Don't make this LEGO CITY MISTAKE!! 

“I wish the best to everyone who is early and who found this comment” 💕

Great video dude. My wife and I are in the process of building out our room and her biggest complaint about your setup is how wide it is and it's rather busy to the eye. Our collection is roughly the same size as yours though it's mostly not assembled, so we're in the planning phase while we work on sorting and organizing. Knowing that these tables wont work will save me a lot of headaches on the design. Thanks for that and keep up the great work !

Biggest mistake is that moustache

This is insanely detailed. I get told IKEA is where you should go for stuff like this including furniture, but maybe you've proven that IKEA isn't all it's hyped to be when it comes to constructing a LEGO City. Custom built tables seem like the better option even if it would take a lot of work especially since you're also trying to convert the whole city to MILS but it's something to look into after you finish the MILS project. Also, I don't know if it'd be possible, but would you consider doing an "Evolution Of The LEGO City" like video where you show us what it looked like in the old house compared to now? I think that'd be a neat idea for people not familiar with your older content. Anyway, keep up the great work. 👍

An inexpensive solution could be to top the tables with dollar store yoga mats. In the aquarium hobby, people do that to self-level a rimless tank to prevent from cracking.

If you do start building your own tables again you may want to look at MDF. Usually cheaper and holds its shape well. look at the pros and cons. There are ways to work around its drawbacks.

As someone who makes built-in cabinetry, you will need to use shims and fasten custom built tables together with screws. Also, you can’t use “framing lumber “ as it will twist with any moisture. Humidity Control is Paramont when it concerns would work. Best of luck!

As a furniture maker, attaching your tables with metal plates won't work, glueing also won't work because they not real wood, the fibers in the tables don't hold the glue and break. I think you should indeed place large plywood sheets on top of them. And eventually you still can use the plywood to make a large custom table, right? If you need any help/advice, just ask :D

Not to be mean, I would not use IKEA in any part of my house. They use very questionable Sustainability programs for wood and the products are only designed to last five years. City is looking great though.

I like your builds sir Bricksie , please continue making videos about your lego city seeing a great progress is a satisfying thing for me.Huge fan of your creations, by the way Im from the philippines 💪💯 keep safe you'll

Actually glad to see this video as it confirms you realize this is an issue too. Aside from the leveling problem and the forest of legs, the IKEA table solution prevents you from efficiently and creatively using the room beneath. There are many RU-vidrs who build sub-level platforms to house subway stations for example, or other trains. I know you are trying to use the lower level with your setups as is, but you can see how difficult that is to make look right. Additionally, the underwater scene would be so much better if you could properly raise it off the floor on a sublevel. So much more flexibility with wood. I would not waste time leveling the existing tables. Rather, make a project out of replacing your tables, much as you are tackling MILS. It's a big job, but it will provide additional building room, which I know you are always looking for. Not a huge fan of MDF at all since moisture is not its friend. You've already designed good tables with plywood and I'd stick with that. Good Luck! (Have a look at what Brick World is doing. He's moving to a larger space and it might provide some additional inspiration.)

I don’t have much space so what I’m going to do is start small and build a city in my cupboard! I’m going to have multiple layers (3). Do you see any flaws with this?

Each leg of the Ikea table can be adjusted slightly up or down to level the surface. I use bungee cords to tie adjoining legs together from different tables. This helps greatly in leveling adjoining tables.

Well you can look at your missalignment in your lego city as a blessing like a real world issue. There are issues with roads and sidewalks and everything else. Nothing is perfect.

Too bad about the tables. I’d say I wouldn’t glue or screw them, can’t sell them after that. But even just placing large 4x8 ply on top sounds good. Hope you solve the table issue. I built my city table with 2x4 frame and thick ply top. My city is only 4 plates by 7 plates though. :)

As a content creator myself, i love the effort you put in the videos!! I would like some feedback!!

Thats a bummer man, however, I would just take off the modulars/lego, the MILS, and strt breaking down the IKEA tables in preparation for a solid built home made custom table. Good luck

wow i came from todays video and im impresed of how teh city hac changed in a year...

The fact you've transferred so much onto MILS, the transition onto new tables (or better tables) that support the ever expanding Lego City should be relatively easily...well, within reason. Okay, easier...still tricky but mils should help.

Bricksie, you have such a large collection. How do you clean the dust off of it all? How often do you dust them?

I started with IKEA tables and had the exact same problem. I eventually sold them all and made my own tables from mdf and plywood. The best thing about making your own tables is that you can perfectly match them up to LEGO base plates!

Also worth remembering that most floors are not level, so even if the tables are, over a long run you will still get leveling issues. Also worth considering weight - large MDF sheets are very heavy and don't accept screws that well. Even a long span of 3/4" ply over 2x4" beams will bend - without significant bracing. Metal angles and ply is probably the least likely to bend. Also don't make any table length / width exactly divisible by 10" - the Lego plates themselves may be 10x10 for example, but they still need a small gap between each one - and then the plates end up coming over the edge of the table top which makes them easier to bang into...

Best advice I can give is to do it right the first time, stop trying to repair the problem, just build the tables.

