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Do you still get on the floor to build?

TheMaker37TheMaker37 Member Posts: 496
in Building and Techniques
When I came out of my dark ages last year I was doing my building on a dinner tray while sitting down (I was doing smaller sets).  Then I bought my first large set #10221, I quickly saw that my current strategy would not work, so, I decided to do it old school on the floor. It was a messy operation in the beginning. I had no trays, just sorted the pieces in little piles on the floor (my carpet is almost an exact match of Dark Tan). As time went on I got various trays and used different pieces of wood (I am a carpenter) to build on. I even built my own custom Lego Board for sorting and building on the floor, I taped it off while painting so that it even says Lego on the board itself.

Building on the floor is a wormhole to my youth and will do it until it gets to painful. I am 38 but have been a powerlifter for ten years so my Knees have been through a lot.

I would love to hear from those of you whom enjoy floor building. Or, just tell me how you build, maybe I will get some new ideas?
catwrangler
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Comments

  • datsunrobbiedatsunrobbie Member Posts: 1,819
    Most of my building is done on a plain white bed sheet on the floor. Makes cleaning up easy, since I can just grab the sides and drop the whole pile back into a tub (or two). Depending on what I'm building I will actually build on a kid's train table, or a TV tray, while parts are on the sheet on the floor.

    The_Mad_Vulcan
  • CCCCCC Member Posts: 20,526
    Yes, when building with the kids. It's great fun and different from AFOL mocing. Especially when there is a limited selection of parts on the floor.
    Ronyar
  • willobee498willobee498 Member Posts: 349
    I use a coffee table, which is just large enough to sort out the pieces of a modular buildings floor, but I am sitting on the floor. Somehow it feels so right.
  • TigerMothTigerMoth Member Posts: 2,343
    TheMaker37 said:

    Building on the floor is a wormhole to my youth
    Let's see... Kids generally build with the entire collection spread on the floor around them. I wonder how that works when your collection numbers several hundred thousand pieces as it does for many people here.
    catwrangler
  • madforLEGOmadforLEGO Member Posts: 10,794
    I use the floor still for most smaller sets. For large sets with base plates, I use a collapsed TV dining tray flat on the floor to have a sturdy base to ensure that base plates do not get warped/bent up. I have a table but rarely use it as it is being used for other things, some times storage of used LEGO sets I have been meaning to build so I can list on eBay. Once I have a consistently open space on a table Ill likely use that and some kind of bin with a lip to set all the parts into to build as being an adult sitting cross-legged can sometime start hurting, especially if I am rebuilding used sets and constantly have to get up if I missed a part in the inventory..
  • xwingpilotxwingpilot Member Posts: 799
    As a kid I used to build MOCs on the floor with the parts from all my sets mixed up and spread everywhere. Now it's much more civilised - new sets are built one at a time on the dining table, with a coffee, beer or glass of wine and some music to accompany...
    MrShinyAndNew
  • TheMaker37TheMaker37 Member Posts: 496
    xwingpilot said:
    As a kid I used to build MOCs on the floor with the parts from all my sets mixed up and spread everywhere. Now it's much more civilised - new sets are built one at a time on the dining table, with a coffee, beer or glass of wine and some music to accompany...
    Yesss! Gotta have the music going but my beverage of choice is a Red Bull.
  • bandit778bandit778 Member Posts: 2,383
    edited January 2016
    For the majority of my sets I build on a dinner tray on the sofa, I don't own a dinner table as it takes up to much room I my humble abode but when I was building the SSD from bricklink orders and all the parts were in individual baggies I did venture onto the floor and made use of our coffee table so I could spread the parts out but still have a building surface. I must say that it was a wonderful experience building in a huge great pile of parts although I must say though that being the wrong side of 40, at the end of the evening the old joints were not to keen to straighten out again.
    kiki180703Oldfantallblocktoo
  • DNADNA Member Posts: 89
    I still use the floor a lot with my kids but the other night I was there far too long. I had to roll myself onto my side then prop myself up on my knees before I could stand. During the process my kids were asking what I was doing. Just trying to get up. If I'm building by myself I sit at the table. 
    Renegade007cjhkiki180703spepperGalactuscatwrangler
  • LegoPegasister2015LegoPegasister2015 Member Posts: 139
    While only recently I found a few temporary leftover trays and containers to build on as the carpet's gotten quite dusty, I still build on the floor for every set.
  • JenniJenni Member Posts: 1,390
    TigerMoth said:
    TheMaker37 said:

    Building on the floor is a wormhole to my youth
    Let's see... Kids generally build with the entire collection spread on the floor around them. I wonder how that works when your collection numbers several hundred thousand pieces as it does for many people here.
    That's why I MOC on the floor of the LEGO room, no table could hold all the containers I want close to hand. I do all the sorting there for the same reason.

