We get asked all the time, "What is the best speed cube lubricant?" To answer this question, there really isn't one. Different lubricants have different purposes, from making a cube faster to reducing its noise. This blog post will answer some commonly asked questions about speed cube lubricant.
What is lubricant? Lubricant is a substance intended to reduce the friction between moving parts. It generally falls into three categories: water-based, silicone-based, and oil-based. Speed cube lubricants are usually of the first two. Lubricants are usually measured by their viscosity, which is a measure of how resistant a liquid is to flow - for example, honey has a much higher viscosity than water.
Is lubrication necessary? Although you can get away with not lubricating a cube, doing so can be extremely beneficial for a number of reasons. Lubricant adds a coating between moving parts, reducing the wear that the plastic of a cube experiences. This extends the cube's longevity and ensures it'll be in good condition for thousands of solves. In addition, lubricant can change the speed of a puzzle, dampen the turning sound, and change the turning feel of a cube.
What's the difference between speed cube lubricants and regular lubricants? Speed cube lubricants are specifically made for cube plastic and work much better than regular lubricants. Some regular lubricants, such as WD-40, can even damage the plastic of a cube so it's important to use speed cube lubricant.
Can I use something home-made or store-bought like olive oil? No. Lubricants that aren't specifically designed for plastic-to-plastic content or plastic-to-metal contact can have unexpected interactions with the plastic and damage the cube.
What speed cube lubricant is the best? It really depends on what you want to achieve with the cube. If you're looking to slow down the cube, something with a higher viscosity such as Cosmos, Nebula, or a higher-weighted silicone lube will do the job. Low-viscosity lubricants such as Stardust, Lunar, and Weight 1 can be used to significantly speed up a cube.
In addition, lubricants can be used to change the sound of a cube. For example, MoYu cubes typically feel papery and sandy out of the box. Adding a layer of lubricant in between the layers can make the cube feel significantly better. Different lubricants react with different cubes in different ways, but a neutral lube such as Martian or Galaxy generally works well to improve a cube's sound and turning feel.
You can refer to this chart for a comparison between our Cosmic lubricants for an idea of how each lube will affect a puzzle:
Notice that some lubes have a scent! While a scent isn't exactly performance-enhancing, it's certainly a nice addition to some speed cube lubricants.
How do I apply speed cube lubricant?
Generally, lubricants come in two types of containers: a dropper type, which is used for all Cosmic lubricants, as well as a syringe type, which is used for weighted silicone lube.
To apply lubricant to a puzzle, pull apart the layers of the cube and apply some lube to the inside. Try to get some lubricant on the sides of the pieces as well as the tracks and stalks.
It's recommended to start with only a few drops of lubricant, and add more as needed. It's much easier to add lube than it is to remove lube.
After applying the lubricant, do some turns to break it in and spread it around the puzzle. It's helpful to have a paper towel in case any lubricant gets on the outside of the cube.
To lube the core of a cube, take off a center cap, unscrew the screw, and apply some lubricant as shown below:
Tighten the screw back, replace the center cap, and repeat for the other 5 sides.
Keep in mind that lubricating the core is only possible for cubes with a screw mechanism. For cubes such as the Tornado v3 which have complex customizable cores, trying to lubricate the core might damage the puzzle.
Which lube should I buy? Ultimately, lubricant is a very subjective thing that depends on your preferences. If you're not sure what you like in a lubricant, we recommend buying the Cosmic Lube Sampler, which has a variety of both fast and slow lubes that affect turning feel in different ways. If you want even more, we also have the Ultimate Lube Bundle, which contains 7 of our most popular cosmic lubes.
Cosmic Lube Sampler
$ 14.99
Having a hard time deciding? Well why not try all of them and save 25% off? Our Cosmic lubes have been taking the cubing community by a storm and are receiving amazing reviews! Each lubricant is engineered to give your… >> SHOP PRODUCT <<
Ultimate Lube Bundle
$ 30.99
Mix and match our premium speed lube lubricants to create a completely custom turning feel! Our easy to apply lubricants each offer its own unique properties so whether you are looking to experiment or simply get a great deal, our… >> SHOP PRODUCT <<
Balance Lube Bundle
$ 8.99
Comet and Cosmos are perfect compliments to each other and will restore balance to your speed cube. Both lubricants are identical in terms of controllability, heaviness, and gumminess except Comet is fast and Cosmos is controllable. Mix and match until… >> SHOP PRODUCT <<
Lightspeed Lube Bundle
$ 8.99
If you are looking to go fast, the Lightspeed Lube Bundle is perfect for you! Both Stardust and Lunar complement each other beautifully and make up for what the other lacks. Stardust's light-weight speed paired with Lunar's soft silicone formulation… >> SHOP PRODUCT <<
