For all the years of building and taking apart LEGO I've never owned or even used a brick seperator. Am I the only one? I'm sure it  comes in handy for those flat plates but I've always managed to get by.

I use one to separate plates so they don't have fingernail marks, but that's about it.

Absolutely!! I've got around a million of these stupid things, and they work great IMO. Finger savers!! I am now giving them out to my customers who order larger used sets just to get rid of some of these damn things.

If you have one of the Lego tables that kids can sit at, and you have flat plates, you almost have to have one of these.

I love them, they make my life a lot less stressful. 

All the time.

Every day, especially when I'm sorting through bulk lots.

Just got my first one last week.  Can't believe I didn't know about this finger saver before!!

I use one to separate plates so they don't have fingernail marks, but that's about it.

Same here. I also use it sometimes when I am taking a set apart that has a lot of plates.

Sometimes, more for smaller pieces though.

They work great for pins and axles also, as well as a great wedge to pry with. Well thought out tool and so simple!

Figuring out how to actually use it is key. I can tear down so much faster with a separator than without now that I know there is far more to it than the sharp wedge.

Not me of course, but I heard that people use them for non Lego things, like safely scarping an old gasket of a cylinder block, flipping pee's at dinner, as a knife for condiments and so on. 

For my personal builds I never did, but once I started buying used sets to sell I think I could not leave without one. My fingers thanked me for it.

For years, I used these before discovering the Lego brick separator:

 

When did these things come around, anyway? I'm fairly sure they didn't have them in the 80s when I needed them most. At least, they weren't included in any sets I had.

Separate plates - that is it.

we keep two at the table in a bowl with other stuff pens yadda yadda yadda. It's always nice to know where they are, when we are building and or breaking down sets for cleaning. saves time and stress with the small plates stuck to each other. even sold a group of 15 can't remember how much but sure it was for more then a buck a piece.

All the time.  Both my kids and I find them useful.

Hmm ive never tried separating plated with it. I have a stack I squished together while picking up my PAB box, I'll have to try it out.

When did these things come around, anyway? I'm fairly sure they didn't have them in the 80s when I needed them most. At least, they weren't included in any sets I had.

'The LEGO Book' states the seperators first came out in 1988. I would have guessed mid 80s myself because I thought were around forever!

Everytime I go to the toy or LEGO store I see them available and everytime I think to myself "why do I want spend $3 or more for one?" lol!

'The LEGO Book' states the seperators first came out in 1988. I would have guessed mid 80s myself because I thought were around forever!

Everytime I go to the toy or LEGO store I see them available and everytime I think to myself "why do I want spend $3 or more for one?" lol!

I never did get one back in the day but, boy, I wish I had. Now that I have a couple laying around (very first one was from a Games set; can't remember which off hand), I always use them when building and/or taking down builds. The process goes so much quicker and my hands thank me for it everyday. Ha. Life before a brick separator, oh what sore fingers had I. :blackeye:

Well...

I liked the chunky feel of the old green ones, which I still have.  These orange ones have more dissembling applications, but they are more uncomfortable, and they come in just about any set over $40.

Love them for stacked 2x1 plates

 

Although I must say I prefer the old school one

 

my 30 yr old brick separator