03SVTCobra wrote:maztec wrote:Tape, all the cool kids are using it for mapping.
How do you use tape for mapping?
Holy Ghost-Thread Batman!
Weelllll, you use tape in two ways.
First, the safe way:
Put a piece of tape over the END of the CORE in the direction it pulls out (to the right). Mark it off as you see fit with numbers. I usually put the shaft in and rotate it backward until it locks in position, then the nearest corner on the nut to the exit-dot (the zero point / label line) becomes 0, and I add +1 for each point around it clockwise. That gives me points from 0-6 iirc.
Put a second piece of tape AROUND the SHAFT near the CORE - usually on the drop ledge. Mark it off to MATCH with the locations on the CORE that you marked. Use the same numbering system.
Then, decide which of those is your point of reference. Using a piece of paper, use that point of reference combined with the other to count off ticks, and draw between them. You can reasonably accurately eyeball 1/2 turn, 1/4 turn, nudge over/under, and right in line for the nuts. I usually use the zero dot as my frame of reference and the numbering on the core as my counter. I use the shaft as a secondary reference and as a useful guide if there is anything that comes up where I would need to follow the directions on the shaft, not the core. It also lets you tape your map onto the shaft if you want and keep track of what you've done that way.
Second, the dangerous way: -- if this method is not legitimate, I welcome RevoMate or Master to censor it.
This method is usually talked about semi-surreptitiously. I have never seen it confirmed by ReVoMaster as to whether this is a legitimate method for mapping or not. However, it produces far and away the most accurate maps for the maze. If you are seriously stuck, it will give away answers (sometimes). Also, you can directly transfer it to a piece of paper.
Warning: Using the method described below can PERMANENTLY DESTROY/DAMAGE/LOCKUP your maze. That risk is why I somewhat question whether it is considered legitimate or not. The tolerances on the Silver maze are much tighter than the previous mazes were, which increases the odds that it will lock up your maze unless you are super-careful.
Method - Take a super-thin piece of masking tape. Some masking tape is thicker than others, the thinner it is the better. Place it on the shaft parallel to the core. Do NOT wrap it all the way around, it will make things too thick and it will lock up your maze. You might have to cut the masking tape in half lengthwise to reduce the amount of friction it creates and the extra width it adds to the core. Apply the tape when the core is pulled out as far as you can get it. TEST IT by pushing the core in slowly over the tape. If it starts to feel at all sticky, pull it out and remove the tape.
NOTE: Some people use cello tape instead. You can do this, but make sure it can be marked on, otherwise what's the point? The shaft can and will wipe off the markings from friction. Or your hand ... or sweat .. or whatever. Cello tape can sometimes be applied all the way around the core, but again you run the risk of locking up your maze. Especially if an end or edge of the tape frays and sticks to the shaft.
Once the tape is in place, you can hold a pen or pencil at the dot on the shaft, and press it against the tape, and while turning/pulling/twisting you can directly mark the map onto the core. Then, add a second piece of tape parallel and touch the first piece (not overlapping), and remove the first piece tape, then place it on a piece of paper or whatever. Line up the pieces as you go around.
This method produces a highly accurate map, but at the risk of jamming up or destroying your maze. It does not work for all mazes, it does not work for all people, and it CAN DESTROY YOUR MAZE.
Disclosure: I did this method to solve my Blue and Green. I did not need it for my Bronze or Silver. Although, I did try it on the Silver while trying to figure things out and noted that it jammed up my maze, I had to carefully extract it and was lucky it did not permanently destroy the maze.
----
There are other ways to do your mapping also. But, those are the two ways that involve tape that I know of.