Speedsolving.com Wiki - User contributions [en]

Lubrication

2008-12-14T09:13:38Z

ImNOTnoob:

A '''lubricant''' (or '''lube''') is a material which can be put in a [[puzzle]] to make it easier to turn or smoother. This page contains descriptions of different lubricants and specific suggestions for how to use them. In general, to lube a cube, you should apply the lubricant either by removing one piece and spraying it in, or by disassembling the cube completely and coating the pieces in lubricant. After lube is applied, it is usually best to not time a solve immediately, but rather give the lube a few minutes to work in. It is also recommended that you do not apply lube to very stiff cubes, as this can sometimes make them even harder to turn.

== Silicon-Based ==
Silicon-based lubricants are a highly popular and effective way to lubricate cubes.

===Pure Silicone===
Several brands sell silicone spray, but to tell if it is pure you have to check the ingredients. Pure silicone spray will not melt the cube's plastic or wear it in at all, just make it smoother, so this is a good lube to use on cubes that are already very loose and worn in.

===Jig-A-Loo===
Used by many cubers, this lubricant works very well. However, it can melt plastic temporarily, so it is recommended that you completely disassemble your cube to lubricate it, and that you let the pieces dry well before reassembly. Take a look at [http://www.speedsolving.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5129&page=2 this thread] for detailed discussion on Jig-a-loo

===Rubik's Lube===
This is the lube that comes in a syringe-like container when you order from Rubiks.com. It can be found at [http://www.rubiks.com/Shop/Products/Rubiks%20Cube%20Lube%20Kit%203x3.aspx rubiks.com].

===CRC Silicon Spray===
CRC silicon spray has been used by many cubers. This is a very good lubricant to use. It will dry out soon, but works well. It is known to eat cubes too, so use with caution.
===Cubelube.com===
This is the exact same lube as sold on Rubiks.com, only with different packaging and a different site. The price is also cheaper than Rubiks.com; this particular lube is found at [http://cubelube.com/ cubelube.com].

===Maplin Electronics Silicone Grease with PTFE===
Works well on [[DIY]] cubes, and is easy to find in the UK. Comes in a spray can with extension tube for lazy lubing.

===Armour All original protectant===
It is silicone based, and pretty good, but sometimes causes the cube to gunk up when overlubed. It is recomended that you wipe off excess lubricant after using.

===Other silicone lubricants===
This includes most brands of lubricants, like 3 in 1 silicone spray, Prestone, Sprayway. The results are different for every type of lube. For example, 3 in 1 takes too long to dry, and Prestone makes cubes smooth (sometimes too smooth.)

== Petroleum-Based ==
These include lubricants such as vaseline, WD-40, or Liquid Wrench. It is '''strongly recommended that you use these with caution''', as petroleum and petroleum distillates speed the aging of plastic, and may dissolve the plastic resulting in destruction of the pieces and the internal mechanism. Excessive uses of these lubricants often lead to the center mechanism breaking apart completely.

===Vaseline===
Goopy and well known, this is not the best lube. Being a petroleum based lubricant it will speed the deterioration of the pieces as well as the internal mechanism. Some people recommend using vaseline for a while to wear down the inside of the cube (almost like breaking in the cube) before using other lubricants.

===WD-40===
Known for damaging cubes by wearing the pieces in and making them harder to turn, this does not actually act as a lubricant for the plastic at all. However, there have been some success stories of WD-40 being used on cubes and making them smoother.
It is recommended you '''do not use this'''. If you must, however, you should wash or wipe it off after about half an hour.

===Liquid Wrench===
Even though Liquid Wrench says Silicone Spray on the can, it still contains petroleum distillates. The lubricant also has a very petroleum-like smell and will stay there. Liquid Wrench is not odorless. Do not use this. It contains less than 5% of silicone.

== Miscellaneous Other Lubricants ==

=== Cooking No-stick Spray ===
Yes, PAM. Not necessarily the cleanest or best thing to use, it works nonetheless. It will slowly eat the plastic but not nearly as fast as petroleum based products. It is recommended you clean out your cube frequently if you use this.

=== White Lithium Grease ===
There are some mixed results of this lubricant, but it does work fairly well. The cube will have a sticky feeling after using it, though it wears off after some breaking-in.

Lubrication

2008-11-11T05:53:43Z

ImNOTnoob: /* Silicon-Based */

== Description ==
This page contains descriptions of different lubricants and suggestions for use. Suggested usage of lube includes disassembling a cube to insert the lube, applying, and turning the cube to work it in. It is also recommended that you do not apply lube to stiffer cubes, as this can sometimes make them even harder to turn.

== Silicon-Based ==
Silicon-based lubricants are a highly popular and effective way to lubricate cubes.

===Jig-A-Loo===
Used by many cubers, this lubricant works very well. However, it can melt plastic temporarily, so it is recommended that you completely disassemble your cube to lubricate it, and that you let the pieces dry well before reassembly.
* Take a look at [http://www.speedsolving.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5129&page=2 this thread] for detailed discussion on Jig-a-loo

===Rubik's Lube===
This is the lube that comes in a syringe-like container when you order from Rubiks.com.
* [http://www.rubiks.com/Shop/Products/Rubiks%20Cube%20Lube%20Kit%203x3.aspx Rubik's Cube Lube]

===CRC Silicon Spray===
CRC silicon spray has been used by many cubers. This is a very good lubricant to use. It will dry out soon, but works well.

