Older cubers discussions

[mark49152]

Great. This gonna happen faster than you think.

I have a spreadsheet to work it all out . I benchmark my speed with splits and stddev from 4-cube attempts, and from that I can project my times for larger attempts. Accuracy of these projections is surprisingly good, usually within 1-2 minutes. Current projection for 20 cubes is 1:09 at home, 1:12 in comp. From this I know I have to set a pace equivalent to 7:30 for 4 cubes, and sustain that over 20 cubes while maintaining accuracy. I'm currently averaging ~9:30 and have only twice got sub-9, so I know consistent 7:30 pace will take some practice!

 

[pipkiksass]

There need to be twice as many magnets on the inner layers as the outer ones, so even though you want more magnetic force on the inner layers you want weaker magnets there. I used n38 4x2 on the outer layers and N38 4x1.5 on the inner layers of a yuxin blue. It's pretty strong, if I did it again I might try n35, but the balance is good.

Thanks for this - was the Yuxin stickerless or stickered? I'm only asking because I'm thinking of plastic thickness.

I was intending to use N35 4x2 for outer layers, so will use calculators and get something a little weaker for the inners that x2 will be a little stronger.

There's debate about polarities in dedges- did you use the same polarities in each dredge, i.e. two N in one dedge, two S in the other? For example, if you have two white/red dedges, did each have a north and south, or one with two N, one with two S sides??

 

[Lid]

Weeeee, first sub50 on 4x4!
49.051[pll-parity] B D B f2 r2 U' F' L u2 R L' U2 F2 L2 B r' R' F U2 r f2 F L2 U' F R' D' u2 R2 D' R2 f2 F' L2 D2 f2 L B' F R
PB by 1.40s!

Also had a 58.663 a5 PB some days ago.

 

[One Wheel]

Thanks for this - was the Yuxin stickerless or stickered? I'm only asking because I'm thinking of plastic thickness.

I was intending to use N35 4x2 for outer layers, so will use calculators and get something a little weaker for the inners that x2 will be a little stronger.

There's debate about polarities in dedges- did you use the same polarities in each dredge, i.e. two N in one dedge, two S in the other? For example, if you have two white/red dedges, did each have a north and south, or one with two N, one with two S sides??

Mine is black stickered.

As far as polarities, I used the second configuration you described. If you separate the dedges/wings you will see that each one is composed of two non-identical (but not quite mirror image) parts. If you make piles with identically-shaped pieces, then each of the pieces in a given pile should have identical placement and polarity of magnets.

 

[pipkiksass]

Assuming you mean wing and not dedge: the point of having doubled magnets along the middle (where two wings contact) is that you need one of them to be S and the other to be N for the magnetic pull to be consistent between different pieces. If you had an NN piece adjacent to another NN piece, or an SS piece adjacent to another SS piece, they'd repel rather than attract.

No, I meant dedge, it's been commonly used for 4x4 "wings".

But thanks for your input on the polarity issue. Whichever polarity you use, surely it's possible to have north to north, or south to south, as edges can be flipped in place?!

 

[One Wheel]

IWhichever polarity you use, surely it's possible to have north to north, or south to south, as edges can be flipped in place?!

No. If every piece (wing, dedge, whatever you call it) is identical and can only be flipped 180 degrees relative to the others, then it will always attract. I'll try to draw a diagram:
N|S
S|N
You can never flip just one of those pairs. Not sure if this makes sense. I can try again if it doesn't.

 

[mark49152]

I just bought a clock. It's stiff as... really stiff. Any tips on lubing it and making it good? I've watched a few videos but there is conflicting advice out there and I wonder if anyone here has any tips.

 

[muchacho]

Mine was also super stiff. I followed this and it worked quite well:

I finally did edges for the first time, success after only :rolleyes: 42 tries.
3:55 (2:27) U L2 U2 L2 U2 L' B2 F2 L' B' D B L' R U' R' D2

 

[newtonbase]

The qualification and schedule for the UK Championships have been announced. There's a full day of competition on the Friday which may mean I don't get to do 4BLD and the 5 point qualification for MBLD excludes me from that. I'm a bit disappointed.

 

[newtonbase]

Mine was also super stiff. I followed this and it worked quite well:

I finally did edges for the first time, success after only :rolleyes: 42 tries.
3:55 (2:27) U L2 U2 L2 U2 L' B2 F2 L' B' D B L' R U' R' D2

Congratulations.

 

[Ollie]

The qualification and schedule for the UK Championships have been announced. There's a full day of competition on the Friday which may mean I don't get to do 4BLD and the 5 point qualification for MBLD excludes me from that. I'm a bit disappointed.

I'm quite pleased all events are being held for once though

 

[newtonbase]

I'm quite pleased all events are being held for once though

Don't they always have them all at the UKs?

 

[mark49152]

Don't they always have them all at the UKs?

Last year you could enter MBLD or FMC but not both. Not sure about other events. Two MBLD attempts this year, and three FMC will keep Ben happy .

Are you going to Guildford? MBLD qualification opportunity there.

 

[newtonbase]

Last year you could enter MBLD or FMC but not both. Not sure about other events. Two MBLD attempts this year, and three FMC will keep Ben happy .

Are you going to Guildford? MBLD qualification opportunity there.

No. It clashes with my wedding anniversary and I'm focusing on getting to the bigger comps which unfortunately seems to be working against me. Hopefully there will be lots of blind stuff at Weston.

 

[mark49152]

How about a romantic anniversary getaway to Guildford with a brief detour for multi?

 

[newtonbase]

How about a romantic anniversary getaway to Guildford with a brief detour for multi?

Don't think I'd have to worry about another anniversary after that!
Just looked and it was Macclesfield last July when I was last able to compete in MBLD.

 

[mark49152]

Mine was also super stiff. I followed this and it worked quite well:

Thanks. That's probably what I'll try. Kit Clement's video looks good too.

Congrats on the edges success

Just looked and it was Macclesfield last July when I was last able to compete in MBLD.

Yeah that seems either harsh or unlucky. Any other options? Like a quick day trip to France to do a multi?

 

[newtonbase]

Yeah that seems either harsh or unlucky. Any other options? Like a quick day trip to France to do a multi?

It's a bit of both. The comps I've been to either had qualifying, MBLD on a day I wasn't there or no MBLD. I doubt I'll be able to get to another foreign comp but I'll get 5 points eventually and hopefully the bar won't be raised too soon.

 

[chtiger]

Kit Clement's video looks good too.

That's the one I used ("How to Make a Good Clock"). The only thing that didn't work for me was putting tape on only 1 side to leave some wiggle room. I did better taping 2 or 3 sides. Lubing makes a huge improvement. I bought a new clock a while back and did an ao5 before lubing and was 19.xx. My first ao5 after lubing was 9.xx.

 

[newtonbase]

I filmed my first ever clock solve which started with the unboxing. I'd never touched one before and got an awful shock when I tried to turn it as it barely moved. Took well over 10 minutes.