Storage and Sorting LEGO

[Brickdoctor]

I don't find that having small pieces mixed with big really makes it easier to sort. I kind of like the idea of having that thing split a group of bricks into 4 sections; I think it would make it easier. Certainly not a silver bullet though. The real question is whether or not it's worth the USA $40. I don't think I'll get one right now.

Well the big LEGO Sorting Head thing is $40 and does the same thing, so you might as well get that instead if you can find one.

[KurttKrueger]

Greetings folks,

I'm looking at getting some new storage for my built display sets.

What do you guys use for display purposes? I've been looking at the Expedit system of storage from IKEA, but I think I might be limiting myself in terms of the size of the set I can display (the Death Star fits in nothing!).

Also, is it worth keeping the boxes to the sets I've bought? My wife is going nuts about the fact that our loft is filling up with Lego boxes. Will it increase their value at a later date?

Cheers,

Kurtt

[Follows Closely]

Greetings folks,

I'm looking at getting some new storage for my built display sets.

What do you guys use for display purposes? I've been looking at the Expedit system of storage from IKEA, but I think I might be limiting myself in terms of the size of the set I can display (the Death Star fits in nothing!).

Also, is it worth keeping the boxes to the sets I've bought? My wife is going nuts about the fact that our loft is filling up with Lego boxes. Will it increase their value at a later date?

Cheers,

Kurtt

If you are going to sell the sets, the boxes add to the value, a good %10-20. I keep my boxes, not for resale, but because they look so nice.

[BelValcor]

I finally got around to reading this thread fully and was surprised that no one has spent the time to make custom labels for their slideout part bin trays.

What I am referring to can be found here by Mike Doyle.

I've done almost the same thing for my bins... well... almost done... it's a process.

I find it SO much easier to find parts very fast using this system.

How I did it:

Each part I wanted to make a label for was loaded up in SR 3D Builder (free).

I screen captured it and then edited the the pic with Paint.net (free) then saved it.

Then used Avery Design Pro (free) to print out the labels with Avery printer labels.

Yes it is time consuming but worth it for me.

Bel

[MinifigFreak2010]

That type of labling wouldn't work out for me. I don't organize the majority of my collection by the piece and/or color method. I use a pretty odd method of organization(check page 18 for my post) that works out great for me. I've tried doing a set organization style and it never worked for me.

And yet my method does evolve. Over the last couple weeks, we moved a display cabinet into my room and the series minifigs I got off ebay moved from the top drawer of a rolling cart to the cabinet and a few boxes(plastic shoeboxs and a larger one) migrated from stacked where ever I could into the case. It's working out pretty well for me. And I also got a 16 drawer hardware organizer(larger drawers like on the 39 drawer one) and am using 2 drawers for vehicle parts and the now empty red container is holding some stray pieces including the IJ jungle cutter thing that I never did finish(I barely got past putting the arms on) and I'm thinking about trying to morph into something of my own creation.

[fred67]

That type of labeling wouldn't work for me, either. I use these Stanley Organizers, in two sizes (one is deeper than the other). I put a label under the handle... "slopes," "1x", "2x," "technic..." Then I also have drawers of stuff, but it's usually a lot of related, but mixed, things. I also know where all my basic (2x2, 2x3, 2x4) are - I use these Sterilite drawers (not that color, though) and have one unit with three drawers for those basic bricks.

I have so many different pieces, labeling the way you suggest would take forever and not work for most of my pieces.

For example, I use something like this for minifigure "customization." It's not that exact one, I can't find a link to the one I have, but it's similar - one carrying case with four organizers in it; one has heads and hair, torsos and legs, head gear; one is specifically for castle themes - weapons, staves (a lot of brickforge and brick arms stuff), armor, shields, bows and crossbows... one has miscellaneous robot/skeleton parts, one has miscellaneous "other" minifig implements (tools and modern weapons, instruments). I know that whole thing is my minifig "kit," I don't need labels.

The only place they'd apply is that I have a single one of these, and frankly I am trying to replace it with something else. It would indeed help to have labels... but using another Stanley organizer with the clear top would be just as good (if not better).

FWIW, if anyone is interested, those Stanley organizers with the removable bins are the best, IMO... clear tops to see what's in each bin at a glance, and the bins are removable so you can dump it or take it out and really dig through it if you need to.

