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Reversing studs on LEGO bricks & plates

One of the issues LEGO fans run into while building their own LEGO creations is needing LEGO elements with studs on both tops and bottoms. As you probably know, there are no such standard LEGO elements. LEGO bricks and plates have a top with studs, and holes at the bottom. However there are legitimate reasons why someone would want to have such elements.

LEGO Plate Stud Reversal

We have actually discussed the issue of reversing studs on LEGO bricks a few years ago (see: LEGO Building Technique: Inverting Studs), however since then more techniques have been discovered by creative LEGO fans, and also LEGO released some new elements that can be used for the purpose. LEGO fan Kosmas Santosa nicely summarized the available techniques in a couple of videos, that I will share with you below.

LEGO Brick Stud Reversal

โžก INVERTING STUDS ON LEGO PLATES: These are particularly useful techniques as you can achieve a very thin stud reversal. (1.) The first method uses a 1×1 round plate with a hole in the middle. This element is fairly new, but quickly became a fan-favorite due to its usefulness. In the video below two of these plates are combined with a cut section of a flexible or rigid LEGO hose. (2.) The second technique uses the ring from the LEGO Lord of the Rings sets. This method achieves having two receiving ends instead of two studs. Unfortunately the ring has only appeared in a few sets and only comes in chrome-gold, however if you can get one you will find it very helpful for all sorts of applications – including this one. (3.) The third technique uses the handles of LEGO buckets. For this technique the plates you are inverting need to be at least 2×3 studs. (4.) The last technique uses the lever handles to invert the studs on LEGO plates. This technique –ย and the previous one – can be used for large LEGO plates as well.

โžก INVERTING STUDS ON LEGO BRICKS: Here you will be learning how to reverse standard LEGO bricks. (1.) The first technique uses the same method we discussed a few years ago (see article link above) using LEGO Technic half-pins available in many LEGO sets. With this technique you can connect bricks to bricks or bricks to plates. The downside is that there is going to be a little bit of a gap where the ring of the Technic pin is exposed. The upside is that this is a very versatile technique you can use for 1×1 LEGO bricks all the way to the largest ones. (2.) The second technique uses 1×2 “cheese” slopes. This is a particularly nice technique as it doesn’t put any pressure on the elements, there is no gap between the connected bricks, and the connection is very sturdy. Also, you can use 1×1 “cheese” slopes to connect LEGO bricks to LEGO plates with no gap in between them. (3.) The third technique uses 3 mm flexible or rigid LEGO hose pieces to connect the bricks. The fourth technique mentioned in the video is simply a more esoteric variation of this.

There is one technique that is not mentioned in either of the videos. This method uses a small LEGO wheel that has basically two reversed studs already. It can be attached to both LEGO plates and LEGO bricks to invert the direction of your building.

LEGO Stud Reversal

I hope these techniques help you in your own LEGO projects! What do you think? Have you used any of the techniques discussed here? Are you planning to? Feel free to share and discuss in the comment section below! Also, if you know of other creative and useful LEGO techniques you can share those as well. Happy building! ๐Ÿ˜‰

And you might also like to check out the following related posts:

{ 27 comments… add one }
  • Tom November 7, 2014, 10:38 AM

    I’ve used the ring technique several times as I have 18 of them. I’ve also done the lever trick but the rest are interesting. Maybe I’ve a use for those small wheels now!

    • admin November 7, 2014, 10:41 AM

      Tom, yes, the small wheels are great. I was not familiar with the bucket handle technique, but it works beautifully for plates. LEGO fans are so resourceful and clever! ๐Ÿ™‚

      • legogeek November 7, 2014, 12:19 PM

        Practically once I got a bucket handle I tried to shove it in different places so I knew about that one but not the others.

        • admin November 7, 2014, 1:59 PM

          Hm… nice! I like to experiment with new parts too, but I didn’t think of using the handle in such a way. ๐Ÿ™‚

  • gid617 November 7, 2014, 11:02 AM

    I’d never seen the wheel one before; I’ll have to remember that as I think I have quite a few. How thick is it? looks like one plate, but is it not exact?

    • admin November 7, 2014, 11:14 AM

      The wheels are a tad thicker than a plate. Just a little bit. I could have taken a picture of that too but haven’t thought of it.

  • Carbo November 7, 2014, 11:40 AM

    Wow, those are some pretty cool techniques used. And admin, I have a post ready. All it needs are some pictures. We just got our computer set up, so I will be typing more once again!

  • ninja of stealth November 7, 2014, 12:00 PM

    Good thing to know about the wheel, I would have never thought of that. I’ve also have been trying to figure out how to do this! this will really help my projects look better. how come I’ve never thought of this! thanks for a great post! ๐Ÿ˜€

  • NRG Cole November 7, 2014, 1:51 PM

    Wasn’t there an inverting piece that came in that huge collectors edition b-wing?

