Storage solutions

So, the question which bothers every Lego collector at some point or another. I have part of my collection sorted into some containers purchased at Bunnings but they aren't really ideal for sorting out large amounts of bricks. Just wondering what people's preferred options and products are for sorting and storing their Lego?

Any specific suggestions with prices and retailers would be much appreciated.

I was just about to post something very similar! Thank you for your post I've recently started to acquire lego after a long while, initially I sort into clear ziplock bags. I sort based on what I have, meaning some to colour and some to type depending of how much of what I have. When I return from my trip overseas on the 15th I'll be shopping for some storage containers, so any posts here will be very useful.

Cheers,

I have a few large containers with a bunch of ziplock bags of varying sizes. For more generic bricks I sort by type and colour, for example 1x red bricks, 2x red bricks, 45 degree red slopes etc. For smaller peices that I have a lot of I sort by type, ie all my headlight bricks, all my tiles, all my jumper plates. For the remaing stuff which I only have a few of they get sorted by colour so I end up with a bag of bit of each colour.

I use some workshop storage bins which stack on top of each other, I can't find a photo to show you all so I will take one tonight when I get home and post it up.

Paul

This is what I am using now:

I've been using 15 litre starmaid storage containers, as well as Ikea $4 drawers. Previously I just sortted colours but due to the growing nature of Lego, I've been further sorting them by type. Zip lock bags make it easy to store in 1 container, but are a bit fiddly if your moc'ing and are forever looking for the right bag and need to unzip and re-zip.
The other alternative is using even smaller containers within the drawer or container. These smaller containers are things like yogurt pots, bottoms cut from plastic milk containers. I find a mix of both is advantageous. The only trouble I find with sorting is that it gets tedious and I need to break and do a bit of moc'ing.

I have been using the same as Paul, as well as some sewing boxes and small tool boxes for smallish parts such as lights and cheese.

If anyone is interested, Jaycar sell a number of different products which might be suitable for sorting and storing . In particular, they sell ~30 drawer units with the clear plastic drawers for storing electrical components. You can check their stuff out by searching for "storage" on their website. Their prices seem to be very reasonable to me, particularly if you want to buy in bulk.

ennjay wrote:If anyone is interested, Jaycar sell a number of different products which might be suitable for sorting and storing . In particular, they sell ~30 drawer units with the clear plastic drawers for storing electrical components. You can check their stuff out by searching for "storage" on their website. Their prices seem to be very reasonable to me, particularly if you want to buy in bulk.

I have looked in to those 30 draw units but as you can't "lock" the draws in to position I worry about them falling out and spilling pieces every where

Paul

I've got myself a few storage containers to sort my lego recently. Below is one of the storage containers I decide on. At $4 each they are not bad. Only time will tell how long they'll last!


The orange dividers are removable!




Planning on printing some labels to stick on the orange bit to id what's inside.

Cheers,

Those boxes look great! I love that they are compartmentalised and stackable and that the lids are see-through. Great price too.
I wonder if there is something similar in NZ.

Amazingly like BrickTango I have just bought myself two of the above Conpartment Organisers to use as display cases for my Minifigure Collector Series 1 & 2.

The double sided feature really makes it worthwhile for me so I will be grabbing a few more for my own collection as well as utilise at my Lego Market Stall to sell the smallish products I have in stock at the moment.

Lego used to make some great storage trays.

757, 758, and the 759 cabinet

I have some of these in a custom wood cabinet I made in Woodwork class...

I'll have to see if I have a pic of it..

For the S/W and Old Classic Space sets I use zip lock bags (with a couple of pin holes to let the air out) parts in one or two bags, minfigs in seperate bags (Glad snack) each set has their own bag or bags with the instructions or a picture of that set (I do not mix the S/W with other themes too many unique parts )

I have yet to work out a good way to store 10179-1: Ultimate Collector's Millennium Falcon


For the technic sort it out into dispoable heat and serve containers (cheep ones) from Woolwoths, I used to use my wife's tupperware until I relized that my wife was happer for me to use it (the old stuff) so she could replace it with new tupperware (Costly)


Phantom59

Hehe @ phantom 59, I like your wifes style. I secretly slip a tupperware container or two into the grocery shopping every time we do it (much to my partners dismay). I got some large storage tubs from Target which are bright coloured with see through panels. I also use tuperware containers to divide up my licensed Lego set pieces which are also stored in zip lock/click bags inside them. I have a separate storage container for my instruction manuals and i store my lego boxes flat packed. As the house i live in is shared the only personal space i have is under my desk or in my bedroom. My built sets are all up high on top of book shelves (which require frequent dusting) in the office.

Bricktango... want to come over and sort my Lego :P

I bought a pile of those same containers yesterday as I have decided to sort by colour this time (It is currently sorted by type for small parts and by colour for bricks and plates).

I have started the torturous transition... this is going to take me forever.

This is the start:

picture

This is all I have left to go...

another picture

You have heaps of LEGO there Anita ! If it ever becomes too much for you, you know where to send it
Oh the things I could build with a collection like that!!

I think there is a point where it becomes more difficult. I was a much more prolific builder when I had less lego... now it is all sorting and searching.

And Taz, you build the most awesome things already...

AnitaE wrote:Bricktango... want to come over and sort my Lego :P

As long as you come over and help me sort mine! Though my haul is not as large as yours!

BrickTango wrote:
As long as you come over and help me sort mine! Though my haul is not as large as yours!

Darn, I thought it was worth a try. But the containers are a great buy, I am definitely getting more. (Normally I buy the clear Fischer ones)

Those boxes look great! Maybe i will have them too. They are really in order and and you dont have hard time looking for something.

BrickTango wrote:I've got myself a few storage containers to sort my lego recently. Below is one of the storage containers I decide on. At $4 each they are not bad. Only time will tell how long they'll last!


The orange dividers are removable!




Planning on printing some labels to stick on the orange bit to id what's inside.

Cheers,

Where do you get the storage units ($4) from?

I got some from kmart and a style almost identical from bunnings (both were $4). (but my local Kmart doesn't sell them).

I just got 3 storage boxes from Mitre 10 Mega and I love them! They are 190x115x30mm each and I got 3 for 10 bucks! They have five sections in each one and the dividers are removable.

How about un-opened set? how do you store them safe and make sure the box not getting damage while stacking up?? Thanks!!!