Subject:
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Re: ABS... but which one?
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.general
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Date:
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Fri, 3 Jan 2003 19:02:32 GMT
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Viewed:
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2625 times
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In lugnet.general, John P. Henderson writes:
> In lugnet.general, Pedro Silva writes:>
> > What I'm curious now is knowing how the more recent bricks will be in 25
> > years. If they look "less good" than the previous at this point in time,
> > perhaps in 25 years they will have become *wrecks*.
>
> I fail to see the logic in this statement. These stories talk about how
> older bricks *today* click differently than new bricks *today*.
I didn't say that; perhaps I was not clear enough.
What I meant was: brand new bricks bought 10 years ago (before the claimed
ABS change), and brand new bricks bought *now* click different from each
other. In fact, the more recent ones don't even seem to click, they squeeze
into each other (and out too easy, to my great dismay).
> But I have
> seen no reference to how well old bricks were when *they* were new.
See above, my impression. It refers to 10 years ago, back when I began to
notice this kind of stuff. I figure it would have been similar in the 15
precedent years, given that I had older LEGO and never noticed anything
different in it.
Now the bricks seem different when they are "just out of the box".
> Considering the poor nature of human memory, especially from childhood
> decades ago, how many of us can be certain the the old bricks were so
> "clicky" when they were new?
I am pretty sure they were made of a harder ABS back then. If you want proof
of it, check the resistance of bricks' corners to impact: the newer bricks
will be damaged from simply falling to the ground! In comparison, a
relatively low portion of my older bricks has corner damage - and I'm pretty
sure they fell numerous times when they were new.
> Is it not possible that they became "more
> clicky" over time, with wear, use, or maybe some aging process of the
> plastic? Is it not possible that maybe today's new bricks might become
> "more clicky" over time?
My answer to both: yes. It is possible.
My doubt for the second case: Will they *become* clickier? I fear not.
> My point is, given the evidence we have seen, the
> new bricks might degrage or they might not; we have no way of knowing until
> it happens.
I agree. I fear it will not happen with newer bricks, and I add reasons for
my fear. I HOPE I'm wrong.
> ...Through my own experience, I agree that new bricks seem to have an oily
> texture that I don't recall them having prior to five or ten years ago.
> This oiliness seems to fade though. The idea that it might be due to a
> change in ABS formula is pure speculation. It could equally be any number
> of things, including a modification to the molding process, an upgrade to
> factory equipment, or simply a change in the speed they produce new bricks.
In which case, has the change been:
a) benefical for the consumer?
b) irrelevant for the consumer?
c) bad for the consumer?
(My oppinion: a+b+c, in different fields)
I tend to think there was indeed some sort of change done to the molding
process *of bricks*. I have no experience on the matter, so out of
speculation alone I guess it may have interfered with the timing of the
process; of course I will accept any other plausible explanation.
> Certainly, each of these things has changed before (anyone notice how older
> style bricks have those little dots where the mold was injected?
Yup. Really inesthetic in 1x1 bricks, when I had to make narrow pillars they
were a headache! :-)
(I for one think the 1x1x5 pillar was a great innovation...)
> They don't
> anymore, so something changed, for the better IMO.).
I'm not saying innovation is bad; I claim ONE particular innovation might
have had a negative side effect. You pointed out a positive side effect it
might have had. In the end, a question arises: can the good effect be
achieved without the bad one?
Further innovation is needed! :-)
> I personally doubt we
> will ever do more than guess about this sort of thing unless someone from
> TLC were to drop us a hint.
>
> (Psst, TLC, that was a hint for you to do so.) :)
I'm just as curious as you are, John.
To circumvent all difficulties regarding "the secret process", a cool hint
from LEGO would do the trick: have things changed in the molding process -
no need to say what! - in the past couple years?
I'd be happy just to know that.
Pedro
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Message has 2 Replies:
 | | Re: ABS... but which one?
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| I have bought some lately (bulk) that seem to not even want to stay together. Out of a stack of 25 2x4 bricks. I usually find 1 or 2 that fall apart from its proposed partner. I always just find another spot for them or take them out of the model. (...) (24 years ago, 3-Jan-03, to lugnet.general)
| | | Re: ABS... but which one?
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| In lugnet.general, Pedro Silva writes:> (...) Hmmm. First, I also may have not been clear in my argument in that I did not mean to target just you, Pedro, rather the general line of thinking in this and similar threads. (...) I cannot deny that. Nor (...) (24 years ago, 3-Jan-03, to lugnet.general)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Re: ABS... but which one?
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| In lugnet.general, Pedro Silva writes:> (...) I fail to see the logic in this statement. These stories talk about how older bricks *today* click differently than new bricks *today*. But I have seen no reference to how well old bricks were when (...) (24 years ago, 3-Jan-03, to lugnet.general)
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