DIY Kit Teaches You How to Become a Speed Cuber

Did you know that the fastest time anyone has ever solved a Rubik's cube in is 9.18 seconds? Speed cubing is a serious serious sport, and there are certain tricks of the trade that help you with it--you can loosen the screws holding the cubes together, or dissect and lubricate the moving parts. This  Speed Cubing Kit by MegaHouse comes with screwdrivers, lube, and a little manual (in Japanese) on how to become a professional cuber.

Product page (Japanese)

Comments

[Mister Cow Pnoy]

heh, kinda funny that you posted this today, my brother called me and he got himself another personal best: 11.42 seconds.

[silbermintz]

I worked for Ideal Toys during the Rubik's Cube craze of the 1970's-1980's. My job included 'tuning up' cubes used by champions in the commercials.
So, very simply, here's how you can do everything this kit promises with household items;
The best cube lubricant is VASELINE. Oils and spray liquids will work their way out of the center of the cube, making the outer surface slippery. Don't use any mentholated jelly - just plain Vaseleine. To apply it, you have to pop open one of the middle pieces of the cube (the two-colored pieces.) Do this by giving the top third of your cube a 45 degree turn (the top corners should be above the centers). You can use a screwdriver to pry a middle piece out (NOT A CORNER PIECE). Put a tiny bit of vaseline on the inside tab of the piece, then reverse your moves to reinsert it into the cube. It will click into place. Do not flip the piece when it's out of the cube or turn any corner pieces - if you do, the cube will enter a different 'universe' (there are 12) and not be solvable.
As you play with the cube the vaseline will distribute itself evenly within.

Any small Phillips head screwdriver can be used to loosen up the cube. There are 3 screws under 3 of the center labels. (None are opposite each other.) Find them by rubbing the center labels. You'll have to peel each of the three labels off, at least partially, to work on the screws. I would recommend double-stick tape to reapply the label. The 'speed cubers' I knew would just punch a hole in the label.
Now loosen each screw a bit and try twisting the cube. You will learn to judge exactly how loose to make them - if they're too loose, the cube can fly apart during fast twisting.

I do not wish to discourage the sale of this 'speedcube' set. I would buy one for myself if it was available in the U.S..
But until it is, you can follow my suggestions for 'tuning up' your cubes.

- Marvin Silbermintz

marvins@gmail.com

[silbermintz]

A SMALL CORRECTION OF THE ABOVE INSTRUCTIONS;

I checked on a new cube, and you can't find the three screws by pressing on the center labels. You'll have to pry off the top sqaure panel of the centers until you find all three. How you do it is up to you, but be careful. They're glued on tightly, but you can poke around each center and try to find a loose side. SOmetimes they break in half when you pry them off. Remember - you can just cut a small hole in the center of each center to find the screws. If you find screw under a center, don't touch the center on the opposite side. It won't have a screw.

[silbermintz]

Correction of my correction;

I believe the new cubes are BOLTED under the centers.
This means you can't loosen them easily. I suppose you could try, but it would be tricky.

There is a company that will be coming out with a similar speed cubing kit here in the U.S.A.. It will be at major toy stores, and probably on Amazon. A DVD of the newest speed solving methods and a cube will be included. Look for it around Christmas 2008.
Sorry, i don't know the name of the kit.

[www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000193127631]

DO NOT LUBE WITH VASELINE!

It provides great initial results, but makes the plastic brittle overtime and reduces performance as it drys out. A better choice is Silicone (which is initially dry, lasts longer, and wears off in the form of a white powder which is easily cleaned).