    I'll build sets other places, I've been building the DO on my lap the last couple of nights.

    @themaker37 I'm 40 with bad knees but I've noticed that it's staying still too long anywhere that has me immobilized like DNA. My legs go to sleep working on the floor but the biggest LEGO induced problem for my knees is eight hour days on concrete floors at LEGO shows.
    catwrangler
  • TheMaker37TheMaker37 Member Posts: 496
    ^ I need to get myself to one of those Lego shows one day.
  • oldtodd33oldtodd33 Member Posts: 2,696
    I build on my dining room table as the floor hurts too much after an hour or so. I also get stiff if I sit too long and have to get up to take a break. 
  • JenniJenni Member Posts: 1,390
    TheMaker37 said:
    ^ I need to get myself to one of those Lego shows one day.
    You have one in your state! You have no excuse :)

    It's working them that's the problem, too much standing still. 
  • chrisalddinchrisalddin Member Posts: 3,041
    well let see, my memory is not that good but i can remember back to the last time before the start of the dark ages. i was on holiday and had saved up money to spend on it, did not spend a lot, so i left the Holiday camp, and i when in to town, found some lego sets at 50% off ( this was 1998 or 1999) i got the set's, and returned to the holiday apartment we was saying in, you know the type, four rooms and no space.
    so had to Build on the bed used the Box's for the lego and got to building. was a fun holiday

    fast forward to 2013, i was looking on amazon and found a model of the millennium falcon, i liked the model and look to see what other space models in lego that amazon had at a good price, picked up 3 set's in all.
    again build them out of a box on the bed, lol however the set's ware use for display and i did not think about them being lego, just that it look nice, the dark ages returned.

    fast forward to September 2015. Lego dimensions hit's and i am a fan of the TT lego games so i pick it up. building all the Fun Packs and level packs i picked up over the next 7 weeks reawakened my love of the build. i had never lost my love of the look of lego, but i did lose my love of the building in lego, at some point after that holiday all them years ago. to build small to midsize set's i still build on my bed, and use a tray to tip the lego parts in to, for big set's i make space on my display table and build on there. the bigest set i done from my bed was 60097 but that is like a 9 in one set so it dont count. after that the next biggest set is the 2011 millennium falcon.
    that was not a easy build to do from a bed and probably should have done it on a table but i did pull off building it on a bad.

    and that is how i build my lego :) and why i build on a bed most of the time.
    are... the memory's even if the memory's are a bit faded.
    catwrangler
  • RecceRecce Member Posts: 923
    So far I build all my sets on the floor. My knee cap does hurt a bit after a while, I'll just straighten my leg and continue building. :)
  • Kevin_HyattKevin_Hyatt Member Posts: 778
    Build in bed or coffee table when kids have gone to bed at home. Do a lot of building at work when it's quiet!
    My knees cry at the thought of the floor.
  • cheshirecatcheshirecat Member Posts: 5,331
    Mostly on the floor, although after a couple of hours when I get up and spend the next 5 minutes walking around bent double I get the feeling its not impressing the Mrs much.
    bandit778kiki180703
  • masterX244masterX244 Member Posts: 534
    larger 10xxx-es wont work out well on my desk :( back when i built #10212 the bags just fitte on my desk, => was time to hunt around my storage for boxes of many sizes,
    I got a personal rule of a 1:1 mapping between the bags and the boxes i use for building.
  • legogallegogal Member Posts: 754
    I am with Kevin on this. I can get down to the floor, but getting back up is another story with matching titanium knees. I have to rollover on something higher and then push myself up. So I build at the dining or kitchen or LEGO room tables most of the time. Also I need good lighting to see those (&^$#%&()(*&^% little parts; lamps work better on the table than on the floor. And with a toddler around sometimes, it is best to keep everything up off the floor. 
    Kevin_Hyattryjaytallblocktoo
  • chrisalddinchrisalddin Member Posts: 3,041
    bandit778 said:
    It is becoming apparent that the term AFOL should be updated to OFFOL or INNKFOL instead (Old Fogey Fan Of Lego or I Need New Knees Fan Of Lego) judging by the above posts. (Myself included)   ;)
      speak for your self.
    i have good knees, and i am not old.
    *dose not think about his year of Barth*
      
