Spring tensions

[Zeede]

As a newbie, I hear a lot about cubes being too loose or too tight, but how do you tell?

I'm quite comfortable popping off the center caps and screwing tighter or looser, I just don't know how to diagnose the problem and go tighter or looser.

Could I get some pointers?

 

[Mischiiii]

I guess the two extremes are popping pieces if the tension is too loose and the puzzle being not able to cornercut when it’s to tight. You don’t want either of those but in betwEen it’s personal preference.

 

[Zeede]

Hmm okay, so on most puzzles I guess there's a pretty big middle ground (I only adjust it by a quarter or half turn at a time) where I just have to experiment.

 

[CodingCuber]

I can usually tell by doing two things:

1. See how much the cube catches by doing some finger tricks
2. Open the cube on each face. Do it like this:

The easier it is to do this, the looser it is, the harder it is to do, the tighter it is.

 

[Zeede]

Ahh, this is to see if each side is evenly tensioned?

 

[CodingCuber]

Ahh, this is to see if each side is evenly tensioned?

Yep

 

[GAN 356 X]

Ahh, this is to see if each side is evenly tensioned?

to see if it is evenly tensioned pull on two opposite edges, and see if the gap is even.

 

[Zeede]

Excellent, thanks everyone!

 

[Mischiiii]

Excellent, thanks everyone!

if you have the Moyu Wrm or gts3m you can use the spacers (accessories box)
on the disassembled cubes to get even tensions if you are insured about it.