Sanding your cubies

[Inferno.Fighter.IV]

I was just wondering what the pros and cons of sanding your cubies are, or even if it helps at all.

 

[csfield]

It serves the purpose of breaking in your cube all at once. The danger is that if you do it wrong you could screw up your cube.

 

[pjk]

If you have a DIY, sanding isn't necessary. If you have a regular walmart one, it really helps it. It will smooth the plastic, and with lube it really makes it slide well. If you just use sandpaper with your hands, I don't think you can really screw it up. Good luck.

 

[Harris Chan]

Does putting some sand (like from the beach or something...or may be the ones that fell off of the sand paper) into the cube and play with it a bit (like when you squirt a drop an open end for lubing) count as "sanding"?

 

[dChan]

Sort of. When you drop sand into your cube and then play with it, it creates grooves in the cube where it would normally turn. While sanding would simply make each cubie smaller. So it would be better to put actual sand in the cube than sanding each cubie- as this will create a natural groove on which the cube usualy turns, and thus creating less friction.

 

[csfield]

Some people recommend taking your cube to the beach so the wind can blow tiny particles of sand in it. After cubing with it for a couple days clean it out and relube it.

 

[dChan]

Naw, just drop your cube by 'accident' and cube for a few hours, then clean it out and lube it. That's what I did to my first cube.

 

[Inferno.Fighter.IV]

Thanks for the responses. I got a White DIY and it's pretty stiff, actually my Walmart one is smoother and I haven't done anything to it, so I think I might try sanding it. Will a nail file work?

 

[dChan]

NO! DON'T SAND YOUR DIY! FOR THE GOD OF HELL, DON'T SAND IT.

Just lube it man. Or loosen the screws. You are nots supposed to have super tight screws, the screws are for you to adjust it. DO NOT SAND IT. That's why it 's a DIY cube- so you can adjust it yourself.

PLEASE DON'T SAND YOUR BEAUTIFUL CUBE! THAT'S JUST CRUEL!

 

[Inferno.Fighter.IV]

Okay, I wont sand it. Is sanding it bad for it, or is it just better to lube it.

 

[dChan]

Sanding a retail cube is good, but a DIY is made for us speedcubers so we don't need to modify it. It is better to lube it.

Lube it the long way(take out each piece, lay them out, spray every side), wait 10 minutes, lube it again, then place it back together. If that doesn't work then you screwed too tight.

 

[Inferno.Fighter.IV]

Okay. Thanks, for warning me, I was just about to sand it, ha ha.

 

[dChan]

lol, I would have died if you did.

 

[Inferno.Fighter.IV]

Ha ha ha, I'll be sure to get lube the next time I go to a hardware store.

 

[dChan]

Yeah, get silicone- preferably food grade.

 

[Inferno.Fighter.IV]

What do you mean by "food grade"?

 

[dChan]

Basically it means non-toxic. I use the ones by 3M(the people who made scotch tape) which says food grade on it. Or "Approved by the FDA" etc. Since you are going to be using it a lot it is better if you have a food-grade one that way you don't make yourself sick.