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What triggers when a set gets a brick separator in it? Price? Part count?

supervir2supervir2 Member Posts: 25
in Everything else LEGO
Does anyone know?

Comments

  • GoldchainsGoldchains Member Posts: 795
    I've usually noticed that if the set is $50 or above(around 350+ pieces), it will have a brick separator.  
  • klatu003klatu003 Member Posts: 729
    Newer Ideas sets seem to get them no matter the price.  #21110 Research Institute had one at $19.99 - 170 pieces.  Also they are in all the original Minecraft sets $34.99 - so lots of little pieces might be another factor.
    dannyrww
  • CCCCCC Member Posts: 20,526
    edited September 2015
    They have appeared in quite a few sub 300 part sets, the smallest being #10668 (145 parts) (excluding the separator sold in a bag "set" of 1 part). I imagine they put them in when the set contains smaller plates stuck on bigger plates, as these are hard to remove especially if placed in the middle of the bigger plate.
    raygunn
  • ColoradoBricksColoradoBricks Member Posts: 1,659
    The enigma is #79005 The Wizard Battle has 113 parts, a brick separator is shown on the set picture on brickset (not on [email protected] anymore), probably a left over from the previous photo shoot :)
  • Penkid11Penkid11 Member Posts: 788
    Typically, the set must be $49.99+. Exceptions to this are Lego Ideas sets as all sets from this theme, and any sets directly stemming from the line (All Minecraft Micro World sets have/had separators, but all Minecraft sets released this year below $50 did not as they are no longer an extension of Lego Ideas), will include a Brick Separator regardless.
  • CCCCCC Member Posts: 20,526
    ^ There are other exceptions, such as the Juniors Princess Castle and Juniors Construction sets #10668 and #10667. They were both small $15 sets. City starter set #60086 also has one at a $30 price point. Maybe they get them into these basic intro sets to get kids used to using them.
  • RailsRails Member Posts: 153
    edited September 2015
    It would be nice if they came in colours other than orange or green, that way it would feel like they were a bit more collectible compared to having a bazillion orange ones. A blue one would be my first choice.

    I think I read somewhere that from Lego's point of view a child may only get one medium sized set a year so they want to increase the chance of them getting a separator as opposed to AFOL's that buy a lot more sets and get annoyed by how many we accumulate.
  • CCCCCC Member Posts: 20,526
    I read somewhere that the idea of changing the colour to orange was that they were easy to spot. I guess that went out of the window when the arctic sets came along though.

    Having them in loads of colours would be nice, but let's face it - some of us will end up displaying a rainbow of separators. :-)

    When I'm doing a BL order, if the seller has some between 3p-6p I normally add them all. They are great for putting in party bags if your kid has a lego themed party.
    VorpalRyu
  • klatu003klatu003 Member Posts: 729
    @ccc Yes, people would collect a rainbow of colored separators and the rare ones would command $50 :-) Giving them out in party bags is a great idea. Any kid who has Lego needs one to save their teeth. They are a handy tool for all sorts of things. I use them for tasks that tempt one to use a fingernail; scraping off glue, prying the back off a cell phone, occasional screwdriver.
    VorpalRyu
  • CCCCCC Member Posts: 20,526
    Nose picking?
    SumoLegokiki180703Goldchains
  • ReesesPiecesReesesPieces Member Posts: 1,116
    Lego should have a trade in/recycling program where you can bring in like 10-15 separators for one cmf bag.  This means a person spent about $500 worth so rewarding them with one cmf is no big deal, making Lego seem generous.  I'll even take a trade in for a 4x4 brick or smaller for a separator.  They can also save money by recycling the plastic by doing this.
    VorpalRyukiki180703gmonkey76GoldchainsScogaliGreenArrow57
  • oldtodd33oldtodd33 Member Posts: 2,683
    ^ Or how about putting NO brick separators in any sets over $50 and give one free to any one who asks. 
    MynattRevBlueskiki180703MasterBeefyGoldchainsbluemodern
  • MynattMynatt Member Posts: 629

    As for the smaller sets, might it be if it is a higher end product (Ideas) that they are included or if the amount of small parts make it a temptation for small kids to use their teeth. Pretty sure throwing a brick separator into a set rather than risk a kid choke on a brick is for the best.

    I don't mind getting them, but I wish they could be better designed to incorporate into Mocs.
    VorpalRyu
  • SumoLegoSumoLego Member Posts: 15,217
    CCC said:
    Nose picking?
    That's what the pin on the top is for.

