Pick-a-Brick

[Brickninja]

Ok guys, I would like a forum to discuss how to best stuff as many parts as you can into PaB cups, what you got, photos of your haul, etc. Some of you are aware that when I get back to the US in 6 months I am going to have a "Lego spree" because I'm saving up money, and where I am, lego is so expensive. I plan to go to the Lego store at the mall near me, and have been doing some research on techniques for the cups. Let me know your input!

[Lil_Curt]

How much time do you want to spend is the key. If you put pieces togeather you can get more in. However i generally just fill, shake, fill, shake, and repeat. Till it is setled and as full as I can make it. I dont usually have the couple hours it takes to pack to the max.

There are a couple threads here about PAB as well google it an you'll find a few things on the subject. Sorry if that doaent help, lol.

Curt

[AK_Brickster]

Here is an older thread that discussed how the cups work and what good packing strategies are: viewtopic.php?f=13&t=23702&p=261608&hil ... ck#p261608

I do like the idea of a dedicated PaB thread though. It will be fun to see what everyone gets from their local walls. Let's make sure that people share what city/store they are getting their haul from so that other CC members who live nearby can benefit from knowing what is available.

Just to kick things off, here is a photo from ONE small PaB cup that I got back in August 2013 from the store in Bellevue, WA.


Small Pick-a-Brick Cup by AK_Brickster, on Flickr

As you can see, for larger elements, like the leaves, stacking really can optimize how many parts you can get into a cup. For smaller items, it's often not worth the time that it takes to stack hundreds or even thousands of tiny parts, so I use the "fill and shake" method

[Sir Valiant]

I would also love to have a thread here to see everyone's PAB finds, and how much they got in a cup. I believe their is one like this over on the Eurobricks Forum. See here: http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.p ... 27795&st=0
The first post in the thread is a great way to show how much more bricks you can fit if you use various stacking techniques.

I haven't been to my LEGO store recently but back in October I got an awesome haul from the LEGO store in Surrey British Columbia. It's about an hours drive from where I live, and I only found it last October. I hope to go again soon.
By the way this website: http://www.brickbuildr.com/?u=view&m=pab It's run by LEGO fans who go to stores and can update the walls online. That way you can have an idea of what is at the store before you make the trip out. Its not always updated, but it does help a lot! Check it out, there may be a store near you, that you didn't know about.

For stacking and techniques, you can browse through my stream. But to show how much you can fit in a cup here is a pic:
I should say this took about 45 min to stack it, but if you have the time, its worth it. Its worked great since we made a shopping trip of it, the family shopped the mall for 2 hrs. while I sat in a Lego store stacking PAB cups....so much fun!



This was from ONE large PAB cup.
Here are the contents:
1x1 Dark Bluish Gray Bricks - 343
1x1 Dark Green Bricks - 206
4x4 Green Plates - 31
4x4 Gray Plates - 13
1x3 Tan Bricks - 48
1x1 Light Bluish Gray Round Tiles - 1,350
1x1 Purple Tiles - 55
Total Pieces - 2,046

Now, lots of these pieces were small, but for 19.99 Canadian, I think this is a pretty good deal.
Like AK said, the fill and shake method really packs in small 1x1 pieces, but otherwise, I stack all bricks and plates to get the maximum price per piece.

Also, an interesting thing that I found from the Eurobricks thread is that you can buy bulk boxes of bricks (and I assume any other piece) for about $70.00
If you are looking to buy a certain piece in a large amount, these boxes will be much cheaper than Bricklink and WAY cheaper than LEGO's online store.
The contents of these boxes fit about (in bricks):
1x1 : 6150
1x2 : 2800
1x3 : 1800
1x4 : 1300
1x6 : 826

2x2 : 1400
2x4 : 675
2x6 : 400

So if you want to build a big gray wall, this is the way to go! In all seriousness, this is a really good deal and if you could get one of 1x2 bricks in LBG, that would be awesome. These are just some things that I have found online while looking for ideas for buying form PAB myself. Hope it is of some help to you guys!

Happy Building,
Sir Valiant~

[SSchmidt]

I went to the closest LEGO store last summer and got 14 large PAB cups and two small ones.


Lego Store loot by SSchmidt--, on Flickr

It was an absolute dream. They had so many good parts. Can't wait to go back.


The first week of February I will be in St.Louis, MO on a work trip. I plan on visiting the LEGO store there. Anyone ever been?

[Brickninja]

Thanks the input so far, guys! I also went and looked on the Eurobricks thread on this, read what people had to say about stacking techniques, and took some notes, so when I make my trip when I get back to the US, I'll be prepared. All I have to say is that I really hope they have this http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=2417 part, because I really need it and I think I only have one, so I'm prepared to go crazy on it. I was mentally drooling at Jordan's photo of a huge stack of them

[Lil_Curt]

I also by brick by the case when I can but check your store fore price and avaliability. I will post a couple of my hauls tomorrow.

An I agree a rhread dedicated to this is great!

Curt

[ACPin]

Fill, shake, repeat!


AC

[plums_deify]

You know...There was a time I'd spend hours packing my PaB cups. I'd stand behind the counter-thing, chat with the staff (made some good friends that way, actually) and was mistaken for an employee myself.

I've just gotten to the point now where I just don't care all that much. I still take care to get as little empty space as possible, but I rarely get base brick anymore. It's usually smaller pieces, which to AC's point, is fill, shake, repeat.

It's still a massive deal to go this route, and the few pennies I'd save for an hour or so of packing just wasn't worth my time anymore.

Also, my closest store is the Imagination Center in Orlando, and I can only take so much time surrounded by tourists. That place is packed well up until closing at 11pm...

Just a note on the boxes: not all stores will sell them. So call ahead and check to see what their policies are.

[Sir Erathor]

I've just got my first two PaB cups from Cardiff in Wales! They're for my birthday next Saturday (I'll post a pick then), and I filled them with 1x4 and 2x4 bley bricks, 100 small plant pieces, OLIVE CHEESE, loads of trans-clear red and white studs, flowers, brown log bricks, and printed 1x2 tiles. It's a great haul! I also got three minifigs, which are great too.

[josdu]

I just got one but i didn't do that much . Oh well, BTW where are you right now?

[Brickninja]

What do you mean? I don't want to post online exactly where I'm living, but my PAB haul will be when I get back to the US(I am living in Europe for a year, and will go back in early July) and I live in south-west United States.

[josdu]

I am living in Europe for a year, and will go back in early July

That's what I meant .

[Lil_Curt]

here is my PAB Haul today. No I haven't counted anything yet, don't know if I will either





An this was my haul last October;

[Sir Valiant]

My most recent haul from the Bellevue Washington LEGO store:
1 Large PAB and 4 Small:



Lots of varying pieces:


Tons of Trans-Clear:


I scored a total of 3,938 Pieces!

Many more pics on Flickr!
Sir Valiant~