    • admin November 7, 2014, 2:02 PM

      There is no “official” inverting piece by LEGO, however there are many ways to achieve the result. The techniques above were developed by LEGO fans, and are somewhat unconventional and would be even considered “illegal” by LEGO designer standards, but LEGO has their own techniques as well. They use hinges, clips, Technic parts, or bricks with pin-holes to invert the direction of building.

      • legogeek November 7, 2014, 5:39 PM

        That is what I mostly do.

  • Kim November 7, 2014, 3:13 PM

    I’m sure you’ll do a full article on this, but did you see they approved Big Bang Theory in Lego Ideas? I’m a but surprised! I’d have thought people would have more objections to that more adult theme than The Simpsons, though, admittedly, the Simpsons actually isn’t as bad as a lot of people seem to think it is. Anyway, I’m not a Big Bang Theory fan but by the original model, there’s some potential for some very interesting pieces to be included, so I may just get it for parts. I hope it has good availability.

    • admin November 7, 2014, 4:46 PM

      Kim, yep, just wrote an article about it this morning and also shared some of my thoughts. It won’t be published until next week though as I already had all slots filled up for this weekend and early next week. If I remember correctly I scheduled it for Wednesday. I’m really curious to hear from our readers what they think. ๐Ÿ™‚

  • BLProductions November 7, 2014, 5:21 PM

    They’re great techniques, all illegal of course, but that’s fine. It looks like I might be able to use a few of these on my Tumbler, if I could. But, I have no bucket handles, only one holed-1×1 rd. plate, and only one flex tube that I’m not enthusiastic about cutting, in case I need it as a replacement. The Ring is an interesting idea, I’d have to take mine off of Shadow’s hat (which will have consequences) to try it. I usually use quarter-pegs to invert my bricks, but they don’t work on everything. ๐Ÿ˜
    Also, admin, I’ve been meaning to ask this for some time, but do you know if there’s a minimum age limit for the Brickset homepage? I’m aware of the Forum limit, but I’ve not heard of a home one. And ugh, limits make me think of Calculus…. I can’t wait till I’m through with it. ๐Ÿ˜•

    • BLProductions November 7, 2014, 5:28 PM

      Oh, yeah, and how about this: The MMMBs are ending. http://www.bricksetforum.com/discussion/17232/monthly-mini-model-build-mmmb-program-is-ending That’s a bummer, as I haven’t even got one of them. ๐Ÿ™

      • admin November 7, 2014, 5:29 PM

        Yeah, I’m planning to write about that. Sad news indeed. ๐Ÿ˜•

    • admin November 7, 2014, 5:29 PM

      LOL! Yeah, I couldn’t wait to be old enough to have those limits go away! That’s why I don’t require registration here or have an age limit. But this is just a blog so I can get away with it. For forums there are strict government regulations. As far as the main Brickset site, I just sent over an email to Huw to confirm. I told him you were awesome and he should let you register. ๐Ÿ˜‰

      • BLProductions November 7, 2014, 7:20 PM

        Thanks! ๐Ÿ™‚ I’m not too concerned about the limits in the forum, as I’m content not joining, just reading. Although I really like the Brickset Builders’ Guild.
        BTW, I’m sure you’ve seen this by now, but I found this yesterday: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGC6h0OnbRA . I thought Supes was Jelly. ๐Ÿ˜•

        • admin November 7, 2014, 7:57 PM

          Yeah, I have that video ready as a post. I think I scheduled it for Tuesday. It is so funny! Okay so I heard back from Huw. He said there is no age limit on the main site, and as you know it is 16 on the forum. ๐Ÿ™‚

          • BLProductions November 8, 2014, 9:42 PM

            Thanks very much, admin! ๐Ÿ™‚

  • BuilderFox November 15, 2014, 5:40 PM

    I have a specialized plate piece with studs on both sides.

    • admin November 15, 2014, 9:43 PM

      That’s really sweet! I know Megabloks makes some, so there are out there.

      • BuilderFox November 17, 2014, 5:42 PM

        I can’t find it in my collection now, but when I’ll find it, definitely link to a picture. It’s a 2×2 plate with double sided studs. It’s an unmarked piece, so I can’t say for sure where it’s from.

        • admin November 17, 2014, 6:06 PM

          A picture would be great. Those are very useful pieces. I’m pretty sure thought it is made my Megabloks. ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Rustybrick March 27, 2016, 12:11 AM

    hi, great article, great “illegal” tecniques to invert the studs of the bricks…
    i use another method, legal, a bit tall but works:
    the lightsaber hilt has the same studs and u can connect the bottom of any brick or plate… yes there are a gap between the two bricks u use, but works very well

    • admin March 27, 2016, 9:11 AM

      Yes, that’s a good one too! ๐Ÿ˜€

  • Crash Course Goomba August 18, 2021, 12:45 PM

    There’s also the K’nex method. You stick a K’nex Spacer (Short) to the bottom of the plate (1 For Turning Bricks, And 2 or more for Solid Connection)! Please note though, This doesn’t work for 1×1-2 bricks. this can only work for Legos with the big dots in the middle.

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