  • PaperballparkPaperballpark Member Posts: 4,268
    I use a white desk. I couldn't spend a few hours laid out on the floor, whereas I can spend a few hours sat at a desk.
  • cheshirecatcheshirecat Member Posts: 5,331
    chrisalddin said:

    *dose not think about his year of Barth*
      
    A year of Barth - I can only just remember my first year of university as well. 
    bandit778kiki180703
  • chrisalddinchrisalddin Member Posts: 3,041
    cheshirecat said:
    chrisalddin said:

    *dose not think about his year of Barth*
      
    A year of Barth - I can only just remember my first year of university as well. 
    lol,
    well it more the write numbers i was trying not to think about. lol.
    as thinking out that will remind me that i am slowly getting older! and i don't wish to
     
  • bandit778bandit778 Member Posts: 2,383
    @chrisalddin

    No Offence intended, but what do you expect from the mind of an adult that builds with a children's toy but has considerably more mileage and wear and tear on the running gear. 
    kiki180703tallblocktoo
  • TheMaker37TheMaker37 Member Posts: 496
    My lego board for floor building. It is 4ft long and when a set need more of a base I just add another piece of wood to the middle.

    kiki180703Natebwtallblocktoocatwrangler
  • masterX244masterX244 Member Posts: 534
    thanks god my floor is a hard one so the floor is the "board"

    (peak usage of boxxes needed while working on something larger)

    catwrangler
  • chrisalddinchrisalddin Member Posts: 3,041
    showing off how we build now?
    well then,
    here is a video of me building the 1st set of bag's for 10218: Pet Shop

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2S4psN3yqJY

    @TheMaker37
    that looks like a good setup.
    Kevin_Hyattkiki180703
  • masterX244masterX244 Member Posts: 534
    @chrisalddin sometimes you need to get all boxes and trays you got :P
  • MattsWhatMattsWhat Member Posts: 1,643
    ^and suitcases apparently ;)
    kiki180703
  • TheLoneTensorTheLoneTensor Member Posts: 3,937
    I wish I could build on the floor still, but my back screams at me afterwards :)
  • chrisalddinchrisalddin Member Posts: 3,041
    MattsWhat said:
    ^and suitcases apparently ;)

    its a Tin box for the the Wii Copy of the game WSC Real08 (a snooker game) (a BAD snooker game.)

    however the Tin it self is a great Make shift tray, works well, and with the smaller set's all you have to do is close the lid lock it closed and bingo the lego is not going anywhere! then go off do what you have to do, with no fear of anyone/anypet knocking it over and making a mess.
    tallblocktoo
  • TheMaker37TheMaker37 Member Posts: 496
    Thanks @chrisalddin !
  • BrickDancerBrickDancer Member Posts: 3,639
    I like to build on the plush carpeted floor right in front of the TV, like I used to as a little lad. Promptly followed by a round of intense stretching between Bags.
    Jennikiki180703tallblocktoo
  • messymessy Member Posts: 253
    I build mostly on the floor (with the numbness etc as noted by others) I have now progressed to using plastic trays / empty ice cream tubs rather than emptying everything onto the carpet. Occasionally I will sit at the dining table but try to avoid sitting on the sofa as I always manage to lose a part down the side of the cushions.
    bandit778kiki180703tallblocktooOldfan
  • gratefulnatgratefulnat Member Posts: 431
    edited January 2016
    Table all the time for the last few years (definitely in the OFFOL/INNKFOL camp here).

    The last set I built sitting on the floor was 10179 becaus the parts were spread out all over my living room (no numbered bags back then...).
    Started building on the table but got sick and tired of getting up every few minutes to get more parts somewhere in the room , so floor it became.
    I felt like an island in a sea of LEGO :-), very nice memory besides from the getting-up-off-my-butt part.

