Storage and Sorting LEGO

[MasterTyvokka]

A couple of weeks ago I bought about 80 lbs. of Legos off of goodwill. I have begun sorting them (incredibly tedious) and I am trying to figure out the best storage solutions. I am organizing them by part, mostly. What I am trying to figure out is the best containers to buy. I've got 10 6 quart containers and 1 Akro Mills like set of drawers. The drawers will do for smaller stuff but I am realizing that they really aren't big enough for all the flats I have. These might work https://www.amazon.com/STERILITE-Organizer-Mini-Drawer-Pack/dp/B014E30YX6  but I am guessing there are some types of pieces that I will need something smaller for. Maybe a combination of Akro Mills style drawers and the above? Any suggestions?

 

The other thing I am considering is whether I need all of these pieces or could sell some. I will be mostly using them for mocs, either creating mock ups so I can then by the exact pieces on Bricklink or smaller mocs.

[vicmoc164]

I have just got some of these and they are great. really cheap for what they are, and they are super strong as they have a STEEL FRAME. Don't know about you guys but i think these are just space age.

[Giantorange]

22 minutes ago, vicmoc164 said:

I have just got some of these and they are great. really cheap for what they are, and they are super strong as they have a STEEL FRAME. Don't know about you guys but i think these are just space age.

Try these from either B&Q or Screwfix.  They are basically the same, but nearly £10 cheaper.

 

https://www.diy.com/departments/mac-allister-50-compartment-organiser-cabinet/1499440_BQ.prd

 

 

[koalayummies]

31 minutes ago, vicmoc164 said:

I have just got some of these and they are great. really cheap for what they are, and they are super strong as they have a STEEL FRAME. Don't know about you guys but i think these are just space age.

I'd focus more on securing such tall cabinets to the wall so it doesn't fall forward when opening the drawers than whether the frame is steel vs plastic.

The number of people using plastic cabinets (and stacked one on top of another) is so high we would have heard of one collapsing on itself by now. Also considering the number of automobile and firearm parts that are plastic the whole metal is stronger notion is just erroneous piece of mind thinking at this point. If battle rifles with polymer receivers have seen combat with no issues then its probably suitable to make a cabinet with.

And to the last point; humans have been using refined metals for thousands of years yet the first fully synthetic plastic is barely over a hundred years old. So really plastic is more space age while metal is somewhat ancient technology.

[vicmoc164]

I like them because they can fit even some of the longest plates but they are heavy as well so there is no chance of them falling.

[Grover]

On 5/20/2020 at 11:15 AM, koalayummies said:

The number of people using plastic cabinets (and stacked one on top of another) is so high we would have heard of one collapsing on itself by now. Also considering the number of automobile and firearm parts that are plastic the whole metal is stronger notion is just erroneous piece of mind thinking at this point. If battle rifles with polymer receivers have seen combat with no issues then its probably suitable to make a cabinet with.

And to the last point; humans have been using refined metals for thousands of years yet the first fully synthetic plastic is barely over a hundred years old. So really plastic is more space age while metal is somewhat ancient technology.

I would be somewhat careful drawing a comparison between metal and plastic.  You are correct when you say that metal has been around thousands of years and plastic is young by comparison, but that also means we are unaware of how plastic ages in the long term.  Leaching of plasticizers, flame retardants, and other additives can be problematic, as well as embrittlement and breakdown over time due to thermal and/or ultraviolet wear.  So if you want something to be around a thousand years, metal is probably the way to go.  Also, plastic receivers on firearms are one thing (and specialized plastics at that), but you won't see the chamber on a firearm made out of plastic: those are still metal because the ultimate strength is so much greater.

However, I will agree with your point because we are dealing with plastic parts.  If we want a cabinet that outlasts our ABS, then it should be made from metal (or glass!).  We don't need to worry about thermal or UV breakdown of our cabinets since these things would damage what we're storing in there (i.e., Lego).

The one thing we all must be careful of with plastic containers of any sort is how much they outgas.  Acrylic (i.e., PMMA) outgasses quite a bit and, like PVC, can damage Lego over time since the volatile outassed chemicals (e.g., methyl methacrylate and methyl formate from PMMA) can partially dissolve the ABS, ruining it.  So check to make sure your storage containers are made from polymers with low outgassing!

