Lubrication

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. Jig-a-loo in fact melts the plastic temporarily, but after drying it out everything gets back to normal.

• Take a look at 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.

• 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. cubelube.com

Petroleum-Based

These include lubricants such as vaseline or WD-40. 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 deteriorate the plastic of the pieces as well as the internal mechanism.

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 has been many success stories of WD-40 being used on cubes and making them smoother. It is recommended you do not use this.

Other

Other types of 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.