Older cubers discussions

I decided I'd got the hang of my 3x3 mirrorblocks enough to have a first try at solving it unsighted. It was not bad at all. I was pleased to not monumentally mess it up, I did get the layers significantly misaligned at several stages. But it all came together, with a resulting 9m30s solve. There's something quite odd about solving a cube without looking at it.
There's been a couple of threads on here about solving for the visually impaired, and mirrorblocks of various kinds have been mentioned, and rightly so.
 
SenorJuan said:
I decided I'd got the hang of my 3x3 mirrorblocks enough to have a first try at solving it unsighted. It was not bad at all. I was pleased to not monumentally mess it up, I did get the layers significantly misaligned at several stages. But it all came together, with a resulting 9m30s solve. There's something quite odd about solving a cube without looking at it.
There's been a couple of threads on here about solving for the visually impaired, and mirrorblocks of various kinds have been mentioned, and rightly so.
Click to expand...
It would be good to have an event that the visually impaired could do on a level playing field that's also fun for everyone.

I'll try to time a solve soon. I did own the gold one and I know what you mean about the grain on the stickers. I took mine on holiday as I thought it would be good on the plane in the dark but it fell to pieces. I still have the bits in one of those plastic resealable bags they make you put your toothpaste in. It's very well travelled.
 
For what it's worth, I decided (during sighted solves) to start on the 'thickest' face, finishing on the 'thinnest'. I did the cross on the first layer, then used that as a visual guide to get any 3 of the first layer corners in place. Then I keyholed any 3 edges in the middle layer. Finish off the last edge/corner with a non-matched CFOP F2L insert. Last layer... well, simple is best, whatever works.
And this is how I did my unsighted solve. The cross was the hard bit. I've since managed a 12m, DNF, 8m50s, 8m25s, 7m50s.
 
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Try solving the cross on the thin face, may not help much but I've always found it to be easier that way. For LL, 2-look OLL and PLL should be possible if you take your time and figure out what the case is. Unsighted mirrorblocks is a lot of fun, good luck with it!
 
I have always started with the thickest face but it does make sense that the last layer would be easier if that were the thickest, especially unsighted. I'll have to try timing myself to see where I stand against @SenorJuan.

Get well soon @teacher77 in the meantime maybe try a bit of OH? I'm guessing it would be the wrong hand but it can help you understand the algs more.
 
My logic for starting MirrorBlocks on the thick face was that it gave you more cube to hold, which I thought might be useful - I found holding it troublesome. But I also noted that when the last layer is the thin one, misoriented pieces seem to stick out more, edges especially. Like tombstones.
Irrelevant sidetrack alert: In the electronics industry, all modern stuff uses surface mount components, with parts sitting flat on the PCB board, held in place by the solder joints on their 'legs'. During the soldering process, it's possible for surface tension in the molten solder to pull a component out of line. In some cases, resistors and capacitors in particular, can stand up. This is given the amusing name of "Tombstoning". Here's an example:
http://static1.squarespace.com/stat...ce4b0d9be39c0c967/1434585551368/tombstone.jpg

I'll have a try with thinnest layer first, thanks for the advice, Josh.
 
So much to catch up on! ...

@JohnnyReggae - Glad you got the advice that was needed and have taken the megaminx plunge :) Also great looking puzzle mods there. Done a few stock improvement mods over the years but nothing on this scale. they look great.