===Cubelube.com===
This is the exact same lube as sold on Rubiks.com, only with different packaging and a different site. The price is also cheaper than Rubiks.com. [http://cubelube.com/ cubelube.com]

===Maplin Electronics Silicone Grease with PTFE===
Works well on diy cubes, and is easy to find in the UK. Comes in a spray can with extension tube for lazy lubing.

===Other silicone lubricants===
This includes most brands of lubricants, like 3 in 1 silicone spray, Prestone, Sprayway. The results are different for every type of lube. For example, 3 in 1 takes too long to dry, and Prestone makes cubes smooth (sometimes too smooth.)

== Petroleum-Based ==
These include lubricants such as vaseline, WD-40, or Liquid Wrench. It is '''Strongly recommended that you use these with caution''', as petroleum and petroleum distillates speed the aging of plastic, and may dissolve the plastic resulting in destruction of the pieces and the internal mechanism. Excessive uses of these lubricants often lead to the center mechanism breaking apart completely.

===Vaseline===
Goopy and well known, this is not the best lube. Being a petroleum based lubricant it will speed the deterioration of the pieces as well as the internal mechanism. Some people recommend using vaseline for a while to wear down the inside of the cube (almost like breaking in the cube) before using other lubricants.

===WD-40===
Known for damaging cubes and making them harder to turn, this does not act as a lubricant for the plastic at all. However, there have been some success stories of WD-40 being used on cubes and making them smoother.
It is recommended you '''do not use this'''.

===Liquid Wrench===
Eventhough Liquid Wrench says Silicone Spray on the can, it still contains petroleum distillates. The lubricant also has a very petroleum-like smell and will stay there. Liquid Wrench is not odorless. Do not use this. It contains less than 5% of silicone.

== Miscellaneous Other Lubricants ==

=== Cooking No-stick Spray ===
Yes, PAM. Not necessarily the cleanest or best thing to use, it works nonetheless. It will slowly eat the plastic but not nearly as fast as petroleum based products. It is recommended you clean out your cube frequently if you use this.

=== White Lithium Grease ===
There are some mixed results of this lubricant, but it does work fairly well. The cube will have a sticky feeling after using it, though it wears off after some breaking-in.

5x5x5 Cube

2008-11-10T14:01:55Z

ImNOTnoob:

[[Image:Wiki 5x5x5 solved.jpg|160px|thumb|A Professor Cube in its solved position.]]
The '''Professor's Cube''' (also known as the '''5x5x5 cube''', and normally referred to as the '''5x5x5''' or '''5x5''') is a twistable [[puzzle]] in the shape of a cube that is cut four times along each of three axes. The main brands for this puzzle are the [[Rubik's]], [[East Sheen]], and [[V-cube]] cubes, which were patented by [[Udo Krell]] in 1986, [[Chen Sen Li]] in 2000, and [[Panagiotis Verdes]].

This puzzle has 6 fixed [[center]]s, a total of 48 other [[center]] pieces, a total of 36 [[edge]] pieces, and 8 [[corner]]s, and 2.8 x 10^74 positions.

[[Image:5x5dismantled.JPG|thumb|A Professor cube, partially dismantled.]]

=== See also: ===
* [[5x5x5 Speedcubing Methods]]
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professor's_Cube The Wikipedia article]

{{Cubics}}

File:5x5dismantled.JPG

2008-11-10T14:00:49Z

ImNOTnoob: This is how to dismantle a 5x5 Rubik's cube.

This is how to dismantle a 5x5 Rubik's cube.

4x4x4 Cube

2008-11-10T13:59:24Z

ImNOTnoob:

[[Image:BC Solved.jpg|thumb|A Rubik's Revenge in its solved position.]]
The '''Rubik's Revenge''' (also known as the '''4x4x4 cube''', and normally referred to as the '''4x4x4''' or '''4x4''') is a twistable [[puzzle]] in the shape of a cube that is cut three times along each of three axes. There are two main brands for this puzzle, both of which are popular for [[speedcubing]]: the [[Rubik's]], patented by [[Peter Sebesteny]] in 1983, and the [[East Sheen]], patented by [[Chen Sen Li]] in 1999.

This puzzle has no fixed centers, but a total of 24 [[center]] pieces, a total of 24 [[edge]] pieces, and 8 [[corner]]s. It has 7.4 x 10^45 positions.

[[Image:Revenge.JPG|thumb|A Rubik's Revenge.]]
[[Image:Howtodismantle4x4.JPG|thumb|How to dismantle a Rubik's Revenge.]]
[[Image:Mechanismrevenge.JPG|thumb|Mechanism]]
===See also:===
* [[4x4x4 Speedsolving Methods]]
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubik's_Revenge The Wikipedia article]

{{Cubics}}

File:Mechanismrevenge.JPG

2008-11-10T13:57:18Z

ImNOTnoob: The mechanism of a Rubik's Revenge.

The mechanism of a Rubik's Revenge.

File:Howtodismantle4x4.JPG

2008-11-10T13:54:41Z

ImNOTnoob: How to dismantle a Rubik's Revenge.

How to dismantle a Rubik's Revenge.

File:Revenge.JPG

2008-11-10T13:50:27Z

ImNOTnoob: Picture of a Rubik's Revenge.

Picture of a Rubik's Revenge.