When I get a minifig either a collectable one or in a set, usually the hands are in the arms so that the round bit is facing upwards so as towards the head of the minifig.

I always turn them around so that the flat side is on top. I find that they just don't grip so well the little tools and stuff with the rounded side up.

It made me wonder whay they are put together the 'wrong' way up in the first place?

Does anyone else turn the hands around or do you not bother and just leave them be? Anyone know why they are always the wrong way around?

To my knowledge hands are always oriented with the flat side up [if you put the arms in a horizontal position].

That's how I keep them most of the time.

For me it depends on how you want the hands to look, and if anything is been held, or used by the Minifig. This thread has some good suggestions, along with a suggestive picture.

i usually turn the hands around too, but sometimes i keep it the "official" way depending on the angle i want them to grip. also, not very often though, i find that some items stay in hands better one way or the other.

I am glad to see I am not the only one who cares about stuff like this.

I always turn the hands so they are oriented with the flat side up.

The proper way to have your minifig's hands are like this. Right side up, exactly as pictured below. No matter how hard you try, you'll never convince me otherwise.

The proper way to have your minifig's hands are like this. Right side up. No matter how hard you try, you'll never convince me otherwise.

And that is the Flat Side Up, right?

And that is the Flat Side Up, right?

Yes sir, you usually have to twist the hands around that way.

And that is the Flat Side Up, right?

I get minifigs always that way, when arm horizontally positioned: flat side up.

Yes, that is the proper way that I like them, unless they need to be holding something angled like handlebars and so on.

However I find that they are almost never like that when they arrive.

Does anyone know why they are hardly ever the right way up? Come to think of it why are they even put on the torso at all?

They are sperate bits often in different colours, you don't get tyres on wheels and even the two halves of turntables and the like are not together nowadays. (I remember when they came assembled.)

It can't be because they are small and a choking hazard as there are loads of small bits a child could choke on?

Does anyone know why they are hardly ever the right way up? Come to think of it why are they even put on the torso at all?

My guess is that because they might be packaged in that polybag that has the holes in it and maybe they could fall out? Or maybe they want to save one page in the instruction manual

Flat side up unless they need to be the other way for some reason.

Yes, that is the proper way that I like them, unless they need to be holding something angled like handlebars and so on.

However I find that they are almost never like that when they arrive.

Does anyone know why they are hardly ever the right way up? Come to think of it why are they even put on the torso at all?

They are sperate bits often in different colours, you don't get tyres on wheels and even the two halves of turntables and the like are not together nowadays. (I remember when they came assembled.)

It can't be because they are small and a choking hazard as there are loads of small bits a child could choke on?

Because minifig hands aren't used for official separate parts. Tireless wheels are used sometimes (Cannons in pirate sets) and now turntables are used in sets as just the bottom (And possibly just the top, I don't remember). So until hands/arms/armless torsos/legs/legless torsos are used in official sets, that stuff will all be pre-assembled. Also the hands are smaller than just about every other part (Except 1x1 studs and a few other tiny parts, and thus a greater choking hazard than many other parts.

Edited July 8, 201113 yr by brickmack

I always keep them flat side up, and am very OCD about it when they come in the minifigure upside-down or when other people have them upside-down in their Lego pictures.

It can't be because they are small and a choking hazard as there are loads of small bits a child could choke on?

No, because like you said many Lego pieces are choking hazards. Besides, I think minifigure hands are too small to choke on anyways.

I'm with Big Cam. Flat side up is the way to go. With the curved side up, it looks like he's missing fingers.

Flat side up normally, but there are times when curved side up is called for it all depends on how I need to postion the item their holding.

Flat side up unless they holding something that needs them flat side down. Why do they come in the box with the flat side down and I have to turn them over?

I like to do flat side down for my soldiers holding throwing spears.

The proper way to have your minifig's hands are like this. Right side up, exactly as pictured below. No matter how hard you try, you'll never convince me otherwise.

The reason I think most people seem to favour this orientation may be because it's anatomically correct; if you put your arms out straight, the comfortable resting position is with the thumbs facing inwards and the fingers outwards making a 'C' shape. Positioning the minifig hands flat side up (as in the picture above) mimics this.

D.

Edited July 9, 201113 yr by drdavewatford

Does anyone know why they are hardly ever the right way up? Come to think of it why are they even put on the torso at all?

Well, one possible reason they're pre-assembled is so as not to give people the impression that they should be taken out and switched around. Naturally, people do this anyway, but as it is it's not encouraged since it weakens the hinge. They're not designed to be added and removed multiple times.

Flat Side Up. Is there any other way?

Edited July 9, 201113 yr by Mr_Malfoy

I instantly turn the hands flat side up unless they are holding a tool or hanging onto a element like a hadlebar like speeder bikes from Star Wars. I think of the flat side looks like your hand from the top and this is naturally how we humans hold our hands so this is how atomically the minifig should be.

My son has a bad habbit of instantly tring the hands flat side up then he puts the arms sraight out in frount, like the minifig is a Zombie. Its ok with the Zombie minifig but I think is odd that he dose this but makes it easy for me to tell when he has been touching my Lego on display as the are all walking dead.

I instantly turn the hands flat side up unless they are holding a tool or hanging onto a element like a hadlebar like speeder bikes from Star Wars. I think of the flat side looks like your hand from the top and this is naturally how we humans hold our hands so this is how atomically the minifig should be.

My son has a bad habbit of instantly tring the hands flat side up then he puts the arms sraight out in frount, like the minifig is a Zombie. Its ok with the Zombie minifig but I think is odd that he dose this but makes it easy for me to tell when he has been touching my Lego on display as the are all walking dead.

My husband is like that too he will always put the flat side up and arms straight out in front, he does it so when he equips the minifigs their hands are available to fit items into them, your son probably does it cause it gives the minifigs a sense of motion.

Flat side up, other wise their hand is dislocated.

Though the other way is better for binoculars or telescopes, its easier to get it up to the eye.

Spears also can be held flat-side down for the impression of throwing.

Edited July 16, 201113 yr by Scorpiox

I have to say thanks to this thread I feel much better. I used to think I was just being anal retentive when I turned all the hands flat side up on the minifigures. Now I see I am not alone.

As a side note I went to look at my seven year olds collection and he has turned most of his as well.

Flat side up, as they've always come to me until recent sets. Weird, I only noticed the other day. I assume they always used to be flat side up anyway as that's how I've always positioned them.