Lee Mirror 8x8

Lee Mirror 8x8

Lee Mirror 8x8 takes the idea of the classic mirror cube and applies it to an 8x8. All sides are the same colour, and every layer has a different thickness. When solved, the puzzle is a cube. Once scrambled, it turns into a shape full of protruding and recessed pieces. Colour gives you no clues here, so you recognise the pieces by their shape alone. The puzzle is made by Lee and distributed by Calvin's Puzzle. This brand's mirror cubes are assembled by hand.

How the 8x8 mirror is made

Lee mirror cubes are built from an existing cube. 3D-printed caps are glued onto the pieces of a standard puzzle. They shift the centre of the shape and create the effect of layers with different thicknesses. This method has some consequences. With a hand-assembled puzzle, you should expect small differences in finish, and the caps make it larger and heavier than the base cube. According to the distributor, this model has no magnets.

What to expect when solving

The method is the same as for a regular 8x8: centres, edges and then the 3x3 stage. The challenge is that you have to identify every piece by its height and shape. An 8x8 has many similar-looking pieces, and the thickness differences between neighbouring layers are small, so reading the state of the cube alone takes a lot of time. On top of that come the parities typical of even-layered cubes. The distributor rates the difficulty at the highest level, 5, on its scale.

This is not a speedcubing puzzle, and it makes no sense to judge it by TPS or corner cutting. Turning a large, heavy shape mod is slower and requires more care than on a regular 8x8.

Who is it for?

For people who solve big cubes comfortably, already know smaller mirror cubes such as the 3x3 or 4x4, and are looking for a much harder challenge. A solved Lee Mirror 8x8 also looks great in a collection. If this is your first mirror cube, the Mirror 3x3 is a better choice. If you have never solved an even-layered cube, we recommend starting with a standard 4x4 or 5x5.

Specifications

• Type: shape mod, 8x8 mirror cube
• Manufacturer: Lee (distributed by Calvin's Puzzle)
• Construction: handmade, 3D-printed caps on an 8x8 cube base
• Magnets: none
• Colour scheme: Black/silver