    Fixed that by getting a larger table soon thereafter, thankfully no more floor building since.
    bandit778kiki180703tallblocktoo
  • chrisalddinchrisalddin Member Posts: 3,041
    yes numbered bags came as a surprise to me. the 1st time i seen one. was with some set's i got in 2013.
    it make building the big stuff more easy, and yet at the same time. you do lose something.

    the same with the little part added this page in the top left of a page.
    some times i try to build just by the change in the image on the page and not look at the list of part's, but normally end up going back to the little cheat sheet. 
    and now i see in the Ghostbusters Firehouse HQ that a new way of highlighting part's that are added this step has shown up.
    ok so yes the set probably needs this added help, being one of the 3 biggest set's ever sold.

    not quite the same as it was in 1998-1999
  • ryjayryjay Member Posts: 1,001
    No....never on the floor
  • SirBenSirBen Member Posts: 592
    Yes, using a tablecloth to keep pieces from going missing in the carpet and the deliniate the 'Do not walk" area.
    catwrangler
  • chrisalddinchrisalddin Member Posts: 3,041
    SirBen said:
    Yes, using a tablecloth to keep pieces from going missing in the carpet and the deliniate the 'Do not walk" area.
    lol.
    i love how all the people who build lego have big rooms. with big floors to sit down on and spread out there lego.

    it must be just my own home but there is only 1 place in this house that has the room to build a set on the floor, and i just remembered (i have a very bad memory and forget stuff way to easily.) that i did build a said on Christmas day on the floor with the set i got, #70734. even then i was in the way of the main walkway across the room. i would not wish to try it with a bigger set.
    still on Christmas day you wish to spend time with others, normally i build in a room by my self. with someones youtube playlist i have picked that plays as background sound.
  • RecceRecce Member Posts: 923
    bandit778 said:
    It is becoming apparent that the term AFOL should be updated to OFFOL or INNKFOL instead (Old Fogey Fan Of Lego or I Need New Knees Fan Of Lego) judging by the above posts. (Myself included)   ;)

    Funnily, I've just finished watching Expendables 3 on Blu-ray moments ago. 
  • masterX244masterX244 Member Posts: 534
    chrisalddin said:
    yes numbered bags came as a surprise to me. the 1st time i seen one. was with some set's i got in 2013.
    it make building the big stuff more easy, and yet at the same time. you do lose something.

    the same with the little part added this page in the top left of a page.
    some times i try to build just by the change in the image on the page and not look at the list of part's, but normally end up going back to the little cheat sheet. 
    and now i see in the Ghostbusters Firehouse HQ that a new way of highlighting part's that are added this step has shown up.
    ok so yes the set probably needs this added help, being one of the 3 biggest set's ever sold.

    not quite the same as it was in 1998-1999
    the cheatsheet makes a easy way to check if you missed something and i thank god for the numbered bags on the 10xxx line... otherwise i would require wayy more boxes and trays for the parts
  • CCCCCC Member Posts: 20,526
    SirBen said:
    Yes, using a tablecloth .... deliniate the 'Do not walk" area.
    Opposite to us. My kids seem to lay in the lego pile. The spread is so much it's the only way to get parts from the middle of the pile.
    kiki180703tallblocktooGalactuscatwrangler
  • MattsWhatMattsWhat Member Posts: 1,643
    ^this happens in our house too.  They also seem pretty happy to crawl through the pile.  I can only assume that their small body mass means the bricks don't jab them as hard.
    kiki180703tallblocktoobrumeyRainstorm26catwrangler
  • YodaliciousYodalicious Member Posts: 1,366
    When my son wants to "build" with me, yes, on the floor. As much as my aging back screams at me not to.
    tallblocktoo
  • YodaliciousYodalicious Member Posts: 1,366
    MattsWhat said:
    ^this happens in our house too.  They also seem pretty happy to crawl through the pile.  I can only assume that their small body mass means the bricks don't jab them as hard.

    My three-year-old steps on LEGO like it's nothing. Every time, I nearly scream for him.
    catwrangler
  • JELJ1SJELJ1S Member Posts: 94
    I used to build on the floor all of the time.  My back can't handle it for more than 300 bricks.  I almost always built this way
    tallblocktoocatwrangler
  • masterX244masterX244 Member Posts: 534
    JELJ1S said:
    I used to build on the floor all of the time.  My back can't handle it for more than 300 bricks.  I almost always built this way 
    --SNIPPED IMAGES--
    using thr 1:1 mapping between bags and trays, too or sorting them partially?
  • OldfanOldfan Member Posts: 706
    JELJ1S said:
    I used to build on the floor all of the time.  My back can't handle it for more than 300 bricks.  I almost always built this way

    I wish I'd thought of using the LEGO construction sets to help me build...where's Emmet and his crew?
    JELJ1S
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