I just got one of these things a couple of days ago and was wondering if I should lube it or should I just brake it in like I did with my SS 6x6 (which turns a lot better now). If I should lube, which is better for the shengshous, lubix or the sprays? Thanks
ShengShou 8x8x8 Released
- Thread starter troyknowsitall
- Start date
-
- Tags
- 8x8
- Status
emolover
Legend
I lubed my 6x6 with shock oil and I plan later do this to my 8x8.
Selkie
Premium Member
Damn I am well behind the times on news of this *reaches for credit card* 
freshcuber
Veteran
It comes pre-lubed but that will probably wear off quickly. I'm probably going to mix CRC with Lubix for mine.
Brief Review:
Size: Well it's a cubic 8x8. What do you expect? The things a monster. Can still be handled well but after playing with this for a while your SS 6x6 will feel like a little toy. The 8x8 is roughly the equivalent of 2 SS 6x6 layers larger.
Turning:
Outer Layer: Insanely smooth. Not quite as smooth as a V7 because you can feel that there's more room between the pieces but still way smoother than expected. They cut a little but if you're a sloppy turner you're in trouble. The best way to be fast is to be accurate.
Inner Layers: The farther in the cube you go the worse they get. If you pull on the cubies as you turn it then they'll begin to catch. They don't really pop from this but it is a bit unsettling. It gets hard to keep all the layers aligned because there's no clicking mech to keep them all straight. That said the turning is still pretty nice and mid-solve it doesn't bother me too much. Will probably get better with a proper break-in and lubing.
Pops: For the most part you're going to have the same sort of pops you do on a SS 6x6. The corner center pieces are the usual culprits along with the edge centers that hug the middle layer. If one of those pop it's easier to pull out the corner center adjacent to it and replace the edge one before the corner. That's due to the design of the pieces and the anti-pop shape to them. They're harder to pop but also harder to get back in once they do pop. I've found putting my thumb between the edges of the outer layer nearest the pop opens enough room to make inserting the pieces easier. I'm pretty cautious when reinserting pops because the length of the internal part of the center pieces makes it easy for them to bend and in a solve that takes as long as it does as with an 8x8, there's no point risking the integrity of your cube for just a few seconds time.
Stickers: Same as on the SS 6x6. Bright enough for the average cuber but if you have a set of crazy cubesmiths then you'll probably want to replace them. The cube does come with one extra set of stickers. Mine haven't chipped much at all, only extremely minute ones. They have been scratched a little though. Not quite sure how that happened.
Internal Mech: I can't give you a very good description of the internals since I don't want to take the thing apart until God himself commands me to do so, or I have to lube it. Whichever comes first.
Solvability: I personally have trouble during centers because this is my first cube larger than 7x7 and I'm not used to the extra orbit yet. Edge pairing is fine as long as the length of the edge pieces don't bother you during solving.
Overall Opinion: I like the cube a lot. I've only done a limited number of solves because I got it just yesterday but it's fun to solve. Although similar to 6x6 the new orbit in the centers is a new challenge to me that I can't wait to overcome. I'd say it was worth the price since it's the first mass produced model, the quality is good, and it's cubic.
Brief Review:
Size: Well it's a cubic 8x8. What do you expect? The things a monster. Can still be handled well but after playing with this for a while your SS 6x6 will feel like a little toy. The 8x8 is roughly the equivalent of 2 SS 6x6 layers larger.
Turning:
Outer Layer: Insanely smooth. Not quite as smooth as a V7 because you can feel that there's more room between the pieces but still way smoother than expected. They cut a little but if you're a sloppy turner you're in trouble. The best way to be fast is to be accurate.
Inner Layers: The farther in the cube you go the worse they get. If you pull on the cubies as you turn it then they'll begin to catch. They don't really pop from this but it is a bit unsettling. It gets hard to keep all the layers aligned because there's no clicking mech to keep them all straight. That said the turning is still pretty nice and mid-solve it doesn't bother me too much. Will probably get better with a proper break-in and lubing.
Pops: For the most part you're going to have the same sort of pops you do on a SS 6x6. The corner center pieces are the usual culprits along with the edge centers that hug the middle layer. If one of those pop it's easier to pull out the corner center adjacent to it and replace the edge one before the corner. That's due to the design of the pieces and the anti-pop shape to them. They're harder to pop but also harder to get back in once they do pop. I've found putting my thumb between the edges of the outer layer nearest the pop opens enough room to make inserting the pieces easier. I'm pretty cautious when reinserting pops because the length of the internal part of the center pieces makes it easy for them to bend and in a solve that takes as long as it does as with an 8x8, there's no point risking the integrity of your cube for just a few seconds time.
Stickers: Same as on the SS 6x6. Bright enough for the average cuber but if you have a set of crazy cubesmiths then you'll probably want to replace them. The cube does come with one extra set of stickers. Mine haven't chipped much at all, only extremely minute ones. They have been scratched a little though. Not quite sure how that happened.
Internal Mech: I can't give you a very good description of the internals since I don't want to take the thing apart until God himself commands me to do so, or I have to lube it. Whichever comes first.
Solvability: I personally have trouble during centers because this is my first cube larger than 7x7 and I'm not used to the extra orbit yet. Edge pairing is fine as long as the length of the edge pieces don't bother you during solving.
Overall Opinion: I like the cube a lot. I've only done a limited number of solves because I got it just yesterday but it's fun to solve. Although similar to 6x6 the new orbit in the centers is a new challenge to me that I can't wait to overcome. I'd say it was worth the price since it's the first mass produced model, the quality is good, and it's cubic.
emolover
Legend
Nice review! It truely is strange to do the centers because I am so use to 6x6 and 7x7. I love edge pairing though.
freshcuber
Veteran
Yea I know!! I look at a center and based on what I know from 6x6 I assume that it will work with the line I'm making but when I try half the time it doesn't lol It's just a matter of practice though, I did the same thing when I started 7x7 so I'm sure spotting what goes where will get easier.
Pete the Geek
Regular
I just ordered mine in black. I really like my ShengShou 4x4 and 5x5 and the new 8x8 has been getting favorable reviews. I like big cubes. I hope ShengShou et al keep them coming!
C
CrazyBadCuber
Guest
It's a actually a REALLY well built and awesome cube. It cuts corners like crazy and is super smooth and hardly ever pops. I have a full review of it.
Here - http://www.youtube.com/user/crazybadcuber?feature=mhee
Here - http://www.youtube.com/user/crazybadcuber?feature=mhee
- Status