    (And the wedge-end is for those tough ones you have to dig out...)
    VorpalRyukiki180703gmonkey76Goldchainscody6268
  • AanchirAanchir Member Posts: 3,014
    oldtodd33 said:
    ^ Or how about putting NO brick separators in any sets over $50 and give one free to any one who asks.
    If they did that, hardly anybody would ask. Most people don't understand the usefulness of a brick separator until they have the opportunity to handle one themselves. Many buyers might not even realize that such a part could exist.
    Amanda1983
  • oldtodd33oldtodd33 Member Posts: 2,683
    ^ They could be (and usually are) right next to the register. You would have to be blind to miss them.
  • LyichirLyichir Member Posts: 1,009
    oldtodd33 said:
    ^ They could be (and usually are) right next to the register. You would have to be blind to miss them.
    And that would work for Lego Brand Retail and ONLY Lego Brand Retail. What about the dramatically larger number of sets that are sold through other retailers like Toys R Us, Target, or Walmart? What about sets which are bought online? It's much easier to put them in larger sets by default so as to give pretty much all customers a chance to try them out for themselves.
    AanchircatwranglerAmanda1983
  • oldtodd33oldtodd33 Member Posts: 2,683
    And then everyone would end up with 50 of them....oh..wait.
    Galactus
  • VorpalRyuVorpalRyu Member Posts: 2,318
    I like the idea of different colours for them, maybe something like, dark red for Marvel, dark blue for DC, black for Ninjago, light grey for City, purple for Elves, magenta for Friends. The recycling for polybags or CMFs sounds good too.
    dougtsxiahna
  • FauchFauch Member Posts: 2,662

    black and grey because the orange ones are too easy to spot :p

  • ColoradoBricksColoradoBricks Member Posts: 1,659
    Licensed brick separator would be nice ;-) Imagine a separator with thee City, Ninjago, SW logo, etc, now that would be a collection to have :)
  • LyichirLyichir Member Posts: 1,009
    VorpalRyu said:
    I like the idea of different colours for them, maybe something like, dark red for Marvel, dark blue for DC, black for Ninjago, light grey for City, purple for Elves, magenta for Friends. The recycling for polybags or CMFs sounds good too.
    Different colors could be nice, but the colors you list are pretty much the exact opposite of what Lego seems to go for with the current separators. Currently, it seems that a major goal is to make sure the separator stands out from the other parts in the set—hence the use of a bright orange separator in pretty much all sets except ones that are already predominantly orange, for which green is used instead. The colors you list are common to the respective themes you list, and as such it'd be easier to lose track of the separator after emptying the bags.
  • CCCCCC Member Posts: 20,526
    Arctic sets were predominantly orange and they came with orange separators.
  • RevBluesRevBlues Member Posts: 117
    I feel like sending back the 20 I have, marked "postage to be paid by addressee".

    Stop wasting plastic, TLG.
    Dedgeckogmonkey76kiki180703
  • gmonkey76gmonkey76 Member Posts: 1,827
    ^ and the super jumpers too. No thanks LEGO I don't want to break my minifigures legs.
    VorpalRyubobabrickskiki180703jesiroseMynattAmanda1983
  • SumoLegoSumoLego Member Posts: 15,217
    ^ Well, if it's a Spiderman, you probably have 17 more to spare...
    VorpalRyugmonkey76kiki180703Amanda1983
  • MynattMynatt Member Posts: 629
    I just ended up counting my Brick Separators, I am at a count of 23. 

    Only wish that they had some more versatility in mocs. Though I have seen a few creative ones and hats off to the people who made it work!
  • oldtodd33oldtodd33 Member Posts: 2,683
    Yeah, I stopped counting after 60.
  • Sethro3Sethro3 Member Posts: 982
    So you have extra separators. What does it matter? If you don't like them, throw them away or give them away.

    I have 2 PAB cups full. Sometimes I lose one so I grab another. I like having spares.

    I don't see LEGO quit putting them in sets, so you will continue to get more. Methinks there are more important things to worry about.
  • oldtodd33oldtodd33 Member Posts: 2,683
    A little while back there was a thread basically from Lego asking about their sustainability. There were quite a few suggestions and removing the brick separator was one of them as it is wasteful to continue giving them out in the quantities they do. And to tell you the truth, I nor anyone else needs sixty of them, 2 are enough. 
  • oldtodd33oldtodd33 Member Posts: 2,683
    By comparison, the old brick separator was made from 1990 to 2011 and came in 69 sets. The new separator has been made from 2012 to 2015 and comes in 241 sets of which I own 62 not including multiple copies. 
    Amanda1983
  • AanchirAanchir Member Posts: 3,014
    edited September 2015
    oldtodd33 said:
    By comparison, the old brick separator was made from 1990 to 2011 and came in 69 sets. The new separator has been made from 2012 to 2015 and comes in 241 sets of which I own 62 not including multiple copies. 
    The new separator seems a lot cheaper and more efficient to produce than the old one, since it can be spit out of an ordinary two-section mold instead of having detail molded in from three or more angles. Also, I can't tell you how many comments I've read from people who never realized such a thing as a "brick separator" existed until LEGO started putting them in sets.

