How to Build Legos

Lego are sold individually and in multi-piece sets.

Lego building is as simple as snapping a few pieces of plastic Lego together to make whatever forms you design. Lego plastic construction blocks have a patented connection design that allows the user to press multiple blocks together to make a nearly limitless variety of multicolored structures. Lego sculptures can be disassembled and reformed countless times or permanently assembled and put on display. Build custom Lego shapes by combining Lego blocks and your creative imagination.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Lego base plate platform piece (optional)
• Lego brick separator tool (optional)
• Compressed air canister (optional)

1. Review your available Lego inventory for your project to visualize possible building ideas. The Lego "Pick-a-Brick" shop allows you to order the individual Lego pieces you need to complete any project.

2. Place a Lego base plate on a level surface where it will not slide. Some free-standing Lego sculptures are made without using a base plate piece.

3. Build Lego forms by pressing the recessed undersides of Lego pieces onto the raised circles of the base plate or other pieces until they snap together securely. Test the bond of two Lego pieces to make sure they have attached fully by pulling gently on both pieces.

4. Take Lego bricks off to make changes to the design by pulling forcefully while gripping with your fingers or using a Lego brick separator tool. The tool allows you to get enough leverage to separate tiny Lego pieces that are difficult to grip with fingers.

5. Display the finished Lego sculpture in a place that is stable and out of the way to avoid accidental damage. Dust the structure when it gets dusty using a compressed air canister.

Tips & Warnings

• The Lego instructions that come with multi-piece design packs are in pictorial form so that they are easily understood by builders of any language.

• Lego structures can be permanently bonded together by using a cotton swab to apply a small amount of a plastic adhesive, like epoxy resin, to the raised top and recessed bottom of two Lego pieces before pressing them together.

• Wash dirty Lego pieces in lukewarm water, below 104 degrees Fahrenheit, using mild liquid dish-washing soap and a nonabrasive sponge. Dry the clean pieces thoroughly before their next use.

References

• LEGO: Customer Service: Knowledge Base
• Duckingham Design: LEGO Tools: The Brick Separator

Resources

• Lego: Pick-a-Brick
• Lego: Downloads