I was recently solving my Meffert's 4x4x4 cube and the white-green-red corner broke from the stalk. I contacted Meffert's about this a few weeks ago and still have heard no response...

Does anyone have any tips or suggestions?

This is a common problem, and it has happened to me.
Personally, I would suggest supergluing it. It will not be as good, but it will work. [KO reference removed]

-Doug

Several years ago I had a Rubik's brand 4x4x4 corner break the exact same way. I used an ABS-bonding epoxy to glue the corner back together. The glued corner is probably stronger that the other 7 corners now. I still have that 4x4x4 and it still works great.

I seem to remember someone melting a pin through the two pieces and super gluing. Not sure who is was though. Good luck

Yeah I remember that too, it was a good idea. I think they glued the pieces together first and then they inserted a hot pin through the glued shaft afterwards. I think you'd do best to pre-heat the piece to 160F or so first so that the hot pin doesn't lose too much heat to the surrounding plastic as you try to insert it.

I believe that was MeMyselfAndPi.

I tried repairing one of these years ago. Pins, glues etc, nothing worked.

Would it be possible to drill a small hole through both pieces and use an equally small screw to fix them together?

I think this might have been me.
I certainly did this, but I did not 'melt' a pin through. I glued the pieces together with superglue then drilled a fine hole though the base and shaft, just large enough for a 'shortened' pin, and superglued the pin in the hole. It has never failed, and it has had plently use.

A similar thing was also carried out on a broken center piece of a 4x4x4. This was repaired in the same way, but was reinforced by carefully forming recesses in two sides of the shaft. Then fine holes drilled and adapted staples were glued in the recesses with the bent sections being inserted into the holes. This was strong.

Hope this helps.

I would be careful using hot pins to force their way in. If anything goes astray and things get misaligned, this could lead to all sorts of problems.

Anthony

I once repaired a center piece broken foot by drilling a small hole and filling it with a bit of paperclip but never felt it would hold up to the stress of a solve.

I might recommend a tiny screw, which may hold with its threads stronger than a smooth pin and glue. Here is a thread where I used that technique to repair a broken Dino foot.

But you would need to countersink the screw head so it didn't catch on the core. Delicate work, but possible.

Dave

I just repaired a LanLan444 centre foot by drilling a 1mm hole and inserting a `cut to fit` nail with a 1mm diameter. I used super-glue to bind it. I have put about 9 or 10 solves through it and it seems fine. At first I tried just super-glue but it only lasted for a few solves.

EDIT: I feel obliged to say that the reason it broke was not design or manufacture.. Someone (not me ) got over-enthusiastic with it and threw it up into the air and neglected to catch it !!

http://www.amazon.com/Stainless-Steel-S ... 762&sr=1-4

how about a set screw? Just an idea.

I never repaired any pieces with more than superglue. That worked on my 5x5x5 Rubik's cube for 2 months before it exploded again. I reglued using actual plastic glue, that "melts" the surfaces together. DON'T use any of that. It doesn't work for such small pieces. Instead you loose the exact surface of the crack. Also, as you press the parts together, they move into each other. The result is a piece with a slight different size. Nothing good for mechanical parts that are supposed to perform like those in a twisty puzzle.

Sounds like a good idea. I've never tried it. I imagine the head of the screw gives some extra strength (a wider hold) but the bother of a countersink may not be worth it.
It isn't actually that hard, if you use a flat head (conical underside) screw: A standard conical drill bit can give you the basic shape you want, you just have to be really careful not to let it bite too deep. I did this for my half heigh Neon prototype but it was too much work.

Dave

How about joint by small flat-head screw?
If you have a dremel tool or a pinvise (sorry, I don't know the common name...), after you set the position by instant glue, you bore both pieces together, and screw up them.

The knack is, you bore a little similar to mortar shape hole on the inner leg, fitting the flat-head.

I recommend to use a glasses' screw.

Of course, if you don't mind to send your broken piece to Japan, I'll repair it. X-)

if you go on cube4you.com you can order the piece there, thats what i did when mine broke the same way