[koalayummies]

The drawers of the quoted cabinets are still plastic regardless of the cabinet frame material so out-gassing would still be a concern. Was just countering the argument that one frame material is superior to another when what is being stored in them (Lego) doesn't really have the mass that would necessitate or justify using a stronger material.

If we're going to be talking extreme long term regarding plastic degradation and out-gassing then the hazards of steel oxidation and rust are valid points as well as possible exposure to volatile corrosion inhibitors and potentially toxic paints. Location of manufacture would also be concern considering one country's propensity for lead content/contamination.

If discussing the storage of hex-sockets, wrenches and other tools in an automobile repair establishment then sure steel cabinets are generally preferred. However when discussing the storage of Lego its likely that both the plastic cabinets and the bricks themselves would outlast all of us barring exposure to specific solvents or catastrophic events.

[Grover]

There are some really cheap plastic drawers out there that will degrade over a fairly short amount of time (a few years) and these are problematic.  Usually these are very cheaply manufactured and you get what you pay for.  These would likely be better to buy metal, but then again, it would just be better to buy quality drawers to start with, and the cheap plastic drawers are usually the ones with outgassing issues.  As an aside, some of the older Akro-Mils metal cabinets used to have PMMA drawers that not only became brittle quickly, but also outgassed heavily, so beware to any thinking that metal framed cabinets with plastic drawers is the way to go!

[Pauls Technic]

LEGO Technic Shelves
Today I have purchased these shelves to store my LEGO Technic sets and parts. For a $50 investment, they keep them all safe and also have a spot to store my parts containers.They also pass the "wife approval" factor.

https://paulstechnicblog.blogspot.com/2020/05/lego-technic-shelves.html

[SollX]

i just finished the renovation of my attic. including my own building corner. 

before i just had some bricks sorted like wheels en small stuf. the rest i had in big trays.
now i sorted it out a lot more. by part. not by colour.

[Jon22]

On 5/23/2020 at 2:20 AM, Grover said:

So check to make sure your storage containers are made from polymers with low outgassing!

How would one check that? I have some modern Akro-Mills cabinets, but I also have dozens of somewhat random food storage containers (Rubbermaid, ERAseal, Snaptite) all bought from the Dollar store (and certified BPA-free whatever that means), and another 15-20 or so of those hardware organisers from the Dollar store (these ones: https://www.dollarama.com/en-CA/p-material-divider/3026385), and another dozen large plastic bins from IKEA ("Samla", made from Polypropylene according to the website).

What time scale are we talking for damage to LEGO bricks from outgassing?

[Grover]

1 minute ago, Jon22 said:

How would one check that? I have some modern Akro-Mills cabinets, but I also have dozens of somewhat random food storage containers (Rubbermaid, ERAseal, Snaptite) all bought from the Dollar store (and certified BPA-free whatever that means), and another 15-20 or so of those hardware organisers from the Dollar store (these ones: https://www.dollarama.com/en-CA/p-material-divider/3026385), and another dozen large plastic bins from IKEA ("Samla", made from Polypropylene according to the website).

What time scale are we talking for damage to LEGO bricks from outgassing?

You generally have to rely on the manufacturer's information or the recycle number stamped into the plastic to see what the polymers are unless you have access to spectroscopic or other analytical equipment.  I'm not sure what the time scale is on damage to ABS, but collectable figurines stored over decades in the wrong plastics can be damaged.  A lot will depend on ambient temps, UV exposure, what types of plastics you're using, and the length of time it is exposed, as well as how good a seal there is.

A quick guide is on the materials for vacuum use Wikipedia page.  Regardless of whether Wikipedia advocates its use, if it says 'high outgassing', I avoid it.  PVC is probably the most notorious for destroying plastics and is listed as high outgassing as well as PMMA.  If you want a quantitative list, you'd have to look at outgassing of polymers under high vacuum in scientific journals.  Usually these materials outgas mers (the single unit of the unpolymerized material) that can act as solvents, but it can also be due to the plasticizers too.

