Month: May 2015

Keeping LEGO set boxes

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[From the questions: Is it worth keeping your LEGO boxes? How do I store my boxes?]

Whether or not to keep your LEGO boxes is often a hotly contested debate within the LEGO fan community.

On one side, are those who are adamant that you should keep them “just in case” you wish to sell your LEGO Bricks and sets in the future. On the other hand, are those who recommend disposing (recycling/reusing) of the boxes.

The decision is really yours to make but here are some thoughts from both sides of the argument.

Reasons to keep your LEGO set boxes

  • I might want to sell my LEGO sets in the future and they will be worth more if I can sell them with the boxes
  • I really like the artwork on the boxes
  • My parents threw away all of the boxes for my toys and I have always regretted this
  • I use the boxes to store my LEGO sets
  • I use the boxes to store things other than LEGO products
  • There are sometimes alternate model suggestions on the boxes that are not in the instructions
  • They look great displayed behind the built sets

Reasons to throw away/reuse your LEGO set boxes

  • They take up a lot of room (even if flat-packed)
  • Everyone else is keeping them so they won’t be worth as much
  • They are a fire hazard
  • They can attract rodents/insects (especially if stored in a shed or garage)
  • I can use the cardboard to create boxes for the items I sell online
  • I can use the cardboard to create boxes for which to transport MOCs

If you do choose to keep the boxes, it may be easier to flat pack them so they take up less room. Store them in a dry area off the ground as they quickly become soggy and moldy if they do get wet.

Also, it is worth noting that you may not want to bother keeping the boxes if the LEGO sets have been purchased for children. In the event that you do wish to sell the sets, there may be missing pieces, the parts may be worn or broken and the boxes may have suffered damage whilst being stored (experiences may vary).

Buying LEGO bricks

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[From the questions: Where can I buy Lego bricks in bulk? Where can I buy individual pieces? Where can I buy LEGO Bricks online?]

There are many different places from where you can buy individual or bulk lots of LEGO bricks.

Garage/yard sales, swap meets, flea markets, trash and treasure markets and school fetes can be good sources of assorted bulk used LEGO bricks. However, finding any LEGO bricks can be random and there is no guarantee that will be any available.

Online classifieds like Craigs list and Gumtree often feature LEGO sets and bulk lots of bricks and are worth checking on a regular basis. Note, however, if you are checking the listings, there are probably many others doing the same and you should not delay in making contact with a seller if you are interested in their goods. The competition for purchasing LEGO sets and bricks via this method can be quite fierce.

These days, there is a wealth of Buy/Swap/Trade/Sell groups/pages on Facebook. Some are specialist LEGO groups and others are for general household goods and may feature LEGO products on occasion. It’s worth doing a Facebook search to see if there are any specific groups for your location. There are often regional groups for countries, states, localities and cities – these are great if you wish to pick up in person or save some money on postage. As with the online classifieds, it is worth stating your interest in an item straightaway, as they can be very competitive. Pricing may vary and you may pick up a bargain one day and then pay top price the next. Most of these groups have an established set of online etiquette and it is recommended that you read the pinned post if there is one available.

Bulk LEGO parts and sets can also be found on eBay. As with Facebook groups, prices may vary greatly and it is not unusual to pay top price for a rare set. On the other hand, there are always stories of people “grabbing a bargain” on eBay so it is possible. Be careful of sellers that appear to be selling a large number of the same LEGO set for a good price. These are usually scams where people hand over the money for a “bargain” but never receive the goods.

One of the more popular ways to purchase individual LEGO bricks and sets is via either Bricklink or BrickOwl. Both are online marketplaces that specialize in the selling of LEGO products. Bricklink has been around for a long time and is well established within the LEGO Fan community. BrickOwl is newer but is gaining popularity due to its user friendly interface. Both sites are made up of individual stores selling just about everything and anything to do with LEGO products. Many people prefer to use Bricklink as a reference point when determining the price of a LEGO product. The site maintains details of sales over the last 6 months for both new and used product.

If you are lucky, you may have a LEGO Brand Store in your local region. These stores are fun to visit and may be the only time that you will see the majority of a current range of LEGO sets in the one place. They also sell LEGO branded products like key chains, household items, books and similar products. Individual bricks may be selected via the Pick a Brick wall which is often at the back of the store.

LEGO also operates its own online store, which features current sets. individual pieces and LEGO themed products. The store is known as “Shop at Home” or “S@H” within the LEGO fan community. Sometimes, this may be the only way to purchase a larger set or specialized item if you do not have a Lego Brand Store in your region. You can also purchase individual bricks from their online version of the Pick a Brick wall. It is recommended to check here before purchasing from Bricklink as the prices can be quite competitive.

If you are specifically after bulk bricks at a good price, you might like to consider joining a local RLUG (Registered LEGO User Group). These are groups of enthusiasts located all around the world who have registered their group with LEGO and can therefore participate in a number of programs operated via the CEE Team at LEGO. One of the more popular programs is LUGBULK where LUGs are able to order and purchase LEGO bricks in bulk for specific building purposes. There are restrictions as to who may participate, what can be purchased and what you can do with the bricks. Contact your local RLUG for further information.

Washing LEGO bricks

plasticbrick Washing ,

[From the question: How do I wash LEGO Bricks?]

There sometimes comes a time when you need to wash a pile of LEGO bricks. It might be because they are dirty from regular use or, maybe, you have purchased a pile of pre-loved bricks. Either way, there are many different ways to wash LEGO bricks. Here are some of the suggestions:

We don’t recommend washing items with stickers, electronic parts or paper in this fashion. Make sure they are removed first and are cleaned with a damp cloth. Do not immerse them in water.

1.Washing machine

This is perhaps one of the easier ways to wash LEGO Bricks. Place the bricks in a delicates/lingerie bag or a pillow case and place in the washing machine as you would with regular washing.

Tips for using this method:

  • Use a cold or warm wash
  • Add towels or something similar to prevent the bricks slamming against the walls of the washing machine
  • Don’t over fill the delicates/lingerie bag or pillow case
  • Make sure the pillow case is sealed shut either by knotting the end or using a twist tie
  • Ensure the pillow case is not worn. Older pillow cases are likely to rip from the LEGO bricks and you’ll end up with LEGO bricks loose in your machine (personal experience). If you are particularly concerned, double up and use two.

Once the cycle has finished, spread out the LEGO bricks on a towel to dry. You may need to flip some of the bricks over the make sure they don’t hold any water. If you have a salad spinner, run the bricks through it to remove some of the excess water. This will reduce the drying time.

2. Dishwasher

Similar to the method for the washing machine but make sure you only use the top rack

3. Bathtub (or sink/basin)

This method is great for those without a washing machine or dishwasher.  Fill the tub with cold or warm water. Swish the water around a bit and leave to soak for a bit. Swish the water around some more and then drain water and rinse the bricks. Again, spread the bricks out on a towel to dry. You may find that some bricks are not totally clean and may need redoing.

4. Individually, by hand

Sometimes  you have to use this method if the bricks do not clean as well as you had hoped. I recommend the use of a “magic” white sponge – especially for removing marker pen or other types of ink. The sponges are usually available in the “sponge” section of your local supermarket. Sometimes they can be purchased from discount stores which can be more economical as they do not last very long.

Some people like to use a toothbrush but this can damage the bricks if you press too hard.

Welcome to The Plastic Brick House

plasticbrick Welcome

The Plastic Brick House is a developing resource answering many of the common questions asked by LEGO Fans of all ages. The answers have been created by LEGO Fans using the experiences of those in the local and international community.

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