One of my students recently gave me an idea for a LEGO tool. This is the LEGO Pin and Axle Puller. Axle pins and axles themselves are often hard to get out. At some point everyone has used their teeth, but you damage your LEGOs when you do this; not to mention your teeth! Pliers do too much damage. Coating the tips with rubber is a nice trick, but it doesn’t last. There are plastic grippers, but they don’t grip in the right way to remove these pieces.
So why not make a tool out of LEGOs?
Presenting the LEGO Pin and Axle Puller:
The handle is sturdy enough to apply a reasonable force. The rubber axle joiners grip axles well without damaging them. The shock absorber is a nice feature that keeps the tool open, but it is not necessary. Just be sure to use one with a soft spring, rather than a hard spring. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself working against the spring rather than the part.
The instructions can be found here.
Enjoy,
Kevin Knuth
Rampa says:
Wow, this is a great axle blog.
Effelilali says:
omg.. good work, bro
Megan says:
Ohhhhh!!!!! That’s my spontaneous response to your totally cool and useful tool.