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)
BalazsToth's user avatar
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 ...
Matthew Jensen's user avatar
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 ...
zovits's user avatar
  • 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.
rienafairefr's user avatar
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. ...
Rin Rio-Oki's user avatar
  • 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 ...
Matthew's user avatar
  • 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 ...
Roger Hill's user avatar
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 (...
jncraton's user avatar
  • 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 ...
Ender's user avatar
  • 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 ...
Quorneng's user avatar
  • 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 ...
Roger Hill's user avatar
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 ...
Dan1138's user avatar
  • 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 ...
Alex's user avatar
  • 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)") ...
Chris H's user avatar
  • 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) ...
zovits's user avatar
  • 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.
RSchulz's user avatar
  • 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 ...
zovits's user avatar
  • 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 ...
Syberion's user avatar
  • 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 "...
jdelange's user avatar
  • 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...
Michael Verschaeve's user avatar
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 ...
Zhaph - Ben Duguid's user avatar
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.
Dan1138's user avatar
  • 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 ...
Roger Hill's user avatar
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.
Pubby's user avatar
  • 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.
bryantp26's user avatar
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 ...
Peter Green's user avatar
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 ...
Brian Baxter's user avatar
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 ...
Metalbeard's user avatar
  • 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 ...
Walter Lee's user avatar

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