I mean a centre leg would probably help against some of the bowing although yes I know it wouldn't solve the leg amount issue

when i get the space for my buildings i cant wait to start my city

Wait what

This is funny. I did custom build by frames. But only because IKEA was sold out of the other tables forever in my area. Lucked out I guess.

If I ever branch out to a larger city, (probably not in the next 7-8 years) I'll keep it in mind!

Now this is some amazing info. We all appreciate you sharing your extensive knowledge and experience with your Lego City build. And what an amazing city you both have created. I’ve said it before but Thank you for this channel and how you so freely share your knowledge and experiences to help the Lego community. Kudos to you both. 👍🏻

I’ve had 8 of the tables you got at lowes (6 years ago) for 8 years and there making a lot of problems. So I agree with you.

Great advice! I was thinking the ikea tables were a good route, thanks for the in-depth review. Custom table build is the best route by far. Resurfacing those tables won’t be worth the time and the effort. Keep up the great work.

nice video!

Here is what I would do if I wanted an enormous flat table. Get engineered I-joists, 10" or 12" high and long enough for the entire table you need and build proper supports on the ends. If you want 70" width, maybe 4 of them side by side. On top, lay down 3/4 OSB sheating. If you want to go nuts, throw down 1/4" MDF on top of that to get a nicer material. The cost will be a fraction of anything else you have tried, and you could drive a full size truck on top of it with minimal deflection.

It sounds like in the long run, even though it would be a huge pain in the but, the custom tables would be the best for your city and your lego

Go to your local Train Hobby shop and they will show you how to build your layout tables . They have it down . Honest . They have Books on How to Build your Train Layout from Scratch . STOP TRYING TO REINVENT THE WHEEL SO TO SPEAK ... GOOD LUCK !

Ikea products are cheap and flimsy. Don't like any of it. Thanks for the video. Been searching and searching for the best table ideas around.

Bricksie, you should be able to shim with paper and chipboard right under the Mils Plates since they are ridged. It would be the most cost effective and offer you the most adjustment. Just find your low spots and raise that side/corner of the Mils with the materials. I would probably go in as far a possible with the shims as long as you do not disturb the sides you already adjusted. Maybe around 3-4 inches. Let me know if this does not make sense.

I don’t think people understand why the tables are failing. No, a yoga matt won’t work. Angle steel beam won’t work,another leg won’t work. THE TABLES ARE HALLOW!!! The tops are sinking into that hallow cavity. I don’t know why I let a bunch of 12 years olds climb under my past nerve. 😂

Wow I didn't know that about the IKEA tables. Thanks for sharing this video. I was gonna convert my tables to the IKEA tables. And also IKEA doesnt have the greatest quality furniture.

(8mins 20secs) This problem is a bit like the Gotham City issue in the Lego Batman Movie. You've built a world on top of a set of tables and now there's a risk it will all fall apart. Imagine if it did! An earthquake in Lego City could destroy whole buildings or streets.

Dude, have you seen the price of plywood lately? Building custom will cost you a small fortune! Although I agree that is the way to go... I started my city on a reused HO train platform that I had built (and fortunately kept...) years ago. So when we expanded, it was naturally the only way to go for the expansion (and future expansions) as well. Good luck...tough call.

Stacking Foldable tables to use for storage shelves is just disaster waiting to happen I feel like lol you'd be cheaper to just sell them and buy a metal storage unit tbh, can get them from Sam's or Costco for $65 or less.

If you want to custom build tables and get that clean white look I'd recommend checking out iron-on melamine edging and a melamine cutter. Fairly cheap way to get that IKEA look with better quality materials.

He keeps saying the tables are not level when referring to the surface being bowed. A table that is LEVEL is not the same as being FLAT. Same with the floor. You can have a flat floor that is not level and the tables will still be even with each other. If they are out of level and/or not flat, things will roll around on the surface.

What I found worked best was laying a smooth cement slab that was perfectly level, then use adjustable legs on a double layer of mdf.

I don't think I can share a link, but on my page I have a small video of a fold down Lego Shelf I custom made for my kids. It's a smaller scale, but may work for some people. I'm not trying to promote my page, it's nothing but my personal, just sharing an idea to the community. .

Bricksie I was wondering what is that colorful structure with names? Is it how many people have subbed to you? I hope you don’t mind if I stay on your channel being subscribed!

Very good and Impressive Video I am from India and recently I visited torronto where I play with Lego with my grand children and now I plan to build the same once I go back to India I have one question, how much does this Lego City cost u , I mean how much money u invest to make this city

We got the fold out. One s. But strong good one. That don't bow in the middle 👍 wood will worpe in heat the chandge in the cold plus all the shelfing. Around the wall s. In that part of the room. You could of built the city biger and put all the shelf in the part where steep are . This is why I only. Collect. Set. For Lego City. And Not. Collect so Manny desplay set s . Only thing with the good fold out table I yousing. Is the part on side the conect when folding out the leg s as big tub s stack up..what fit in as I would like but I got lots of storidge tub s under my city .

I get the alignment, but.... what real city is perfectly aligned. I see roads in real life with inconsistent height curbs etc, all the time. I think the imperfection isn't an issue.

