Hobbies: The Original Micromanager

Lego: The Brick Separator

From the number of these we have you can see we like our Lego!

*DISCLAIMER/WARNING: be aware of where you place your feet whilst playing with Lego*

Lego seems to have always been present in my life... I remember having a pink speedboat set which I was so proud of, I'm sure my dad probably helped me build but it was the first set that was mine and mine alone. My dad has played a huge role in my love of Lego, he has a toolbox full of Lego technic in the loft that TO THIS DAY we are still not permitted to look at never mind play with without his direct supervision! But one thing I vividly remember - aside from the password protected part of the lounge we called the 'Lego Lab' where we [my sister and I] would build a flat house on the biggest board for our families of lego people - was the Brick Separator. The original micromanager!

*Zelda chest opening theme*

This magical tool that would undo our creations once we had new ideas of how to make the bath/bed/toilet etc. We would call upon it to help us get the valuable bricks we needed. Growing up with the simple green separator (we called it the crocodile, and sometimes used it as such in the pond in the garden of the lego house. Just to add that element of unease) the major changes Lego have replaced the tool we once knew! 

• The smooth divot you placed your finger in, gone! Replaced by some strange protruding digit really useful for poking the cross shaped rods found mainly on Bionicles, vehicles, robots and other such things.
• The satisfying sloping shape, gone! Replaced by a well engineered lever shape combined with a slim end which are obviously more practical and successful at lifting bricks from above and below PHYSICS!
• That toned down green colour, gone! Now orange and much easier to find.

Damn, these features sound incredibly sensible and well thought out... I suppose Lego children have grown up to be Lego adults who expect more from their brick separator... Sets have become more complex and advanced... Maybe I need to step up my game, keep up with the cool kids and tell you how it works.

There are 4 parts to the Brick Separator, the top, the bottom, the end and the sticky-outy-bit. Each designed to remove bricks in different ways. When I was younger I only used the bottom bit, but after spending a whole day sorting out the mess my younger brothers have made to our Lego I became aware that every part has it's use.

The Bottom

Lets start with the one I know best, the 'bottom' is the main, and likely most popular, side of the Brick Separator. By placing the separator on the top of your Lego piece and using the tool as a lever pushing the side on the separator downward while the opposite end is lifted upward this is a very successful way of removing bricks.

The Top

If that doesn't work then maybe those raised bits I saw as the crocodile's eyes may be of use? I really should have worked out this method as it came very naturally to me whilst sorting the Lego and I was amazed! Like the 'bottom' the 'top' is used as a lever but in the opposite way, the side attached to the brick is pushed down while the opposite side is pushed upward separating the bricks.

The End

The first feature not on the original tool is the incredibly useful 'end' bit. You know when you've put that flat bit on the board and you can't get it off, the piece is too long/big for the 'bottom' to work so you dive in with your nails? And the pain, OH THE PAIN! Standing on Lego is not as bad as this, as you pull the nail away from the nail bed, as you watch it splinter and break the brick is sat there sassy faced as though it were saying "guuuuuuuuuurl, na'ah *zig-zag click of the fingers with opposing head movements*". This is the solution! Save your nails and wield  your separator! Get under those pieces with the mighty end bit. Sometimes you may need to help it by twisting the board or giving the piece a little wiggle but from then, no more bruised and splintered nails. You defeated the brick boss, Lvl UP!

The Sticky-outy-bit

Another new feature; I couldn't think of a better name... With the introduction of Bionicles people became much more familiar with the cross shaped rods of sizes short to long. The issue with these pieces is that they are too good at staying in place. You make one error following the instructions and that piece will be excavated as a whole 200 years in the future, well no longer! With this matching shaped bit you can push those pieces out to free your bricks from their solid bond.

But in the end...

If your pieces have a good purchase and don't feel like they're super-glued together, the most common method of removing bricks is simply by hand!

Keep playing and enjoying,

Naomi xx