JSK – Japanese Speedcubing Kit
I asked my mom to pick up a couple of these for me, mostly for collector’s sake – one stayed in the package, the other is out and played with. After conversion, you’re looking at around $30 CDN/USD, so value-wise, you can do much, much better.
Here’s what $30 gets you: a 3x3x3 pre-labeled with PET/PP stickers with the Japanese colour scheme (ie: the ones with layer of plastic that peels off after an hour or two of active use) with removable caps and adjustable screws; a small tube of lubricant; two small screwdrivers – one Phillips head for adjusting the screws and one flat-head for removing the caps; a display stand (woo!); and a detailed instruction sheet complete with algorithms, some of which may be new to you.
Immediately out of the package, it is extremely stiff, even after adjustment. It’s only after a few drops of lubricant that it becomes workable. Within the first two hours of use, there’s nothing that really sets it apart from store-bought cubes. The cube still needs a solid breaking-in as it’s prone to lockups and does not cut corners particularly well, especially when compared to a freshly assembled and lubed DIY, although it improves after a few days of use. It also turns better with Jig-A-Loo, as opposed to the packed-in tube of lubricant.
On the plus side, the faces turn wicked fast and M2 turns are great and it doesn’t pop. This might change after a few years of heavy use, however.
Much preferred to a flat-centered Studio Cube, but for the price, you can buy a handful of DIYs.
Smoothness/speed: 10
Lockup resistance: 5
Cutting corners: 6
Pop resistance: 8
Quietness: 3
Reliability: 5
Average: 6.2
Mefferts 4x4x4 (white plastic, tiled)
Compared to the Eastsheen and Rubik’s versions, this version wins hands-down. The tiles make the cube significantly larger, which is not great for small hands (for which the ES may be preferable).
Does not have any of the lockup problems that the Rubik’s retooled 4x4x4 has (especially lockups on aligned faces and pops) and can even cut corners to an extent (at least better than then Eastsheen). I would prefer if a stickered version of this cube was available, but there is the option of popping off the tiles and smoothing the surface down.
Much of this also applies to the QJ version (aka “Clefferts”, or Cloned Mefferts), with a few key differences. The QJ version turns much, MUCH faster, but by extension is more difficult to control (ie: you may experience more lockups due to misalignment), and it’s much noisier. It’s also almost half the price ($10.79 for a QJ vs. $18 for a Mefferts).
Smoothness/speed: 9
Lockup resistance: 8
Cutting corners: 7
Pop resistance: 10
Quietness: 9
Reliability: 9
Average: 8.6
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