Personally, I use PP ziploc bags to store bulk bricks that I have let outgas naturally until I can't smell anything, PS trays, Sterlite PE and PP bins that I let outgas, and the new AkroMils drawers.  Usually the drawers, as long as they're not made out of high outgassing polymers, are OK because they are not sealed.  However, for my long-term collectables, such as my CMFs, I use glass jars with metal lids that do not have plastisol or another high outgassing polymer gasket or seal.  They can be tricky to find, although Ball sells some mini 4 oz. jars labeled 'not for food storage' that fit the minis just fine.  Hope this helps!

[tedthomas199]

My sister just gave me a storage container about 2ft tall with mixed sets mostly friends, I envy those of you who can sort and organize. This container will take me weeks to go through.

[Jerzy123]

On 2/28/2009 at 8:20 AM, Eilif said:

Since we are collecting all sorting discussion, here's how I sorted mine.

I keep "special" pieces sorted by type in 8 large,and 4 small drawer containers. This includes things like clips, hinges, minifig parts and accessories, tiles, rounds, etc, etc.

 

Everything else gets sorted by color and type (similar types often mixed). Most pieces are put into cheapo dollar store microwave containers and stacked on a shelving system.

 

Bricks that I have alot of in one color and type, are placed in freezer bags and put in one of 19 LEGO suitcases, tubs and buckets.

 

I also use 8 of the plastic shoeboxes for sorting large or numerous special pieces like BURPS and LURPS, wheels, castle walls, etc.

 

Finally, I keep my minifigs on two 4 tier racks like this one

 

Most recently, i sorted about 10,000 pieces into a 100k+ collection and I blogged the whole process here:

http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?...&hl=sorting

This is a good idea

Edited November 3, 2020 by Darkdragon
Please don't quote images

[Follows Closely]

We have one area that contains two nooks. The left side is our Technic/Mindstorm, and the right side contains all of our system pieces with the top row dedicated for display.

 

The Technic area is in a 7' x 7' nook and contains 6 Akro-Mils Drawer units on top and a custom build TROFAST cabinet below. The tabletop is made from reclaimed floorboards from a local farm.

 

The second nook is 10' x 10' and holds a large majority of out sorted blocks. This also contains custom build-ins. The built-ins house Sterilite Wide 3 Drawer units. The drawer units do come apart and can be reassembled in any number. I have five drawers on the bottom row and four drawers on the rows above. The shelves are adjustable. The wooden drawers on the very bottom are a foot deep and house unsorted blocks, base plates and other misc. pieces.

 

The top row is dedicated for display. Currently our modulars are monopolizing the space. I chose Under Counter Lighting to light up the top shelf.

 

We utilize the 20' x 12' space behind the double doors to store our tubs of unsorted blocks and all of our sets are stored in baggies in plastic bins. Thanks for looking.

Edited November 3, 2020 by Darkdragon
Removed all the broken images.

[JintaiZ]

Well... I don't really sort pieces...

[StevenV72]

I have my sorting work ahead of me... went a bit overboard and bought lots and lots of bulk:

That is my lego-room to-be... still needs more tables and lots of shelfspace for storage containers. Work in progress...

[koalayummies]

23 hours ago, StevenV72 said:

I have my sorting work ahead of me... went a bit overboard and bought lots and lots of bulk:

That is my lego-room to-be... still needs more tables and lots of shelfspace for storage containers. Work in progress...

Its rare to see basically starting from scratch around here so this should be great to see your progress. Be sure to post updates!

[StevenV72]

If there are people who like to see me struggle, I will gladly post updates 

I am indeed starting from scratch for loose parts. On that first picture you can see I have it stored mainly in large black bins. The trays on the bottom right were included in a purchase, and after a much needed cleanup, is being used already.

Because of me having a tad of OCD, I want the sorting to be near perfect. Also, since I bought the pieces in 3 lots, I also want to know exact amounts per lot. I know I am making it more difficult for myself that way, but I want to track how much I paid versus what I got per purchased lot.

My main strategy is as follows:
1) rough sort into about 10 categories (bricks, tiles, roof, plates, ...)
2) gradually finer and finer sorting up to part and colour for each category
3) count pieces, identify, and record amounts on rebrickable

This means each and every part will have gone through my hands multiple times before its final sorting location. This might seem counterproductive, but it helps accuracy in 2 ways:
1) detect fake items, not always obvious on first sight
2) correct inevitable mistakes when rough sorting
It also limits the amount of choices you are presented with when looking at a part and as such makes the sorting quite fast.
If you start from a bin with every possible piece in it and immediately want to sort it into final location, that is overwhelming (plus, you need enormous amounts of tablespace to put all your bins and containers).

