From cube-lovers-errors@curry.epilogue.com Sun Dec 1 00:58:31 1996 Return-Path: cube-lovers-errors@curry.epilogue.com Received: from curry.epilogue.com (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by curry.epilogue.com (8.6.12/8.6.12) with SMTP id AAA05105; Sun, 1 Dec 1996 00:58:30 -0500 Precedence: bulk Errors-To: cube-lovers-errors@curry.epilogue.com Date: Sat, 30 Nov 1996 12:44:03 -0500 (EST) From: Nicholas Bodley To: AirWong@aol.com cc: cube-lovers@ai.mit.edu Subject: Re: Dirty Cubes In-Reply-To: <961128223838_1985119134@emout20.mail.aol.com> Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Any self-respecting cube is made of plastic that >should< not be affected by isopropyl alcohol; but don't use it on an unknown plastic, especially if you don't want to lose that particular Cube. All except the center "jack" structure should be cleanable with (hand) dishwashing detergent; don't soak the pieces. Rubbing alcohol has other substances in its formulation that could attack plastic; better to use 91% or 99% grade from a drugstore; shop around for price. I have seen 91% isopropyl alcohol at maybe 8 times the price it should be. Figure maybe $3 US per pint tops. It ignites fairly easily, by the way! Do be careful. Cleaning will remove all the lubricant, so you'll probably want to restore it. So far, silicone spray (note that it's not spellled "silicon" spray; a chemist knows the difference) seems to be the best. If you have the Cube apart, consider silicone lubricating grease, also, but it should not contain other substances that would attack the plastic. (If applying it to a shiny surface removes the gloss when it's wiped off after sitting there for a short time, don't use it!). I have heard recommendations for silicone stopcock grease, which would be a scientific lab. item, as a joint grease for plastic recorders, but for those you want something that >won't< allow motion with light forces. As to keeping dust out: A lubricant that isn't sticky will help; possibly finely powdered Teflon, or the white powdered lock lubricant that used to be (and might still be) on the market. Otherwise, it's a matter of avoiding a dusty environment! In the Navy, we called it Preventive Maintenance, seems to me. (It was a while ago!) Routine disassembly for cleaning maybe once or twice a year seems reasonable. Fortunately, the "3" (and bigger ones) come apart gracefully. The Pocket Cube does not! (It also hates to be reassembled as well. Wonder whether it's assembled with special jigs and tools, or do the assemblers simply suffer?) On Thu, 28 Nov 1996 AirWong@aol.com wrote: }Hello All! } }How do you keep the original Rubik's cube (3X3X3) clean? If you've ever taken }apart the cube, you know what I'm talking about. The dust gets inside and }builds up over time. Is there any way to keep the dust out? } }Aaron Wong My best to all, |* Nicholas Bodley *|* Electronic Technician {*} Autodidact & Polymath |* Waltham, Mass. *|* ----------------------------------------------- |* nbodley@tiac.net *|* When the year 2000 begins, we'll celebrate |* Amateur musician *|* the 2000th anniversary of the year 1 B.C.E. --------------------------------------------------------------------------