What is breaking in?

[Laurentius]

I've searched on the forum but no thread where someone describes exactly what it is appeared. (At least not the first pages, where they most likely would be :rolleyes

I also tried searching with google, but I only found Pestvic's video.. And I didn't really get it.. What exactly does "breaking in" do to your cube? Does doing R'R for hours make it smoother? Someone please explain

 

[Garmon]

You usually hear it after lubrication, it takes a while for the lube to actually improve the cube and the time when the cube is a bit slow is the breaking in time. When it has broken in it moves good.
For the R and R' question I guess it could, but it's easier just to sand the pieces down.

 

[Laurentius]

Ok, but I still don't get what a person does with the cube when he is breaking it in

 

[rjohnson_8ball]

Ok, but I still don't get what a person does with the cube when he is breaking it in

First, I would check pieces for molding imperfections. I use a flat metal file (long with triangular cross section) to get rid of those. If it is a Do It Yourself cube, get rid of ridges that prevent stickers from laying flat. Get rid of nubs that would gouge grooves into surfaces after many twists.

I don't just twist a new cube to break it in. I contort it slightly until I get inside edges catching slightly, so it nearly jams. I let the pieces rub there a lot. My belief is that if I do it enough, jamming cases will occur less because of the way the pieces are worn down.

I sort of like the idea of using sandpaper, but I have not done that yet. I believe rounding off internal edges can reduce jamming.

After you have given your new cube the equivalent of 5000 twists (100 solves), clean the plastic dust from the pieces and apply silicone to it. (Use google to locate a product that is somewhat safe with plastic. Some sprays will ruin stickers, so be careful.)

 

[Laurentius]

Ok, but I still don't get what a person does with the cube when he is breaking it in

First, I would check pieces for molding imperfections. I use a flat metal file (long with triangular cross section) to get rid of those. If it is a Do It Yourself cube, get rid of ridges that prevent stickers from laying flat. Get rid of nubs that would gouge grooves into surfaces after many twists.

I don't just twist a new cube to break it in. I contort it slightly until I get inside edges catching slightly, so it nearly jams. I let the pieces rub there a lot. My belief is that if I do it enough, jamming cases will occur less because of the way the pieces are worn down.

I sort of like the idea of using sandpaper, but I have not done that yet. I believe rounding off internal edges can reduce jamming.

After you have given your new cube the equivalent of 1000 twists (200 solves), clean the plastic dust from the pieces and apply silicone to it. (Use google to locate a product that is somewhat safe with plastic. Some sprays will ruin stickers, so be careful.)

Wow thanks. Now I know exactly what it is

 

[Sa967St]

warning: sanding cubies can cause extreme lockup