    LEGO is an expensive toy. I think by the time most LEGO fans accumulate 60 sets big enough to include brick separators, they'll already be on the verge of entering their dark ages. I believe we AFOLs who keep buying LEGO year after year after year, including many of the biggest and most expensive sets on the market, are a privileged group and not the norm by any stretch of the imagination.
    Sethro3Lyichirtallblocktoobluemoderndougtsmr.pigglescatwranglerAmanda1983
  • oldtodd33oldtodd33 Member Posts: 2,683
    I'm sure you've heard many comments about the brick sep, it's only been made for the last 25 years. Although I would like to see where you read all of the many comments. Beyond that, the price of a set doesn't matter, there are many sets in the 3,4 and 500 piece range that come with them the smallest being #10668 with only 145 pieces. I think my previous suggestion of removing them from sets over $50 would work just fine. 
  • legomentallegomental Member Posts: 370
    Sorry to bring up an old thread but can someone tell me what you actually do with these. I've got 19 of them and don't even know how they work
  • khmellymelkhmellymel Member Posts: 1,313
    ^ You can take a look at this video here from LEGO, one of the designers goes through some uses:

    http://www.lego.com/en-gb/creator/videos/designer-video-are-your-lego-bricks-stuck-we-have-a-tool-for-that

    Personally I find the combination of using an old style separator and a new style separator to work best when trying to unstick two 1x2 or 1x1 plates (for example) than sticking them onto another brick - not that it doesn't work, just sometimes that method takes a few tries.
    OldfanAmanda1983slovakiasteph
  • tallblocktootallblocktoo Member Posts: 497
    @khmellymel When did the the brick separator change designs?  I would be interested in getting an old one if in fact it is of some benefit.   I will have to see if I can obtain one here locally.
  • khmellymelkhmellymel Member Posts: 1,313
    edited January 2016
    @tallblocktoo, I'm not sure when they changed, it was sometime after 2009 as I remember picking the old style up at the Calgary Lego Store opening to get to the free gift threshold (the Stampede was going on, so sometime in the summer).  Someone else on the forum might be better able to answer... but I'm sure you can pick one up on Bricklink or eBay for cheap.

    Using an old and new style together might just be my preference though... I'll take a photo and let you be the judge:


    tallblocktookiki180703Amanda1983Galactus
  • legomentallegomental Member Posts: 370
    khmellymel said:
    @tallblocktoo, I'm not sure when they changed, it was sometime after 2009 as I remember picking the old style up at the Calgary Lego Store opening to get to the free gift threshold (the Stampede was going on, so sometime in the summer).  Someone else on the forum might be better able to answer... but I'm sure you can pick one up on Bricklink or eBay for cheap.

    Using an old and new style together might just be my preference though... I'll take a photo and let you be the judge:


    Thank you that's really helpful I think we have an old one as well. 
  • ricecakericecake Member Posts: 878
    I use two of the new ones, but have them facing in opposite ways (e.g., one to the left and one to the right).
    Amanda1983
  • AllBrickAllBrick Member Posts: 1,497
    edited January 2016
    CCC said:


    When I'm doing a BL order, if the seller has some between 3p-6p I normally add them all. They are great for putting in party bags if your kid has a lego themed party.
    klatu003 said:
    Giving them out in party bags is a great idea. Any kid who has Lego needs one to save their teeth.
    Nice bit of forward planning there. Just need to wait for their dark ages and the un-teethed bricks will be ours.
    klatu003kiki180703SirBenVorpalRyuReviloogelAmanda1983
  • KingAlanIKingAlanI Member Posts: 2,335
    Kids might have more trouble handling the same set and thus have more need for a brick separator.

    I wish TLG would use all that orange plastic in regular bricks, it's one of the colors I have trouble getting. I have plenty of red, white and blue - make the brick separators out of those. :P
    tallblocktookiki180703
  • arathemisarathemis Member Posts: 599
    So , the Pet shop doesn`t have a brick separator? I just opened up a set to build, and couldn`t find it.
  • FauchFauch Member Posts: 2,662

    you must be disappointed

    oldtodd33kiki180703SumoLego
  • AanchirAanchir Member Posts: 3,014
    arathemis said:
    So , the Pet shop doesn`t have a brick separator? I just opened up a set to build, and couldn`t find it.
    Pet Shop came out in 2011. LEGO only started putting brick separators in regular sets in 2012 when they introduced the current brick separator design. Before that they were mostly just sold individually or included in bulk brick buckets and Education sets.
  • arathemisarathemis Member Posts: 599
    @Fauch: well, I was disappointed that I had to get up from the table i was building at, and go to the other room and get one to remove a piece that I put in the wrong place. So yeah....I was disappointed :D
  • brumeybrumey Member Posts: 1,002
    woot? since 2012?

    i have one in dark grey dating back to the 90ies. however it does look different...
  • AanchirAanchir Member Posts: 3,014
    brumey said:
    woot? since 2012?

    i have one in dark grey dating back to the 90ies. however it does look different...
    That's why I said "when they started introducing the current brick separator design". Brick separators existed long before that, but they were a different design and mostly didn't appear in regular building sets, just in bulk "Basic/Free Style" brick sets, in Education sets, or packaged on their own individually.

    When LEGO introduced the new brick separator design in 2012, they started including them in a wider range of sets. From 2012 to the present that range appears to include:
    • Most €50+ sets (besides LEGO Technic and Mindstorms)
    • Most Architecture, Bricks & More, Classic, Games, Juniors, and Ideas sets
    • LEGO City Starter Sets
    • #21206 LEGO Fusion Create and Race
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