At the moment I am working on the first batch, roughly about 33kgs, and I have about 4500 parts recorded on rebrickable already, basically all bricks, plates and tiles.
Next steps are rooftiles, special plates, technic parts, possibly complete sets in built state, wheels, ...

I will try to take some pictures now and then to show my process and progress.
Maybe some of you will wonder why my first step was not to wash everything: this is because my first impression was (and still is) that the lego is quite clean to begin with. I might wash some of it afterwards, but only after all the sorting is done.

Edited October 13, 2020 by StevenV72
typo

[koalayummies]

3 hours ago, StevenV72 said:

My main strategy is as follows:

1) rough sort into about 10 categories (bricks, tiles, roof, plates, ...)
2) gradually finer and finer sorting up to part and colour for each category
3) count pieces, identify, and record amounts on rebrickable

Yes definitely recommend sorting by part type first. For example split up all the plate 1x1s, 1x2s, 1x3s etc with all the colors mixed together. Its easy enough to pick out the color you want from a bin of all the same part type. While sorting by color first just makes it a pain to pick out the parts among a sea of the same color. Ooo 1x3, nope 1x4, ooo 1x2, nope 1x3, visual headache.

[StevenV72]

Progressing nicely on the first batch... about 8300 parts recorded.
Some images:

I'm happy with the progress, still lots and lots more to do, but it's all part of the fun 

I haven't decided yet on how I will finally store them, for now I just use whatever bins and containers I have at hand, but I'm running out, need to find some more.

[sdevdutt41]

I will never be quite that organized. But I'm going out to buy some of those stack-on bins now. There aren't any on the Wal-Mart website... are you sure Wal-Mart has them?  get-mobdro.com/home/

 

•  

Edited December 17, 2021 by sdevdutt41

[StevenV72]

On 11/2/2020 at 10:32 AM, sdevdutt41 said:

I will never be quite that organized. But I'm going out to buy some of those stack-on bins now. There aren't any on the Wal-Mart website... are you sure Wal-Mart has them?

I'm not sure to which bins you are referring here, but I'm from Belgium, so no Wal-mart here.
The small plastic bins I mostly use are from Ikea, they have a very cheap set of 17 boxes in various sizes for only 5 euro. I find them superconvenient for sorting. It's not the ideal solution, and I will probably upgrade to something else, but for now I can live with it. My main focus now was to have lots and lots of boxes at a very low cost.

I've been quite busy the past two weeks... sorting and sorting and sorting 

Also installed better lighting and a first set of shelves. And I got myself a very nice big table (250cm x 110cm!!) to do all my sorting and building on.
The boxes you see in the picture contain about 46000 sorted and counted pieces. It was a lot of work, but I'm happy I did it.

Only one big problem now... when I look at what's still left to sort, it looks like I haven't done anything yet .

At least I know how to keep busy during the new lockdown that started here yesterday.

[StevenV72]

Short status update: I'm at 126k sorted and registered pieces now... I estimated to be about halfway. Until I had a good deal yesterday, and added another 60 kilograms to the queue 

With 126k done, I am running into some scale issues. It actually is A LOT of lego , and with the expectation to double it and more... the lego room has now been expanded into the hallway where I've put lots of extra storage shelving. And the mint boxes are stored in yet another room. Before you ask, no, I don't live in a castle with 200 rooms , but I did have an entire unused floor (top floor) consisting of 2 rooms and a large hallway. So I should start calling it my Lego-floor instead of Lego-room I guess 

[Lira_Bricks]

I do not sort by color currently, but I do sort by shape. Mostly.

Some bricks I only have a few of, so those are put together. Seems kinda pointless to have a box with one piece in it :P

Wheels and very big pieces are exceptions, those are put in their own big boxes.

Currently I have some closets from Raaco and a lot of separate plastic boxes with lids.

I need more storage, but am not sure if I like the closets or the boxes more... And I do not want to buy until I have decided!