<p>There's the great LEGO Brick Separator that can be bought in the <a href="http://shop.lego.com/en-US/Brick-Separator-630" rel="nofollow noreferrer">LEGO Online Shop</a>:</p>
<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/63rKN.jpg" alt="Brick Separator" /></p>
<p>I love this thing. It's just great if you want to take care of your nails and teeth.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-12T15:03:19.587Z
As of now it has been replaced with a new variation.
mindstormsboi
CC BY-SA 4.0
2011-10-25T19:59:25.090Z
2020-11-30T23:09:22.937Z
2020-11-30T23:09:22.937Z
oezi
<p>I use a fingernail most times,  or a guitar pick if the bricks are stuck too firmly. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-10-25T19:58:39.017Z
2011-10-25T19:58:39.017Z
Rory Alsop
<p>Or you could use, guess what, a <strong>new</strong> brick separator:</p>
<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/jZFFB.jpg" alt="96874 — Human Tool, Brick and Axle Separator" /></p>
<p>(<a href="http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=96874" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=96874</a>)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2011-11-02T14:20:10.397Z
2020-12-02T07:33:34.313Z
2020-12-02T07:33:34.313Z
Joubarc
<p>I normally use two big bricks: one on the top and one at the bottom.  Then you push down while rotating.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-10-25T19:59:00.543Z
2011-10-25T19:59:00.543Z
pcantin
<p>In addition to the Brick Separator, there are some parts that work well for this</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/3OlKQ.jpg" alt="brick separator alternative"></p>

<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/retracile/5377762249/" rel="noreferrer">Original here</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-11-02T03:47:02.867Z
2011-11-03T00:24:05.440Z
2011-11-03T00:24:05.440Z
retracile
<p>I (and my sons) use a plastic knife designed for children. We found ours in IKEA (larger bricks for houses)</p>

<p>I have also used <a href="http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=92585">this lego tool</a> with moderate success</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-10-25T19:58:31.817Z
2011-10-25T20:05:48.543Z
2011-10-25T20:05:48.543Z
Steen
<p>A flat-style staple remover (as opposed to the jaws style) does well to maintain the surface of a stuck brickage. It also can be jimmied back and forth without much slippage.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-10-25T19:59:00.567Z
2011-10-25T19:59:00.567Z
mfg
<p>Disclaimer: I haven't tried this personally.</p>

<p>You could use two removal-tools (one to grab the top piece, one to grab the bottom piece)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-10-25T19:59:00.373Z
2011-10-25T19:59:00.373Z
Jimmy
<p>You can always try the Official <a href="http://shop.lego.com/en-US/Brick-Separator-630" rel="nofollow">LEGO Brick Separator</a>. It would probably take a couple to work best on 1x2s though - one on the top, one on the bottom.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-10-25T19:58:40.623Z
2011-10-25T19:58:40.623Z
Raleigh Buckner
<p>I usually put 1x2 bricks on the top and bottom of the stack of plates. This gives me enough leverage to break up the stack between the two plates. Afterwards, I remove the plates from the bricks.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-12-01T11:49:45.453Z
2020-12-01T11:49:45.453Z
Sir Cornflakes
<p>I've separated several plates (and bricks too) with a simple spring-based hair clip.</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/gXkAd.gif" alt="enter image description here"></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-27T22:11:08.050Z
Ew! No metal bits!
gev
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-27T22:12:25.793Z
Why not? It's been quite successful for me.
Scimonster
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-27T22:14:19.730Z
Because metal damages our precious ABS bits.
gev
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-27T20:57:33.767Z
2014-10-27T20:57:33.767Z
Scimonster
<p>You could try the great brick separator. Designed for this specific purpose, it's probably your best bet.</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/cw4ZF.jpg" alt="enter image description here">
<img src="https://i.sstatic.net/PXO1N.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-10-25T20:02:12.473Z
Perfect image...
Raleigh Buckner
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-10-25T20:00:11.453Z
2016-04-18T11:59:59.427Z
2016-04-18T11:59:59.427Z
tombull89
<p>Teeth and pliers tend to leave unsightly marks on the bricks.</p>

<p>Fingernails don't work too well.</p>

<p>What tool do you recommend to separate them?</p>

<tools><disassembly>
What tool can get two 1x2 plates apart without damaging them?
Friend Of George
# What tool can get two 1x2 plates apart without damaging them?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2011-10-25)

Teeth and pliers tend to leave unsightly marks on the bricks.

Fingernails don't work too well.

What tool do you recommend to separate them?

**Tags:** tools, disassembly


---

## 12 answers

### Answer by username_14 on 2011-10-25. Score: 51 | Accepted answer

You could try the great brick separator. Designed for this specific purpose, it's probably your best bet.

![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/cw4ZF.jpg)
![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/PXO1N.jpg)

> **Comments:**
> **username_10**: Perfect image...  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2011-11-02. Score: 21

Or you could use, guess what, a **new** brick separator:

![96874 — Human Tool, Brick and Axle Separator](https://i.sstatic.net/jZFFB.jpg)

(<http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=96874>)


---

### Answer by username_5 on 2011-10-25. Score: 21

I normally use two big bricks: one on the top and one at the bottom. Then you push down while rotating.


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### Answer by username_6 on 2011-11-02. Score: 17

In addition to the Brick Separator, there are some parts that work well for this

![brick separator alternative](https://i.sstatic.net/3OlKQ.jpg)

[Original here](http://www.flickr.com/photos/username_6/5377762249/).


---

### Answer by username_1 on 2011-10-25. Score: 15

There's the great LEGO Brick Separator that can be bought in the [LEGO Online Shop](http://shop.lego.com/en-US/Brick-Separator-630):

![Brick Separator](https://i.sstatic.net/63rKN.jpg)

I love this thing. It's just great if you want to take care of your nails and teeth.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: As of now it has been replaced with a new variation.  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2011-10-25. Score: 8

I use a fingernail most times, or a guitar pick if the bricks are stuck too firmly.


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### Answer by username_7 on 2011-10-25. Score: 6

I (and my sons) use a plastic knife designed for children. We found ours in IKEA (larger bricks for houses)

I have also used [this lego tool](http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=92585) with moderate success


---

### Answer by username_8 on 2011-10-25. Score: 4

A flat-style staple remover (as opposed to the jaws style) does well to maintain the surface of a stuck brickage. It also can be jimmied back and forth without much slippage.


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### Answer by username_9 on 2011-10-25. Score: 2

Disclaimer: I haven't tried this personally.

You could use two removal-tools (one to grab the top piece, one to grab the bottom piece)


---

### Answer by username_10 on 2011-10-25. Score: 2

You can always try the Official [LEGO Brick Separator](http://shop.lego.com/en-US/Brick-Separator-630). It would probably take a couple to work best on 1x2s though - one on the top, one on the bottom.


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### Answer by username_11 on 2020-12-01. Score: 0

I usually put 1x2 bricks on the top and bottom of the stack of plates. This gives me enough leverage to break up the stack between the two plates. Afterwards, I remove the plates from the bricks.


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### Answer by username_12 on 2014-10-27. Score: -1

I've separated several plates (and bricks too) with a simple spring-based hair clip.

![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/gXkAd.gif)

> **Comments:**
> **username_13**: Ew! No metal bits!  
> **username_12**: Why not? It's been quite successful for me.  
> **username_13**: Because metal damages our precious ABS bits.  

---