Edited February 14, 2011 by fred67

[Follows Closely]

I finally got around to reading this thread fully and was surprised that no one has spent the time to make custom labels for their slideout part bin trays.

What I am referring to can be found here by Mike Doyle.

...

Its all in my head . My organization evolves too much to make use of labels. Also, only 20% or so of my draws have a single piece in it. Good method for printing however.

I am currently deigning a set of shelves to hold all our loose blocks and build creations. I will post plans as soon as I am finished drawing them up.

[nicoga3000]

I've been trying to organize my collection the past week or so. I'm running into a dilemma though - one I have NO idea how to fix!

I've got pieces like this, this, this, this, etc.

Obviously, simple plates and bricks are easy enough, but what about pieces like those above? And the pieces that are basic 1x2 with extra hinges or connectors? I don't know, my sorting got INCREDIBLY overwhelming. I COULD have little containers for every piece I come by (outside of the basic plates, bricks, wedges), but that might get ridiculous. Anyone run into this and have a decent way to start? Right now, my bricks are all color sorted, but I don't think this is the best way to do it for now.

[fred67]

I've got pieces like this, this, this, this, etc.

It's difficult, no doubt, and everybody's situation is different... for example, I've got a bunch of those "grill" bricks (your first link), enough that they get their own drawer and actually are organized with my train stuff (I have them to make train cars, but I know where they are if I need them for something else)...

The curved slope goes with curved slopes; when I get enough of a single type of piece (or single color for a single type of piece) they get separated out.

Same thing with 1/4 round brick... goes with the round bricks until I get enough of them that they merit their own location.

[nicoga3000]

It's difficult, no doubt, and everybody's situation is different... for example, I've got a bunch of those "grill" bricks (your first link), enough that they get their own drawer and actually are organized with my train stuff (I have them to make train cars, but I know where they are if I need them for something else)...

The curved slope goes with curved slopes; when I get enough of a single type of piece (or single color for a single type of piece) they get separated out.

Same thing with 1/4 round brick... goes with the round bricks until I get enough of them that they merit their own location.

Yeah, I picked some really standard pieces on accident. :P I've got some really odd pieces that just don't fit anywhere sometimes...this and this and this are slightly better examples of oddball pieces. I just have no idea where to start. Every time I have a decent idea, I pull out a piece that doesn't match any category and I end up getting discouraged.

[MinifigFreak2010]

Maybe if you don't have enough for a catagory by itself, how about using one container for "Misc" pieces. That's what I did when I started out w/ my 39 drawer organizer. Once it got to full, i'd go through and either start a new catagory and move pieces out or put some in an existing catagory. That drawer is long gone and made way for a couple misc drawers at the top row. Well, more like 1 mix misc and I think a mixed technic.

[nicoga3000]

Maybe if you don't have enough for a catagory by itself, how about using one container for "Misc" pieces. That's what I did when I started out w/ my 39 drawer organizer. Once it got to full, i'd go through and either start a new catagory and move pieces out or put some in an existing catagory. That drawer is long gone and made way for a couple misc drawers at the top row. Well, more like 1 mix misc and I think a mixed technic.

I never really thought of that...Sort out what I intuitively think to sort and make an "other" container. Once that's full, I can sort of break that down. Hmmmm This could work!

[MinifigFreak2010]

I did that to w/ ziploc bags of stray pieces. Last year, I managed to get most of the stray bags and the little containers I had b4 sorted out. I still have a couple bags of bit and pieces but things are in better shape then b4. When I started the rounding up progress, I found more stuff then I thought I had O_O

[fred67]

Agree with the others... those last two pieces I have a fair amount of because they can be very useful; that first one, though (the hexagonal one with the hole) would be unique, and it would go with unsorted pieces.

There doesn't really seem to be a best way that works for everything.

[Follows Closely]

Yeah, I picked some really standard pieces on accident. :P I've got some really odd pieces that just don't fit anywhere sometimes...this and this and this are slightly better examples of oddball pieces. I just have no idea where to start. Every time I have a decent idea, I pull out a piece that doesn't match any category and I end up getting discouraged.

I have a drawer filled with all things hinge, that covers two of your three. Then I have two drawers per color; large misc and small misc pieces. That is how I solved this problem. Once those drawers get too full I break it down.

