PiLube 

PiLube Cube Lubes

PiLube is a series of cube lubes from PicubeShop, a Chinese shop known for its own modded speedcubes. The color of each lube tells you what it is for. Some lubes make the cube faster and smooth out the turning. Others add resistance, so the cube is more stable and easier to control. The series includes silicone lubes, one water-based lube and the thick Cheese. Each product contains 10 ml.

Lubes for speed and smoothness

• PiLube White: a water-based lube. It quickly improves smoothness and adds a bit of speed, but like most water-based lubes it lasts less long than silicone. The manufacturer recommends combining it with a silicone lube and advises against applying it to the hardware, meaning the springs and screws.
• PiLube Red: a silicone lube focused on smoothness. According to the manufacturer, it works best together with other lubes.
• PiLube Purple: a medium-viscosity lube. It speeds up the cube, smooths out the turning and lasts a long time.

Lubes for stability and control

• PiLube Yellow: a silicone lube that keeps your cube turning smoothly and stably for a long time. Compared with Red, it focuses more on stability than on smoothness.
• PiLube Blue 3k, 5k and 10k: a silicone lube that adds resistance, slightly slows the cube down and improves its stability. The number in the name indicates viscosity. The higher it is, the more resistance, so 3k is the gentlest and 10k the strongest. Blue can also be applied to the hardware.
• PiLube Cheese: a thick lube with a grease-like consistency that makes the turning feel more "viscous". It comes in Slightly Viscous and Highly Viscous versions. Unlike Blue, its effect fades only slightly as the cube breaks in, so the cube does not become noticeably faster over time.

The series also includes PiLube Black, a silicone lube for any kind of puzzle, and PiLube Green.

How to choose the right PiLube for your cube?

Start with what bothers you about your current cube. If it feels dry, scratchy or turns too heavily, White, Red or Purple will help. If it is too fast, if you easily turn a layer too far (overshooting) or if it is hard to control at higher TPS, go for Yellow, Blue or Cheese. In that case, start with a lighter version, i.e. Blue 3k or Cheese Slightly Viscous. It is easier to add more thick lube than to remove it from a cube.

PiLube lubes work best in combination. A common approach is to apply silicone to the cube pieces and add a drop of White before a session when you want the cube to be faster. To start with, one lube is enough, chosen depending on whether you want your cube to be faster or more controlled.