February 15, 201411 yr I keep them in a file cabinet, arranged by theme. This brings up one of my annoyances with "modern" lego, 2,3, sometimes 4 instruction books per set. They are starting to take up too much space! I wish Lego would go back to the old way of presenting instructions, with a significant amount of pieces used in each step, instead of 2 or 3 per step and requiring all of these books. I waste too much time... flip, add 3 parts, flip, add 2, flip, add.... NOT JUST ONE PIECE!!!! I would have finished my 8043 a lot sooner. I got my instructions everywhere right now because of my dark ages and need to round them up into one place
February 15, 201411 yr I keep them in plastic wallets inside a regular folder. They keep them in OK condition, as long as they're stored flat.
February 16, 201411 yr My other issue is that the older instructions are in metric sizes (A4 & A5) and the newer instructions are in English system sizes (letter, etc). Stores in the US don't sell metric sizes. I can order A4 sheet protectors off of Amazon, but for the two pocket pages, I'm at a loss. Martha Stewart for Avery makes a two pocket sheet protector, which works great for the half page instructions. Apparently the same brand in the UK makes the same thing with A5 pockets, but the UK Staples online store doesn't ship to the US. That's exactly what I use, I have lever arch files with a mixture of A4 single pocket, twin pocket & 4 pocket protectors for the different sized instructions. http://www.staples.co.uk/filing-binders-organisation/filing-folders-pockets/punched-pockets/heavy-duty-embossed-pockets http://www.staples.co.uk/martha-stewart/martha-stewart-binders-accessories/martha-stewart-sheet-protectors/sheet-protectors-2-sections-a4-clear?r=rh http://www.staples.co.uk/martha-stewart/martha-stewart-binders-accessories/martha-stewart-sheet-protectors/sheet-protectors-4-sections-a4-clear?r=rh D
February 18, 201411 yr Stacking or storing in folders seems to cause the instructions to curl, so I keep them nice and flat in a 4-inch binder with sheet protectors filled with a rigid card-stock sheet. Case-it D-186 4" Binder http://www.staples.c.../product_271275 Heavy-Duty Sheet Protectors http://www.staples.c.../product_489131 Card Stock, 8 1/2" x 11", White, 110 lb http://www.staples.c.../product_490887
February 20, 201411 yr I keep mine in a drawer presently but it's now overflowing.... Definitely need to upgrade!
February 20, 201411 yr After reading through these, I think I might give ring binders a try, with the instructions in individual plastic sleeves. I will use 4 D ring binders rather than lever arch as the extra rings should stop them from falling and getting crumpled on the bottom edges. A thick card as badbob001 suggested sounds like a good idea for the thinner instruction booklets, and I will try to find some 2 pocket protectors for the smaller size ones.
February 20, 201411 yr Stacking or storing in folders seems to cause the instructions to curl, so I keep them nice and flat in a 4-inch binder with sheet protectors filled with a rigid card-stock sheet. I used to do this exact same thing, but I started getting sick of all the binders. I finally just decided to store them in plastic sheets and lay them flat in a large plastic container with a lid. This way all the instructions are in one case (in I ever want to move them all), and they are still protected by the lid, by the sheet, and by laying flat.
March 10, 201410 yr I have not bought any overly large sets, so what I have been doing is storing each of them in a baseball card tim (my fiance has many of these) with the booklet inside. I also have a file folder for the instructions which are not needed for a kit---a few of the Lego Friends tiny impulse buys which got mixed into general parts, and also all of his Star Wars ones which he displays and does not tear down. I like my tin system because then when I feel like building something, I can just pick a tin and have a little project ready to go.
March 12, 201410 yr Like many others, I keep mine in plastic sheet protectors in 3-ring binders. They are organized by set #, low to high. I have three or four 5 inch binders full like this, as well as a few other binders with the (mostly ) older shop at home catalogs and the neat older books that came in sets showing all the other offerings. I also have stack of instructions from buying bulk that I need to go through, but they are not in nearly as nice of condition.
March 20, 201410 yr I use three ring binders with sheet protectors for the instructions, then dividers to separate themes. The only issue is some of the older, larger set instruction books are too long and hang out of the sleeves by an inch or so.
March 21, 201410 yr Mine are in shoe boxes...stored away... I do the same thing only limitation is the size. Edited March 21, 201410 yr by TrentonC
March 27, 201410 yr Stacking or storing in folders seems to cause the instructions to curl, so I keep them nice and flat in a 4-inch binder with sheet protectors filled with a rigid card-stock sheet. Case-it D-186 4" Binder http://www.staples.c.../product_271275 Heavy-Duty Sheet Protectors http://www.staples.c.../product_489131 Card Stock, 8 1/2" x 11", White, 110 lb http://www.staples.c.../product_490887 I do something similair. I buy comic book bags and boards and store them in a box just like comics. The only booklets that don't fit are from the larger sets. I just leave them in their original sleeve with the cardboard and store them in the same comic box, just on the side. Works very well and very cheap. 1 box will hold instructions from about 200 - 300 sets and only cost 10 cents for a bag n board and about $8 for the box. Go to any local comic shop and ask the clerk.
March 28, 201410 yr I sorted my manuals by theme and year back in 2009, but afterwards I have been really lazy and just shoved them into a big bin... Guess my summer break is planned out :)
March 28, 201410 yr I took a chance and bought some four 4-ring binders on the weekend. I only managed to fit the larger instruction booklets into them though, sorted as follows: 1 - Modulars 2 - Creator (houses) 3 - Creator (other), Winter Village and other specials (eg Haunted House) 4 - Star Wars & sundries This will make it a lot easier to find what I am after now, rather than having to dig through drawers to find the one that always seems to be on the bottom. This has also freed up a lot of space in my drawers for the smaller instructions. If I ever find A4 size sheet protectors the have two A5 pockets in them I will be able to put everything into the binders and keep it all neatly ordered.
January 13, 201510 yr My collection is still relatively small (around 150 sets, plus a fair amount of bulk pieces), but I sort them into gallon ziplock bags based on theme (or by theme and year if I have quite a few of a series, such as Friends and Marvel Super Heroes). The gallon bags go into one of my clear storage containers (sadly I don't remember the brand offhand, but it's one with a flip top lid and it is wider than it is tall). The gallon bag approach makes it easy for me to find what I'm looking for as well as keeps the books from getting bent or torn. Plus, I already have the bags hanging around for sorting Lego!
January 13, 201510 yr I use comic book boards/bags for most instructions, either regular (current) size or magazine size. These are then stored in comic boxes. For polybag instructions, I have a binder with trading card sleeves, which fit 12 instructions per page.
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