Dispenser/Item-Property Based Nonstackable Sorting

The most versatile method of sorting Nonstackables by item-type is using dispensers. This is because dispensers have special interactions with a certain list of items. 

The following is a list of all items that interact with dispensers in a unique way, as well as their method for sorting using that property 

Note: this list is shown the order that items are typically sorted through in a Nonstackable Sorting System (NSS). Each sorter may not work if all previous item types have not been removed. 

Shears/Copper Brushes/Flint & Steel:

Shears are used by dispensers to interact with sharable mobs, such as sheep, bogged, and mooshrooms. Brushes are used to a similar effect on armadillos for their scutes. Because of this interaction, a dispenser will never shoot out shears or brushes from its inventory. These items can be sorted as shown below by firing a dispenser into a honey block as the item enters the dispenser. Shears and brushes will be left behind in the dispenser and move down into the hopper on the left, while other items will be shot into the honey block to be picked up by the hopper on the right. Note the honey block is not required, but it stops usage of durability on the sorted items, and allows the system to accept liquid buckets.

 

[insert image of shears/brush/f&s sorter here] 

These 3 items can be further differentiated using their own special properties. 

Flint & Steel:

Flint and steel can be sorted using its ability to start fires with dispensers. As shown below, an observer detects the attempt to make a fire by the dispenser and unlocks a hopper below to remove any detected flint and steel. Note that this uses a durability point of the flint & steel. 

[insert picture of f&s sorter here] 

Copper Brush:

Brushes are not typically sorted from shears in a storage, but they can be sorted using their interaction with armadillos. The item from brushing an armadillo spawns in a predictable location, so it can be detected and used to allow only brushes through. 

[insert image of brush sorter here] 

Shears:

In a practical NSS, shears are not sorted using any specific mathod, instead by removing flint & steel and brushes from the stream. However, it is possible to sort shears only by using the same method as brushes but with a sheep instead. This is impractical because of its speed. 

Bucket of Water/Powdered Snow/Lava:

Buckets with liquid will not be shot out by a dispenser but their liquids will be placed in air, leaving an empty bucket inside the dispenser's inventory. The liquid can also be picked back up by the dispenser, so firing the dispenser twice will shoot out any non-liquid items and leave the bucket with liquid inside the dispenser to be removed by a hopper. 

[insert image of liquid sorter here] 

The 3 sortable liquid buckets can also be differentiated using their unique liquid properties. 

Bucket of Water:

Water is the only fluid that can occupy the same space as another block (with the exception of powdered snow and vines due to a bug),. soTo usingsort water, use the previously explained method, except with the air in frontmethod of the dispenser swapped withdouble-pulsing a dispenser, but face it into a slab, stair, or other waterloggable block that iscannot notbe destroyed by lava. Powdered snow and lava will sortshoot out into the slab while water outwill frombe lavaplaced and powderedpicked snow.back up, remaining in the dispenser. 

[insert picture of water sorter here] 

Bucket of Powdered Snow:

Powdered snow can be sorted from lava using the fact that it is a block and movable by pistons. A typical powdered snow sorter will place the liquid on top of obsidian and attempt to activate a piston with a slime block touching the liquid facing downwards. If the liquid is water or lava, the piston will be able to move, as there is nothing in the way of its movement. If the liquid is powdered snow, it will attach to the slime and stop the piston from moving. Detecting when this happens allows the sorting of powdered snow from other liquids. 

Bucket of Lava: 

Lava is not sorted by property, and is instead sorted by default after all other liquids are sorted. However, it is possible to sort lava by flow speed or sponges, but this is impractical.

Boat/Chest Boat:

Boats and chest boats can be placed on water with dispensers. To sort boats and chest boats, face the dispenser into water with a hopper below it. Any non-boat items will be shot out and picked up by the hopper. Placed boats can be broken by fire, lava, or cactus and picked up with a hopper. Note that the dropped boat item tends towards the south. 

Chest boats can also be sorted from boats. 

Chest Boat:

Chest boats have an inventory, so hoppers or droppers are able to place an item into them. The item leaving the hopper or dropper can be detected and used to sort chest boats from boats. 

Minecart/Chest Minecart/Hopper Minecart/TNT Minecart:

Dispensers can place minecarts into rails. The placed minecarts can then be broken and picked up as items. 

The four minecart types can also be separated by their properties.