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 20:32:41 GMT
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Viewed:
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1376 times
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In lugnet.general, Pedro Silva writes:>
> 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).
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.
> 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".
I cannot deny that. Nor can I prove it.
> 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.
I haven't noticed this difference, although I must admit I have become more
careful in my handling of bricks in my adulthood.
> > 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.
We all do. If you are correct, then we also hope future developments will
correct the problem.
> > ...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)
If we are to digress into pure speculation (just for fun), then I agree.
Overall, I *suspect* whatever change may have occured would be beneficial in
terms of one or more of the following: 1) keeping cost down/reducing impact
of inflation, 2) increasing output to provide more bricks to more consumers
in less time, and/or 3) possible manufacturing advantages that might allow
more variety of color or style (note that certain colors were not available
until these changes occured).
It might also be possible that changes occured due to availability of raw
material, or changes in contract with material suppliers. And then there is
also the possibility that the old methods had some drawbacks that the
consumer would be unaware of (e.g. maybe old molds broke down more easily,
or maybe an older type of ABS was difficult to mold resulting in more
waste). These are things that would not directly impact the consumer, but
would be worthy reasons for TLC to consider change.
> > 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...)
I still make an effort to position any older bricks with that dot facing
into a model, so it won't be seen. This can be hard to overcome with some
pieces, like the inverted 1X2 slopes (which must face a certain way in the
model).
I can't remember where, but I remember reading something that gave that dot
an official name. It may have been in a TLC brochure some time ago.
> 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 agree. If TLC is trying to remember their roots as recent PR suggests,
then hopefully they will continue to be innovative, analyitical, and willing
to change as needed when it comes to their manufacturing process.
> > 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.
Right on! We aren't asking for detailed TLC secret formulas. But we would
be happy with a, "Yes, this process changed," or a, "Some molds at some
facilities were upgraded for this." ...Of course, it would also be nice to
see a, "and we are continuing to look into rectifying any drawbacks."
We shall see...
-Hendo
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: ABS... but which one?
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| (...) You mean to say you were... *targeting*? ;-) (...) Precisely. It's based on a feeling, and I'm not alone in that. OTOH, I may be wrong - human nature is not famous for it's infallibility... (...) So have I. And that's why I noticed this in the (...) (22 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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| (...) 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 (...) (22 years ago, 3-Jan-03, to lugnet.general)
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