12
votes
Accepted
What Lego part(s) would hurt the most to step on?
I think this one would be in the top 5:
Tile, Modified 2 x 2 with Pin (part 2460)
- 999
9
votes
Why do older bricks have greater clutch power?
This is a partial answer (or theory).
The moulds for most of the basic bricks have been changed over the years to use less plastic while (hopefully) retaining clutch.
2 x N bricks were given ...
- 2,679
9
votes
Accepted
What material are older soft (plant) parts made of?
According to Brickset, these parts have always been made of polyethylene, the only difference is that some of the material is plant-based since the Plants from Plants initiative.
Can you tell the ...
- 15.7k
9
votes
What Lego part(s) would hurt the most to step on?
I nominate this little bugger:
Got it in a bulk lot, and oh boy is it painful to walk on. it rests flat on the ground thanks to the wings, and the crest is a nice touch for delicate underfoot.
- 742
7
votes
What Lego part(s) would hurt the most to step on?
This assembly of pieces will not tickle, so let's dive in:
First, the teeth are placed in reverse of each other so the foot and
all that weight is forced to rock on the two little pointed tips.
...
- 8,923
7
votes
What Lego part(s) would hurt the most to step on?
The 1x1 brick is both small enough to mean that you get edges no matter which way up it is, and has all the sharp edges and corners of the 2x2 brick, just packed into a smaller, more evil form.
That ...
- 426
7
votes
Accepted
Why are these hinged plates slightly different colors?
Quorneng's answer is spot on, even bricks that were from the same set might have been made from differing batches of a particular color and slight variances will produce differing colors. Purple is ...
- 761
7
votes
BPA in older LEGO
Most LEGO and DUPLO parts are made from ABS plastic. ABS does not contain BPA. Here's a statement from LEGO about the safety of ABS:
The majority of LEGO elements are made from ABS plastic (...
- 39.8k
6
votes
Accepted
Why are these bricks slightly shorter than normal?
For starters, having that as a production error is completely impossible, given the industrial precision of our beloved bricks. The LEGO group has been incredibly careful for decades about the ...
- 230
5
votes
Why are these hinged plates slightly different colors?
The colour of virtually all plastics, like paint, is an 'added' pigment so it is difficult to maintain exactly the same colour.
As others have pointed out some pigments are more susceptible to the ...
- 221
5
votes
Why do LEGO bricks yellow at different rates?
There are several reasons for this:
There isn't just one formula for the ABS plastic that is used in
LEGO. There are actually quite a few. Depending on the color,
translucency, and function, the mix ...
- 761
4
votes
Is LEGO element damaged at the molecular level when rubbed with rubbing alcohol?
The LEGO Group has been extremely careful about the formulation of all of the plastic parts they manufacture.
I do not believe they ever used lead in any of their parts. Decades ago they removed ...
- 1,093
3
votes
Why do older bricks have greater clutch power?
I may found a hint onto what's going on with old elements made of ABS on sister website - Chemistry.SE. That question discuss other problem with ABS plastic - brittleness, however answer provide some ...
- 22.4k
3
votes
What Lego part(s) would hurt the most to step on?
Several roof tiles and similar triangular parts must be strong contenders. Here's a selection I could quickly lay my hands on:
The one on the right (13548 "Wedge 2 x 2 (Slope 45 Corner)") ...
- 637
3
votes
Accepted
LEGO elements working with capacitive touchscreens?
Any metallic or metal coated parts (spoon, aluminium foil, pen) should be usable with a contemporary touchscreen, although proper touch recognition still requires a human (or an equivalent capacitor) ...
- 15.7k
3
votes
LEGO elements working with capacitive touchscreens?
BrickLink only has that one match for conductive, so I'm guessing that's it.
- 7,542
3
votes
12V LEGO train tracks splinter
While I can't speak of the handling of these parts, the possibility of receiving official replacement parts from TLG is surely zero. That leaves us only the second-hand market, which fortunately ...
- 15.7k
3
votes
Accepted
I am looking for robot constructor general plastic parts
The first picture is from Elector,
the second is kai robot.
They are both robotic kits from Iran, you can order kits from their site.
If you are looking for a Lego solution,
the Lego Eduction ...
- 12.6k
2
votes
How to differentiate Cellulose acetate vs ABS LEGO bricks?
To sort ABS bricks from CA bricks can sometimes be difficult. What helps is they SOUND differently. An ABS brick emits a higher pitched sound when dropped than a CA brick which sounds more like a "...
- 121
2
votes
Accepted
Why do LEGO parts break?
In my experience, this happens when the lego has been washed with a too strong detergent or too high temperature...
2
votes
Lubricating train axles - which oil to use?
Generally for this sort of thing the recommendation is a "light machine oil" (the wording from the Hornby Maintenance sheets). These are "non-penetrating" and so won't damage the ...
- 19.5k
2
votes
LEGO sticky after painting?
I suspect that you used an acrylic paint with a solvent that softens ABS plastic.
Your bricks may take quite some time to harden.
It's possible they never will.
- 1,093
1
vote
Lubricating train axles - which oil to use?
Petroleum based lubricants you need to be careful with, since they can act as solvents. Zhaph mentioned non-penetrating machine oil, this sounds like a safe bet. If you are in doubt, grab a gnawed ...
- 761
1
vote
LEGO sticky after painting?
Sticky paint is usually caused by painting over a coat that wasn't fully dry. If you did not wait several hours after applying primer, that would be the cause.
- 5,216
1
vote
What material is the LEGO laptop made of?
It could be polyethylene or ABS. My guess is polyethylene because it is more flexible.
- 83
1
vote
What Lego part(s) would hurt the most to step on?
We've all heard (and probably experienced) the long-running joke that stepping on a Lego is the absolute worst.
Those people have clearly never stepped barefoot on a UK 13A plug sitting on the floor ...
- 673
1
vote
Accepted
Do clear transparent pieces suffer from a yellow tinge over time?
I have found that the clear pieces depend on the piece. Some of the thinner ones do yellow, but I have 2x4 Clear bricks that are not yellowed. I think it depends on the thickness of the ABS that was ...
- 26
1
vote
What is the difference between the plastic used in mainstream minifigs and the plastic used to make the popular collectable series of minifigs?
On thebrickblogger.com (February 9, 2017) there was a call to report issues with minifigures. Reading the answers I get the impression that issues with clutch-power, cracks and other problems are ...
- 2,615
1
vote
Strongest LEGO structuce - (1) Pillars
A 3-D Box frame using Technic bricks or beams has the highest potential for rigidity and strength. The 3-D box frame strength comes from its use of distributing any external force across multiple ...
- 361
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible