Archive for the Cubing Category
Cubing: Windmill Cube – Algorithms
Posted in Cubing on April 3, 2012 by slatemanI tossed up some algorithms over at my Cubelog. Having solved the cube a few times, I’ve found a way to improve upon the original tutorial and may eventually make my own. However, for now, it’s a guide for myself. As it turns out, the cube itself isn’t as difficult as its presentation would suggest. It is actually quite fun.
New Cubes Get!
Posted in Algorithms, Blog, Cubing on March 28, 2012 by slatemanThe Megaminx is solved largely like a standard 3×3, but wrapping my mind around that concept isn’t working too well. I’m just…so confused. The Windmill Cube (YJ Wheel Puzzle) is just too strange for me to grasp. I’m having such an hard time understanding how the entire thing works.
Void Cube Parity Algorithms
Swap UF with UR
R F’ L2 F2 U’ D R’ F B’ D’ F2 D F’
U2 R2 D R’ L B’ R2 F2 U D’ R’ F’ B U
Swap UF with UB
U F’ L’ B U’ R’ L2 D L’ D’ B R L2 U
F L R’ B U2 D’ F U L’ U’ L R’ D’ F’ R’
Updated: Cube To-Buy List
Posted in Blog, Cubing on March 24, 2012 by slatemanWith my new purchase in ‘shipping soon’ status, I’ve updated my wish list with some new stuff. I really thought I was almost done but I’m kinda interested in some of these different types of cubes. No rush on this stuff.
Master Skewb ($15)
QJ Megaminx (~$10, or $9) (or MF8 VII?) ($12.50)
LanLan Void Cube ($5)
YJ Wheel Puzzle ($8)
YJ Fisher Cube
SS 5×5
SS 6×6 ($23)
SS 8×8 ($88!)
Dayan ZhanChi
New Stuff
QJ 1x1x3 (6.50)
C4U 3x3x4 ($12)
LanLan Flower Rex Cube ($10)
Curvy Copter ($18) (or LanLan for $15)
MF8 Gigaminx (gonna be expensive…)
OK, do I *NEED* this stuff? Mainly, no. I do want a Megaminx though. The Void Cube & Master Skewb should be cool too. Then to start looking at the odd 3x3xNs. There are plenty of those to collect. Anyways, just some links for now. Future reference and all.
Cubing: New Order!
Posted in Blog, Cubing on March 24, 2012 by slatemanI’m psyched about receiving this one. It’ll be a while before I get it, but I am looking at a QJ Megaminx, a LanLan Void Cube and a YJ Wheel Puzzle. The latter is a lot like a Fisher Cube, but I don’t know much about it. Whatever, these should be new and exciting challenges, and all three were rather cheap! I’m so psyched!!!
New Cubing Record: 4×4 – 2:53.61
Posted in Blog, Cubing, Cubing Records on March 18, 2012 by slateman
I’ve been solving the 4×4 a bunch lately, it’s so much more enjoyable now that I have the ShengShou, and it’s becoming a nice quick solve. This is something I can do in just a few minutes when I have a few to spare. I’ve given up on getting more than one color in the middle layer at a time, as it just slows me down. I realize it’s better, but I have a hard enough time figuring out which color is next sometimes. So, after a few runs this morning, including another sub-3 minute solve, I bested my record by just about 3 seconds. It’s not a wonderful speed, I guess my new goal is 2:45, but it’s something. I encountered parity in my last step, but that’s an easy algorithm. I truly hate having to do the long parity alg. The boy was ready for a nap, so he cried the entire last minute. Good thing I can tune him out. heh. So, 4×4, a new record, felt pretty good about things!
New Cubing Record: 7×7 – 28:24.34
Posted in Blog, Cubing, Cubing Records on March 15, 2012 by slateman
Yeah…that’s right. 28 friggin’ minutes. Well, I’ve been meaning to do an actual speed (?) run and tonight was the night. Now, first off, the 7×7 is a beast. It took 10 minutes just to get the centers, another 6 to get the middle 3 edges, but another 10 (!) for the final edges. I messed up a few times on that one. I’d say that wrecked my chances for a fast run, but let’s face it, it took forever. Ultimately though, I really wanted to have a figure, and 28 minutes+ it is. It was fun. I listened to some Satch, got over the fact that my son drooled on the cube and lost a green/yellow edge sticker. At least it turns a bit better than my V-Cube 6, but it was harder than normal to align the layers to turn at first. OK. Done. 7×7 record set. I’m happy.
New Cubing Record – UPDATED: Pyraminx – 13.80
Posted in Blog, Cubing, Cubing Records on March 7, 2012 by slateman
I think I’ll dissolve my old Cubelog and post everything here. After my new purchase a few weeks ago (3x3x2, Pyraminx, Skewb), I realized I would never go for speed on most. However, the Pyraminx is not a difficult puzzle and so I did decide to time myself. Today’s record of 13.80 seconds is not bad. With only three algorithms, really (I’d actually say two) it’s not hard to go for speed. A little luck goes a long way! Cube Records posted here.


