Preparation
Currently I use a knockoff Chinese Megaminx simply because Meffert's is
sold out and may possibly remain sold out until 2008. Also, the Chinese
minx is a mere $6 while the Meffert's one is a whopping $28. However,
you get what you pay for. Chinese minxes are incredibly hard to work
with when you first get one. Mine was both extremely tight and very
loose; there was alot of friction between pieces, but with it very weak
springs a lockup could cause pieces to go flying everywhere at any
moment. Fortunately, this situation can be improved a bit.
The Chinese Megaminx "features" a sort of click-into-place technology,
which basically consists of lots of bumps and indentions on the inside
of the pieces. I don't like this, so I recommend taking your minx apart
and sanding down all the bumps. There are three bumps on each corner
piece, making a total of 60 bumps, but they sand off quite easily.
Also, almost with any other twisty puzzle, you should lubricate it. I
used CRC Silicone spray just like I use for my cubes and it works
great. To disassemble a Chinese Megaminx, it's actually better to take
out a corner first because of
how loose the springs are and how thin the edges are. My springs are so
loose that I can pull a corner out slighty and rotate it in place
without actually taking it out of the puzzle!
Clean off the pieces (especially if you sanded them) and then lubricate
the insides of the edges and corners and also make sure to lubricate
the core. Pull on the center pieces slightly so that you can spray down
inside of each axis. And of course remember that silicone makes it
almost immovably sticky at first and breaks in after a solve or so.
Sanding and lubricating made my knockoff Megaminx about 200% better.
However, it's still pretty bad and will pop easily if I'm not careful
as I'm twisting. It could definitely benefit from some stiffer springs
and smoother edges, but I haven't done that yet.
Introduction - Preparation - First Four Faces