Where do i start?

[BabaGanoosh]

Hello!

After stumbling across some youtube videos i have once again become interested in lego. I used to play with legos all the time when i was a kid, especially with my brothers red lego technic race car.

Anyway, im now a mechanical engineering student, and i thought it would be a good idea to buy some lego technic pieces again just to experiment with gears, design machines and stuff. Question is, where do i start? Is it possible to just buy a bag of random pieces, or do i have to buy a set and cannibalize it?

[Corrado]

At first i recommend you to buy some bigger sets and combine them. When you learn "know how",  buy single bricks and do somthing! 

[mortenm]

Welcome to EB!

You might wanna have a look at this thread:

 

[suffocation]

Welcome!

I'd recommend getting a discounted copy of the bucket wheel excavator (42055) - I think it doesn't get any better in terms of beginner's parts packs, especially if you're more into complex machinery rather than cars.

[BabaGanoosh]

Thanks guys!

Now i just need to find some money...

[suffocation]

I'd also recommend getting a copy of @Sariel's book, where you can learn about all kinds of building techniques, their pros and cons, how to apply them depending on the type of model you're building and its features, etc.

[Erik Leppen]

To people who are new, I always recommend to start small first. First, get a decent smaller set, so that you can ensure yourselves you like the Lego Technic way of building. You better know that before you're going to spend hundreds of dollars on it. Use the advices of many people in the "which Technic set to buy" topic @mortenm linked to just above, or just go to a store and pick a set you like, and build both its models.

If you're into mechanisms, I wouldn't pick any of the Pullback sets (those ~20 dollar sets of fast road vehicles). Get something that has more functions.

If you like the set, you can go and check out larger sets. I think most sets would be fine, as long as you like it yourself.

And besides that, the only way to get into it, is just go build something. Anything goes. These forums are also a pretty cool way to get feedback on builds and maybe get inspiration or ideas for things to build. There's currently a contest going on where all of us are challenged to design mechanisms we normally don't use, in builds of theme park rides (those use wildly different moving parts than the usual vehicles that many of us normally build.)

[zux]

Yes, getting some sets is great for start. You can build your collection of major parts quite quickly. But if you need specific part you can get it on Bricklink and don't need to buy whole set just to acquire that piece. However it is sometimes cheaper to buy the whole set. 

[Phleep]

I awoke from one of my dark ages when the motorized bulldozer came out. I got that set and started building different things just from the parts of that particular set. I highly recommend just getting one set that draws you and then spending a good amount of time with the pieces, building the a & b model and then having a go at creating your own stuff from the same pieces.