when you buy am old Technic set do you wash all the parts and rebuild or do you swap out the old parts for new ones?

personally when i buy an old set i try to swap out as many of the parts for new ones as possible, sometimes there is a mold update...so unless the new mold has a huge difference in design i end of using the new mold, just for the sake of having a new part.

anything i cant find brand new i just wash and polish the parts as best i can, that was i have as close to a brand new set without actually buying it BNIB.

on that note...my tyres from 8448 and 8458 are looking rather dull, is there any methos to make them shiny?

When I buy an old set, I take it apart. Clean if necessary. Then I sort the parts. All the parts I don't need I upload to Bricklink and the rest of the parts join my collection, yey!

Edited May 25, 20168 yr by Kelkschiz

hand wash in warm soapy water... soft old toothbrush to get any grime out between studs..

Rinse in clean water... spin dry the parts in a Salad Spinner, then dry on a towel.

I'll then whiten any old vintage grey/white pieces that need it (in a Napisan-Oxy mix + UV sunlight)

Any broken parts are replaced.. trying to keep similar-vintage parts... but if not, I may bricklink order in pieces.. or just add a modern piece

Then I'll build, or store away..... favourite sets are kept separately... not so favourite ones go into the big collection (sorted)

I'm not a purist... but I do like clean, working Technic....

Oh.. and I usually toss the original black friction pins with newer style.. as I hate using the old.

Your tyres might enjoy some plain simple water to get the proper colour again. Rubber gets dry as the years pass.

When I obtain a pre-owned set, I smell it first. If it smells OK and is clean, I either display it or take it apart. When I got 9390, the B-Model was built and I just wanted to display the A-Model, so I took it apart and built the thing I wanted. The 9391 I got was smell because the person who gifted it to me was a smoker. I too kit apart, rinsed it in water with dish washing liquid, re-built it and kept in baking soda filled cabinet until it was squeaky clean and smelled OK.

If the parts are intact, I don't want to replace them. If any element was missing and it was a half of the pair (like headlights, for example), I'd buy two and replace the old one to make sure the difference between a "fresh" part and an used one won't spoil the symmetry.

hand wash in warm soapy water... soft old toothbrush to get any grime out between studs..

Rinse in clean water... spin dry the parts in a Salad Spinner, then dry on a towel.

I'll then whiten any old vintage grey/white pieces that need it (in a Napisan-Oxy mix + UV sunlight)

Any broken parts are replaced.. trying to keep similar-vintage parts... but if not, I may bricklink order in pieces.. or just add a modern piece

Then I'll build, or store away..... favourite sets are kept separately... not so favourite ones go into the big collection (sorted)

I'm not a purist... but I do like clean, working Technic....

Oh.. and I usually toss the original black friction pins with newer style.. as I hate using the old.

So uhh...yeah, that pretty much sums it up. I am a bit more of a purist though and I keep the original friction pins with the set but use the new ones. I mostly have to scrub the tops of studded technic bricks/plates and most all system parts (I've scrubbed more 5571's than I can count).

Pretty much every ebay or craigslist set goes through the same process including a full BL inventory at the end so that everything in my collection is ready to go whenever I want to build something. That being said, 99% of my collection stays in part form even though I could have a room like Blakbirds....yes seriously.

I'm not sure what is the reason behind buying used set if you still replace most of the used parts.

My process with used sets is the following:

1. Disassemble if needed

2. Sort parts into 3 batches (pins, mid-sized parts, large-sized parts)

3. Wash each batch

4. Inventory cleaned batches/parts to check if there are parts missing or needing a replacement.

5. Retrieve missing/damaged parts from own inventory or make a wishlist on Bricklink. In case of larger parts used parts will be ordered most likely, while any connectors with axle holes have a "new" condition priority.

6. Assemble set back when no more parts missing

I dump the whole thing in hot water + dishwashing liquid (it eats up the grime with little work) and let is sit for hours, sometimes overnight. I stir the parts few times when I'm nearby. Rinsing dish liquid is easier than regular soap which takes several water changes.

Now, as for tires, I'm tempted to try Armor-All to see if they shine and to remove 'blooming' of processing oils, though I should try this on old/common tires just in case there is permanent staining. Anyone tried that?

Armor-All for tires ... is like polish for your shoes.

I'm not sure what is the reason behind buying used set if you still replace most of the used parts.

My process with used sets is the following:

1. Disassemble if needed

2. Sort parts into 3 batches (pins, mid-sized parts, large-sized parts)

3. Wash each batch

4. Inventory cleaned batches/parts to check if there are parts missing or needing a replacement.

5. Retrieve missing/damaged parts from own inventory or make a wishlist on Bricklink. In case of larger parts used parts will be ordered most likely, while any connectors with axle holes have a "new" condition priority.

6. Assemble set back when no more parts missing

to ensure i have all the parts, some are exclusive to the set such as 8448 has exclusive wheels etc.

Hi use Glycerin on rubber tyres to bring them back to life.

Edited May 25, 20168 yr by Paul P

I dump the whole thing in hot water + dishwashing liquid (it eats up the grime with little work) and let is sit for hours, sometimes overnight. I stir the parts few times when I'm nearby. Rinsing dish liquid is easier than regular soap which takes several water changes.

This is exactly what I do, too. Sometimes the water is grey when I pour it out. I rinse the parts in small batches with a strainer.

Edited May 25, 20168 yr by Beard