@h2f - Really nice 2x2. I am way way off the pace and should spand some time with it

@SenorJuan - Great to see the reviews of the puzzles purchased from Marty Wolfman's shop. I have a parcel with 4 puzzles waiting at the post office but got there just too late to collect at lunchtime. I will try and do an unboxing video tomorrow. The parcel inclludes the eagerly awaiting Valk 3x3 too :)

@Lid - Damn, very nice sir. Got a few 1:41.xy singles so trying to push for a sub 1:40 single but very hit and miss with my LL

@chtiger - Nice linked video. I am using a clock I was bought as a Christmas present in the 80s and always been very reluctant to break it to lube but this looks very tempting :)
 
I finally got my Gans 356 Air. But as you guys have already done unboxing and review videos on it I just decided to open it and do some solves. It reminds me why I didn't want to buy any more gans 3x3s after I hated so much the 357. Of course it's much better than the 357 and I really like how it feels and turns, so smooth, so quiet, so light but not airy just solid and light. But it snaps too forcefully when corner cutting and that disturbs my turning, causing lockups. I will have to try with the yellow springs, which should improve the situation but I just cannot get good times with it.

After playing with it for a while I got my old Sulong out and I could get consistent mid-high 18s averages. With the Air, except for one lucky mid 17 Ao5, I'm around 20s or over all the time. Maybe the colours put my recog off a bit but that's no excuse.

I hope I will like The Valk 3 better, but I have heard also that it tends to snap with some force after cutting so, maybe I will not like it either. Looking into this in retrospect, I could have saved a lot of money had I stayed with my Sulong and Chilong and not bought any more 3x3s ever since.
 
I saw on FB the sad news that François Courtès has died. He was a cubing legend - 184 comps, and one of the fastest oldies out there, especially at blind. I met him once at a comp last year, and he was a nice guy. Enthusiastic to talk about cubing, and interesting to watch and talk to because he did things a bit differently. I judged one of his 4x4 solves and didn't recognise his method, and afterwards he explained the sandwich method to me. I'm sad for his loss and that I won't have the chance to meet him again.
 
mark49152 said:
I saw on FB the sad news that François Courtès has died. He was a cubing legend - 184 comps, and one of the fastest oldies out there, especially at blind. I met him once at a comp last year, and he was a nice guy. Enthusiastic to talk about cubing, and interesting to watch and talk to because he did things a bit differently. I judged one of his 4x4 solves and didn't recognise his method, and afterwards he explained the sandwich method to me. I'm sad for his loss and that I won't have the chance to meet him again.
Click to expand...
That's sad to hear. :(
 
mark49152 said:
I saw on FB the sad news that François Courtès has died. He was a cubing legend - 184 comps, and one of the fastest oldies out there, especially at blind. I met him once at a comp last year, and he was a nice guy. Enthusiastic to talk about cubing, and interesting to watch and talk to because he did things a bit differently. I judged one of his 4x4 solves and didn't recognise his method, and afterwards he explained the sandwich method to me. I'm sad for his loss and that I won't have the chance to meet him again.
Click to expand...
That is sad news indeed. :(

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
 
@mark49152 Sad indeed. But now you got me interested in knowing more about that sandwich method of his.
@Logiqx Cool video, sir. Now I would be embarrased to try anything on that line because your video would mop the floor with anything I could think of. If I at least could do a handstand on one hand... :)

By the way, I changed the springs to the Air for the yellow ones. It's a bit less stable and also it snaps with less force but I'm not sure I like it anyway.
 
Hey there another Oldie here wanna say Hello. I am 36 and just started recently with cubing. I started because i really enjoy an analog hobby. :) so i started with roux because cfop was ..well i just enjoyed roux more. Currently i am still in the beginnet stage averaging 1:00-1:20 with some solves under 1:00. Atm i struggle the most with my blocks taking up most of my time. My goal is to get at least under 30 seconds. But i have so many points to improve so i will get there.
 
Pandaroc said:
Hey there another Oldie here wanna say Hello. I am 36 and just started recently with cubing. I started because i really enjoy an analog hobby. :) so i started with roux because cfop was ..well i just enjoyed roux more. Currently i am still in the beginnet stage averaging 1:00-1:20 with some solves under 1:00. Atm i struggle the most with my blocks taking up most of my time. My goal is to get at least under 30 seconds. But i have so many points to improve so i will get there.
Click to expand...
Welcome to the thread!!! We have some Rouxers here so I'm sure you'll get useful advice and motivation to improve.
 
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