How to Lube QiYi Clock

Lubrication is the single most effective modification for any puzzle, transforming a sandy, loud mechanism into a controllable, silent, and high-performance tool. This guide provides an exhaustive analysis of lubricating the QiYi Clock—a unique puzzle requiring specialized care—followed by a complete encyclopedic reference for every standard cubic puzzle from 2x2 up to 9x9.

Section 1: Deep Dive – How to Lube QiYi Clock

The QiYi Magnetic Clock is widely considered the best clock on the market, but out of the box, it can feel dry or scratchy. Unlike cubic puzzles, the Clock relies on gears and pins, meaning standard "drop and scramble" lubrication methods will fail. You must disassemble it.

1.1 Required Materials

1.2 The Disassembly Process

1. 1.

   Remove Screws: Locate the four screws on the face of the clock. Unscrew them completely.
2. 2.

   Store Nuts: As you pull the screws out, the small metal nuts on the back face will fall loose. Catch them and store them in a magnetic dish.
3. 3.

   Lift the Face: Gently pry the clear plastic casing off. You will now see the four large corner gears and the central cross gears.

1.3 Lubrication Strategy

The goal is to lubricate the friction points (rings) without gumming up the teeth.

• •

  Step 1: The Rings (Critical) * Lift a gear wheel slightly. Apply a small bead of Heavy Lube (Weight 5) on the plastic ring underneath* the gear. * Do NOT lube the gear teeth (the jagged edges). Lubing teeth creates a mess and adds unnecessary drag. * Repeat this for all 4 corner gears and the center gear system.
• •

  Step 2: The Pins * The four pins are the most sensitive part. * Clean them thoroughly. Most "stuck" pins are caused by dirt, not lack of lube. * If they are scratching, apply a microscopic amount of Light Lube (Silk/10k) to the shaft of the pin. Pro Tip:* Many pros prefer running pins completely dry to ensure they drop instantly when pushed.

1.4 Reassembly

1. 1.

   Align to 12 O'Clock: Before putting the case back, rotate all internal gears so the hands point to 12.
2. 2.

   Seat the Case: Place the clear cover back on.
3. 3.

   Insert Nuts \& Screws: Drop the nuts into the back slots and screw them in from the front.
4. 4.

   Tensioning: Tighten until you feel resistance, then back off 1/4 turn. Over-tightening will crack the plastic.

Section 2: Universal Lubrication Principles

Before touching a 2x2 or 9x9, understand the physics of puzzle lube.

• •

  Viscosity (cSt): Measured in centistokes. * Low Viscosity (Thin): Watery (e.g., DNM-37, Martian). Increases speed. Use on pieces. * High Viscosity (Thick): Gel-like (e.g., Traxxas 50k, Nebula). Increases control/smoothness. Use on cores/tracks.
• •

  Base Type: * Silicone: Long-lasting, safe for plastic. (Most common). Water-Based: Extremely fast, evaporates quickly. (DNM-37). Never use on metal screws (rust risk).*

Section 3: The Exhaustive NxN Guide (2x2 – 9x9)

3.1 2x2 Cube

• •

  Characteristics: Low surface area, prone to being "too fast" or uncontrollable.
• •

  Strategy: * Tracks: Medium Silicone (Weight 3 or Silk). Apply to the internal sliding track of a corner. * Pieces: One drop of Fast Lube (Lunar/DNM-37).
• •

  Avoid: Heavy core lube is usually unnecessary as 2x2s rarely have spring noise due to low tension.

3.2 3x3 Cube (The Standard)

• •

  Strategy: The "Balanced" Approach. * Core: Weight 5 on the spring/screw (removes metallic ping). * Tracks: Angstrom Dignitas or Weight 3 on the foot of the corner piece. * Pieces: 2 drops of DNM-37 or Mystic on the honeycomb surface.
• •

  Goal: A plush, soft feel that snaps quickly into place.

3.3 Big Cubes: 4x4, 5x5, 6x6, 7x7

Large cubes suffer from high friction in the inner layers. Using thick lube here is a fatal error that will make the cube exhausting to turn.

3.4 Giant Cubes: 8x8 \& 9x9

These puzzles are engineering marvels but are extremely sensitive to dust and friction.

• •

  The "Break-In" Rule: Do not lube a brand new 9x9 immediately. Do 20-50 solves first. The plastic molding often has microscopic burrs; lubing over these creates a "muddy" paste.
• •

  Lubrication Process:

1. 1.

   Clean: Wipe the exterior thoroughly.
2. 2.

   Inner Layers: Apply a very runny silicone (100-200 cSt) deep into the mechanism. Do not use gummy lubes like Nebula or Angstrom Gravitas internally; the cube will become unusable.
3. 3.

   Outer Layers: Standard 3x3 setup for grip.

• •

  Maintenance: 8x8s and 9x9s accumulate dust rapidly. If the turning becomes crunchy, you must disassemble and clean it—a process that can take 2+ hours.

Section 4: Troubleshooting \& Maintenance Table

Summary of Recommended Products by Puzzle

1. 1.

   QiYi Clock: Traxxas 50k (Gears), Dry/Clean (Pins).
2. 2.

   2x2 - 3x3: Angstrom Setup (Gravitas/Dignitas) + DNM-37.
3. 3.

   4x4 - 7x7: Silk (Outer) + Martian/Lunar (Inner).
4. 4.

   8x8 - 9x9: Pure thin Silicone (Weight 1) or very light oil.