Edited February 14, 2011 by Follows Closely

[BelValcor]

That type of labeling wouldn't work for me, either. I use these Stanley Organizers, in two sizes (one is deeper than the other). I put a label under the handle... "slopes," "1x", "2x," "technic..." Then I also have drawers of stuff, but it's usually a lot of related, but mixed, things. I also know where all my basic (2x2, 2x3, 2x4) are - I use these Sterilite drawers (not that color, though) and have one unit with three drawers for those basic bricks.

I use the Stanley organizers too. The deep ones I use to do an initial sort then the shallow ones to break the types down.

I should have mentioned that I work on trains so I don't actually need a million stickers... just about 300 trays worth lol

I have been giving serious thought to using the Stanley organizers for all red, all black or whatever.

The ability to pull out each tray as needed makes the cost of the units worth it.

I suppose the system that a person decides to use for his/her sorting really depends on how or what they build.

Perhaps that is what should be added by people that describe their system... what their building interest is.

Bel

[nicoga3000]

So I went to Wal-Mart last night and found some 6 quart Sterilite tubs for 97 cents a piece. I bought 23 of them.

[fred67]

I suppose the system that a person decides to use for his/her sorting really depends on how or what they build.

Perhaps that is what should be added by people that describe their system... what their building interest is.

Bel

Yeah... I don't think there's a perfect solution, only ones that tend to work better than others, and what works better depends on the individual.

I've been thinking about sorting by color. For a long time I've argued that sorting by part is better... it's easier to find a green 2x3 in a drawer of 2x3s than it is to find a green 2x3 in a drawer full of green 2x2, 2x3, and 2x4s.

But using the Stanley organizer, you'd sort essentially by both and just have all green in one box... that way if I'm working on a green landscape, I don't have to access a bunch of different drawers or organizers, I'd just have the one... but that would require a lot more compartments overall.

So... the quest for the perfect system continues. I wish I had a space like TJ Avery (link to his blog article on his new work area).

[j30spiff]

I'm trying to organize also. Does anyone know of some cheaper alternatives to the Stanley organizers?

[MinifigFreak2010]

Well, there's the disposable food containers sold at most dollar general's(3 or 4 for a buck I think) and shoeboxes run about a buck or so a piece.

and there's the wall mounted hardware organizers vary in price by size. The 18 drawer organizer I got from lowes cost about 16 bucks and I think the 39 drawer cost a little more. the 18 had all drawers that are the larger ones like the 39 drawers 9 big ones.

There's also the little bead sorter boxes that are maybe a couple bucks. Places like walmart, target, DG, dollar tree, etc are bound to have cheap containers.

You first need to decide how your gonna organize and figure out from there.

[fred67]

I'm trying to organize also. Does anyone know of some cheaper alternatives to the Stanley organizers?

It depends on the "granularity" of your sorting and how many pieces you have, but as MinifigFreak2010 mentioned, WalMart is a good start... those plastic shoeboxes come in very handy still for me. You can often find them (at places besides WalMart even) for $1 or so a box.

Great way to start organizing.

[nicoga3000]

97 cents a pop for those "shoe-box" style containers at my local Wal-Mart. Win.

[Jareth]

97 cents a pop for those "shoe-box" style containers at my local Wal-Mart. Win.

I got them from Bed Bath & Beyond.

From my experience buying storage stuff (Plastic Tackle Boxes) for my other hobbies, one of the big drawbacks to wall-mart is that if you decide to get more storage later on, they will have something similar, but not the exact same thing. This makes stacking more difficult and makes it look worse. My advise is that when you set up a storage area, make sure you buy a lot of it, so that you won't have to hunt for the same box again.

Other than plastic shoe-boxes, I use a couple of "brick Buckets" from lego and a Bookcase I picked up on the side of the road. I'd rather spend money on lego than storage.

[TypoCorrecto]

97 cents a pop for those "shoe-box" style containers at my local Wal-Mart. Win.

Agreed...

Edited February 20, 2011 by typo

[Enilder]

Any recommendations for cheap sealed containers for built sets? Brand name? Link? Anything? I have Technic sets that can use some of those things. Most of them cost $30+ per box...Any ideas?