 stickers easy to replace, range of quality with all similar cubes |
| Review Date: March 19, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Kirk Walton, Eagle, ID |
I'm an avid cuber, can easily solve it in under 30 seconds, and have been cubing since 1981, so I know what I'm talking about here, and wanted to respond to a couple of the comments.
First, the stickers. ALL the currently mass-produced cubes have stickers of the same very low quality. With even moderate use, these stickers will start to peel, usually starting with orange. The stickers are very easy to replace, and replacement stickers that are high quality and don't peel are widely available at a cost of about a buck for a complete set. For a casual cuber, just replacing the stickers once with high quality stickers should turn this into a very durable toy.
Where to get replacement stickers? The official page for Rubik's has replacement stickers that are low quality and what they call "PVC stickers" which are much better quality ($5 for 3 sets), and cubesmith, which only stocks the high quality non-peeling variety for $1.25 per complete set.
Second, with respect to the ease of turning, there is (unfortunately) a wide range of quality for these mass produced cubes when you first pull them out of the box. Many turn very smoothly right out of the box, but some are extremely stiff. ALL of them, however, will break in eventually and will get better with even a little bit of use, and (except for the stickers) Rubik's cubes almost never wear out (I still have the first one I bought in 1981). That makes this an incredible deal!
There is no way to tell the smooth cubes without opening the package and trying them out. Still, nearly any of these mass produced cubes that carry the official Rubik's logo will be good enough for the casual user. Knock-off cubes that you see from time to time are generally absolutely terrible when it comes to turning smoothly and wearing out quickly.
If you do get a cube that is stiff, keep playing with it and it will loosen up as it breaks in. It is also very helpful to spray a little lubricant into the cracks (a pure silicon based lubricant works best though even WD40 works in a pinch and should be more than adequate for a casual cuber).
Bottom line, the Rubik's Cube is an incredible puzzle--easily one of the most widely recognized objects around the world, and offers hours of enjoyment for about $10 or less. You can take it anywhere. Having one on your desk or playing with one in public is almost guaranteed to start a conversation. It's an icon of the 80s, but has had a huge resurgence in this decade. Also, you don't have to be a rocket scientist to solve it, and there are plenty of helpful websites for beginners who get stuck.
This cube is a good option for a beginner or casual cuber, but if you evolve into a serious cuber, there are better (and more expensive) options out there.
I hope this is helpful. Happy Cubing! |
Great for spatial relationships; lousy for durability
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| Review Date: November 19, 1999 |
| Reviewer: , |
| Within a month of buying my Rubik's Cube, all of the lamination on the yellow stickers had peeled off, and the stickers had faded to white. I had two white sides on my cube. Who has heard of a 30 day warranty? They should make it a year, and should put better stickers on the things. |
Greatest puzzle ever made - if the stickers didn't fall off!
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| Review Date: May 13, 2000 |
| Reviewer: , |
| This is probably the ultimate mind-expanding drug. I call it mind-expanding because it is marvelous for enhancing your spatial and mathematical capabilities, as well as changing the very way you look at problems in real life. I call it a drug because it is amazingly addictive! Once you scramble it (which is surprisingly easy), it will take you weeks, if not months, of obsessive frustration to solve it even once. Once you do, though, you will be hooked, and after a short time, you'll be blindingly fast at it. It took me 5 weeks to solve it initially, but less than two months after that, I was down to 5 minutes. However, there is one downside to the new, modern version of this magic cube: after those three months, my cube looked like it was older than me! The plastic over the stickers peeled off, and then...well, needless to say, my cube now has two white sides, like many of the other reviewers' here. So, I reiterate what they have said: Please, can the people at Oddzon make the Cubes like they were in the good old days, when they were as indestructible as a can of Spam? |
tips for the stickers
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| Review Date: October 22, 2000 |
| Reviewer: Audra Mehan, Tucson, AZ United States |
| I love my rubiks cube. I'm a first year college student, and I constantly find myself pulling out my cube in class to help me get through the boring lectures. It keeps my hands busy, and my mind in check. It's also a great conversation starter! People are so impressed when they see a solved cube. I see several people have had problems with the stickers, but let me suggest clear nail polish. My stickers started to come off after the first week, but I just peeled the laminate off and painted over them with clear nail polish. Not only does it protect the stickers, but now my cube is "shinier and prettier" than when I first bought it. Let me add that my younger sisters will be recieving their first cubes for Christmas this year. That and a few lessons with The Master. |
The genuine article
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| Review Date: April 28, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Ogen Perry, Los Altos Hills, CA USA |
| My daughter found online instructions for solving the cube and used them on a small key chain cube she had. Unfortunately it was not made for extended use and broke. After researching a few alternatives, I bought two of these cubes for my two children. They have travelled with them and used them extensively and these seem indestructible. Another reviewer mentions that his cube's color stickers peeled off. I am almost certain that he is reviewing another make. There is another brand sold on this site and the reviews for that one are universally negative. However this particular unit is solidly built, turns smoothly and is great fun. If you are looking for a cube, this is the one to buy. |
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