Hello!

I have a starminx II but it turns terribly. Does anyone have a MF8 black starminx II that turns well and would they be willing to sell?

Thanks!

Chris

Do you know what's wrong?

Have you tried to take it apart and lube it?

I got the Starminx I in recently and oh man, that thing wouldn't turn even if I gave it crutches, so tight and rigid.

Took the caps off so I could get to the screws and loosened them and removed those centerpieces. Then lubed vigorously until things finally started to come loose and then wiped the excess back out.

It's a very stiff puzzle out of the box, in my experience. I doubt the II is different. I don't know if the caps and all are the same (as in: has the screw underneath), because loosening those will definitely help.

First 50 dollar offer I will take. As long as the puzzle is in great shape.

Thanks!

If it helps you any, I think it's not about yours specificly. They all turn badly. Mine was so bad I would oftentimes jam a sharp triangular piece under the nail of my thumb. As it happened the third time one day I almost started crying.
The first several times I solved it, I had to start over because during an algorithm that one stupid face would so totally not turn at all, no matter how much I payed attention to allignment and trying to turn both direction, that I lost sight at where I was. It took even minutes just to get one face to turn.

I wore this thing in like craaazy. And disassembled and reassembled it two times.

Then one day I got a 22 minute solve. It takes time.

But I see how you are willing to pay more for one that's worn in already. Btw, mine still gets stuck alot. It's just not that bad anymore.

Maybe you can ask MaeLSTRoM for his, he beat me with a 20 minute solve. So no matter how well he is at using few moves, that thing must be kind of decent too.

Btw, it is all in this thread. Just for reference
http://twistypuzzles.com/forum/viewtopi ... =8&t=22746

Didn't some people report better turning after sanding the pointy tips down a little?

It's also possible that their upcoming curvy-cut Starminx (with the internal Megaminx corners exposed) will turn better. (Of course, nobody really knows yet...) It would be a harder solve, but you could unsticker the corners to get a "regular" Starminx.

Good luck finding a black starminx 2: I've been looking for a while. I have a purple one that actually turns quite nicely without any tinkering.

This might sound silly, I know shapeways products are more porous but is there a way to dye mass produced puzzles? Or is that simply not an option?

There was talk about StarMinx II a month or two back, and I mentioned I had a few black ones left on Smarter Puzzles.

They were all claimed within days and I had to turn people away.

Also I miscounted so I have none left - I was going to keep one for myself!

I still have some purple ones left though.

Yes however I think the optimal conditions still haven't been determined.

http://twistypuzzles.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=22577&start=0

I've done some additional testing and you want to mix the acetone in with the water first or very slowly mix the acetone in while the pieces are fully submerged so that the ABS plastic doesn't come in contact with a very high concentration of acetone. If you pour the acetone into the water and hit a piece with a high concentration of acetone you can instantly damage it. As long as you keep the maximum concentration a piece contacts to around 30% or less it will stay nice.

I've dyed black a multi-colour Dioctipoid and a blue 1x2x5 successfully.

Just a warning: Don't pour the acetone into water which you have already heated, because, due to its very low boiling point, the acetone will likely explode from the pan and spread black Rit dye all over you and the kitchen, causing your wife to become very angry and threaten to stuff all your puzzles right up ... or so I'd imagine

I did end up finding a black starminx II. Thanks for the help everyone!

If anyone has an original ghost cube let me know, I have been searching for one and figure this is the only place I may find one.

Thanks

Chris

Ok, so I received the starminx II (black) and it had two broken pieces from the shipping. From this, I am STILL looking for a black starminx II. Please let me know if one is available for purchase. Although a new starminx II is expected April ish, I would still like this version

Thanks!

Chris

Hey Chris,

Is the new version a remake, or are you talking about the new one that's basically the same but with corners?

Also I PMd you, maybe I can help you fix your puzzle