Needing pictures of various ways others sort and store

dneul

^ like the title. I am putting together a seminar of how others sort and store different size collections. Needing pictures (and permission to share) of all different size collections and methods. Needing by the end of the week.

AFFOL_Shellz_Bellz

We use numerous sizes of plastic containers, stacked beneath our layout. Because we aren't resellers we don't have them quite as organized as I'd prefer. This picture shows just one wall of shoe box size storage containers. We also use small flat divided containers, and larger flat containers made for scrap book paper, as well as some drawer type units. We basically sort by shape, and when a container is too full we'll sort by size.

dneul

Thank [email protected]_shellz_bellz

akunthita

I have been collecting pictures of sorting/storing/displaying LEGO by different people in the past few years. Here are two galleries where I collect them. There are some really nicely done systems.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/akunthita/galleries/72157629813455752/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/akunthita/galleries/72157625185890950/

Also, you may want to check out this post for a DIY LEGO room: http://thebrickblogger.com/2013/08/building-a-lego-room/

In fact, I have a whole series of articles on the topic of sorting/storing/displaying LEGO that you can find here:
http://thebrickblogger.com/category/beginner-lego-guides/care-and-feed-of-lego/

TheBrickBlogger is my own blog and you are welcome to reference it in your presentation.

programmerdan

This is exactly what I am looking for. Thanks for the tips and pictures, I'm trying to figure out a way to organize my LEGOs as my current lack-of-system is driving me crazy when doing MOCs. I'll be reading your blog with interest, @akunthita.

@dneul -- would you be able to share a recording of your presentation, or slides if you have them?

dneul

No problem

LegoMom1

@akunthita said: I have been collecting pictures of sorting/storing/displaying LEGO by different people in the past few years. Here are two galleries where I collect them. There are some really nicely done systems.

Hah. I've seen toy stores with less inventory! Nice work.

mmik

What are the best ways to sort bricks? Color? Shape? You can't exactly separate every individual kind... All panels of like color together? Or sizes separated? Etc...

dougts

mmik said:

You can't exactly separate every individual kind...

Oh you can. You absolutely can

BTHodgeman

There are fewer colors than pieces, so that can be a good start...

Personally I prefer the "piece" approach because it's a lot easier to find, for example, a Red 2x4 brick in a container of all different colored 2x4 bricks, than it is to find a Red 2x4 brick in a sea of assorted red pieces...

plasmodium

I used to just sort by general type and put them in ziploc bags or plastic tubs: "bricks", "flats", "slopies", "car pieces", "doors & windows", "human artefacts" (don't ask me where that name came from), "specials", etc and then the smaller ones (like 1x1s and 2x1s) in their own bags. Some of those names were deliberately vague, for example, "specials" was a catch-all for almost anything. We moved recently though, and what with downsizing my collection and discovering a few empty toolboxes/compartmented boxes I have reorganised it a bit.

111ins

I know they are not overly pretty or anything, but does anyone use large pizza boxes to store their parts is? They seem cheap, you have a nice big space to write part info onto and they are easy to stack....

kor

I sort and separate by color then type so every different piece has its own home. It's a lot of sorting work but its super easy to find the pieces I need when I'm in the middle of a build.

legomason

111ins said:

I know they are not overly pretty or anything, but does anyone use large pizza boxes to store their parts is? They seem cheap, you have a nice big space to write part info onto and they are easy to stack....

@111ins Never thought about pizza boxes before. Would be good for baseplates.

111ins

I was thinking they would be good as well for all the little modified plates etc as the are not deep and you do not have to dig around too much.

Yellowcastle

@dneul - you'll find a wealth of good examples in the existing sorting/storing threads here. Links can be found in this thread:

http://www.bricksetforum.com/discussion/9165/directory-of-useful-forum-threads#latest

The_Iveys

We have a small collection at this point, but I can more or less show you what we use:

Small Items (like 1x1 Round Plates) - we currently have 3 of these in use: http://www.joann.com/jewelry-bead-organizer-9-1-2inx6-3-8inx1-1-8in/8234916.html#start=5

Medium To Largish Plates (Basically like 4X4 up To 16X16) - we currently have 1 of these in use: http://www.joann.com/iris-photo-keeper/9531211.html#start=13

Everything else (bricks, car parts, doors, mini figures, etc) - we currently have 3 of these in use: http://www.lowes.com/pd_297215-61896-297215_0__?productId=4480617&Ntt=kobalt+14&pl=1&currentURL=?Ntt=kobalt+14&facetInfo=

I know these aren't direct pictures of our personal collection... but hope this helps you out (or anyone else who may need inspiration... LOL)!!