Solution... don't use tables. Build on the floor... infinite space!

Don't worry, I got you fam. Get the largest rolls of cork sheet. As it is thin and cheap and it will naturally compress to absorb the contours. And it looks like soil below the lego world 😁

Ouch that's quit the predicament ur in there. Can't say I'd blame U for building ur own tables again.

I would go check out building ideas from the model railroad communities and take some of their ideas and adapt them for lego city. One thing I know that is popular is to build a wood frame and then top that with 1" or 2" foam insulation board.

Go with the custom built table idea. You’ll be happier in the end!

Amazing, this city has plate tectonics. Are the minifigs prepared for earthquakes?

instead of painting the sides of the custom tables install mali mean to the sides. another thought would be to make tables, so if you want to change the shape for layout/expansion. Or relocating all of the city to another building. it isn't the problem of the "ship in a bottle"

Follow a benchtop building guide from a model railroading guide. You have lots of options available too you. Be an excuse to invest in some power tools.

Ikea products are no where near good quality. You get what you paid for. Well, thats how it is here in Japan😅 hope things will turn out for the best. Thanks for sharing

Oooo....learned the hard way.... I have a custum table but that's more to het the most of the space and it is cheaper...

Could you adjust the legs or prop the legs with paper/cardboard underneath the level them?

Man I made this same mistake a year ago when I saw your video. Now I’m 7 tables deep lmao. Might get my carpenter to just build me a custom tablr

might be stupid solution, I dont know. Could you use the legs to on the corners of the table? So 1 table leg would be connected to 2 tables? or even 4 tables?

I'm just about to revamp my layout and while I'm at it I'm building a new table so it's kinda funny this popped up :)

For now I only have a small city, I use 3 of the IKEA tables and it works for now. If I ever get more room I plan on making my own table

I’m in the process of making my lego city and I am building my own rolling table I’m so exicted

you could just move the legs so that they all support the table surfaces where they connect. Put one on each corner where four plates meet. Place the rest so that they support to tables and one in the middle of each plate.

We use legs only where needed and bridge two or three tables together using the large circular leg bracket. This enables us to have a consistent level and a lot less legs. Sorry I can’t post a picture to show how it works

Just live with it, it's not a big deal, and it'll save you time and money that you'll spend on such a minor problem.

I’ve been making small LEGO cities in a pax cabinet. The shelves also bow.

Bro you got to shave that thing under your nose it’s so suss!!! 🤷‍♂️🤣🤦‍♂️

That sucks with these Ikea tables!!!😮‍💨 Make a costom tables🙌🤩

I want to start a lego city however ... I don't have the space right now....

I used a ping pong table/table tennis table it had a huge gap in the middle so I made it a huge ravine😂

Maybe use different thickness cardboard on top where needed?

The best tables you can use in my opinion table tennis tables 100% flat strong and a nice size

LOL, and I bought 8 tables from ikea inspired by you :P

Consider them frost heaves 😂 Just like Edmonton 😆

Yes, that's a problem. I'm sure you'll come up with the best solution!

Thank god you got rid of that mustache. That was not ok.

i still have a folding table city my city isnt that big yet but as you said it works for a small city

How do you deal with dust that settles all over the LEGO city?

If the corners are the only problem then sand the edges.

Uneven sidewalks you say ? Ha ! Added realism lol

Solution 4: Power Sander and a bit of revenge!

Actually, dont even try building one.

Great video. Liked the information.

you can une 1 leg for more then one table thats what i use

Bricksie is cooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool

I thought the mistake would be dust 🤣

Lessons learned as you build grows.

Ever heard of Brickcrafts?

This all makes great sense and it fantastic advice - what would you estimate the cost difference to be for all the supplies to build your own compared to the Ikea tables - not that peace of mind can have a price - but still - its still a consideration..

Coulda painted the wood white

The tables are not all that bad...

One thing you have to consider as well are the floors. To the eye they may seem level but basement floors are not level and always runs towards a central drain. I am running into this as well with my city and these Ikea tables

My display is 96x64 studs. Small right? But I think of it in terms of a scene that can be photographed, and I can fill a photo frame entirely with LEGO at this size. I don't use the MILS system. I have my own system which has an 8x8 tiled grid with a 6x6 lip on the bottom of each floor section... each 8x8 grid square can be lifted in and out really easily. I have all my floors, buildings and background skies or walls built to fit the 8x8 grid. So when I want to change the scene, I just lift out the 8x8 modules and swap them out with new modules for the next scene. Also, because they are square modules, you can rotate them and have things facing different ways - It really allows for a lot of customisation, and I don't have to have a ton of layout desks - I just have my display on one office desk, and keep the 8x8 modules stacked in boxes or on shelves when they are not needed.

A custom table is the way to go

Lego city looks cool though

I’m not sure someone suggested it, but as a temporary solution, I would remove some of the legs and screw from 2 to up to four tables together with one leg only. This would (temporarily)solve the leavening problem and the number of table legs you have. Every corner of these tables is not hollow and has a wood piece to attach the legs and be a bit more stable. But I agree with other suggestions of covering everything with plywood-great Job with the building. I love the channel, founding recently.