 

[Chree]

Did a full Shengshou 2-5 Minx relay last night while hanging with @CLL Smooth. Forgot how to do Kilo LL, because I haven't touched the thing since well before Nats:

24:11.93.

Was done with Giga by 14. Master Kilo prob took about 8. Mega was probably sub1:30... meaning Kilo was almost definitely sup1 :-/

Y'all need this Master Kilo in your lives.

 

[bubbagrub]

Puzzle orders are like buses... None come, and then two come at once. Another delivery today:

And, because it's so unusual, here's the box for the Lovebird:

Very initial reactions:

The Lovebird looks amazing. It's quite hard to turn some of the faces, and it feels like it might be easy to break -- all the pieces are corners set on fairly flimsy-seeming stalks. I'm hoping it'll be fun to solve, though.

The 2x2 ghost cube feels really cheap, and some of the pieces seem quite poorly constructed. But it turns incredibly smoothly. And I'm hoping it'll look good once I sticker it.

I popped the Bubbloid on my first few turns. So I know to be more gentle with it... It looks incredible but I have a feeling it'll be hard to solve. We'll see...

 

[mafergut]

Puzzle orders are like buses... None come, and then two come at once. Another delivery today:

And, because it's so unusual, here's the box for the Lovebird:

Very initial reactions:

The Lovebird looks amazing. It's quite hard to turn some of the faces, and it feels like it might be easy to break -- all the pieces are corners set on fairly flimsy-seeming stalks. I'm hoping it'll be fun to solve, though.

The 2x2 ghost cube feels really cheap, and some of the pieces seem quite poorly constructed. But it turns incredibly smoothly. And I'm hoping it'll look good once I sticker it.

I popped the Bubbloid on my first few turns. So I know to be more gentle with it... It looks incredible but I have a feeling it'll be hard to solve. We'll see...

Wow! You are getting quite a collection there! I have not bought that 2x2 ghost myself due to the same cheap feeling, commented on several unboxing videos. Regarding the bubbloid it's quite easy to solve, no algs other than up up down down with some easy setups.

Sent from my Nexus 4 with Tapatalk

 

[bubbagrub]

Wow! You are getting quite a collection there! I have not bought that 2x2 ghost myself due to the same cheap feeling, commented on several unboxing videos. Regarding the bubbloid it's quite easy to solve, no algs other than up up down down with some easy setups.

Ah -- good to know about the Bubbloid. I wonder if I might have got a bad one, though, as the pieces seem to fall out very easily...

I've stickered and solved the 2x2 ghost cube now. It's much, much easier than the 3x3 ghost cube, but still quite fun. I suspect it'll be one of those puzzles that just sits on my shelf looking pretty, rather than one I'll solve often.

I've started on the Lovebird, and so far it seems quite straightforward -- I guess it's just a tuttminx without edges, so maybe I'll actually be able to solve it (I've got so, so close with the Tuttminx but just can't figure out the last layer...)

 

[mafergut]

Ah -- good to know about the Bubbloid. I wonder if I might have got a bad one, though, as the pieces seem to fall out very easily...

I've stickered and solved the 2x2 ghost cube now. It's much, much easier than the 3x3 ghost cube, but still quite fun. I suspect it'll be one of those puzzles that just sits on my shelf looking pretty, rather than one I'll solve often.

I've started on the Lovebird, and so far it seems quite straightforward -- I guess it's just a tuttminx without edges, so maybe I'll actually be able to solve it (I've got so, so close with the Tuttminx but just can't figure out the last layer...)

Check if you've got one of the first batches that had springs on the screws and remove the springs. That should solve the issue according to some video I watched.

Sent from my Nexus 4 with Tapatalk

 

[JohnnyReggae]

HaHa! "...an original Rubik's cube..... it showed up at my parents house a couple years ago, missing some stickers and center caps and all sticky"
I have my first cube from 1980, and it has that 'sticky' thing going on, too. And a couple of missing stickers. I intend sympathetically restoring it (without destroying the patina of time!!) some day. It's definitely my first, as the second, third, fourth etc all ended up modified, in some way or another, and this one just looks worn, but un-modded.

I still have my original cube from 1981 still in mint condition but very stiff and difficult to turn, along with 3 others that I got in 1982, a hexagonal barrel, a Space Shuttle, and a fruit cube. The space shuttle had lost a number of it's stickers so I decided to replace them only to find that the core was cracked :-( when I was cleaning it up.

 

[bubbagrub]

Check if you've got one of the first batches that had springs on the screws and remove the springs. That should solve the issue according to some video I watched.

Thanks -- I'll check that. Tony Fisher also has a good video in which he has the same problem I have, and he said tightening the screws fixed it. So I'll try both...