Classic-Castle.com

Hi

Like i have said in another post, i am back from my dark ages

But now that i bought a lot of sets, i don't know how to sort my bricks.
First, i sorted by sets, but it's really not an effective way of doing to build MOC i always spend hours searching for pieces...

So i wondered, how you guys sort ? Please give me ideas

Thanks

I sort by colour. Not that I have many bricks, but that is how I do it. Greys in one bin. Blue, red, and yellow into another. Black in one. Minifigs in one. You get the idea I'm sure.

But its a pain for my younger siblings to clean up.

i usually have my pieces sorted by type in their own little bins or tubs and then organise the bins/tubs by color on my shelves,but alas my shelves looking a bit bare these days

vertigo11 wrote:So i wondered, how you guys sort?

I have a room. That way, my wife can close the door and the "problem" goes away.

Works so far.

Alan

If only i could have a room

My girlfriend doesn't want to see it either, so i try to build when she's not around, but it is not easy

Part, and then colour. Colour works for smaller amounts of brick, but as your collection grows larger almost everyone has the need to resort by brick type - If you start with it, you avoid the work of resorting!

It's important to only sort the pieces you're really interested in having sorting: It's an entirely futile exercise to attempt to sort every piece you have into it's own space.

I use various containers:
LEGO Tubs for most basic bricks, slopes, etc.
-Bead Trays like this for small pieces like 1x1 bits, minifig accessories, etc. I have 70+ of these trays. I have labels for many of them...if you're interested in the my file for the labels, just ask!
-Drawers; This certain set contains most of my plates 2x6 or smaller, and a few other pieces like arches.
-Ziplock bags for each colour of larger plate.
-Pick-A-Brick cups for "overflow" amounts of pieces.

There's many other bins and containers I use - Any collection is in a constant state of sorting, as you get more parts you have to change around bins, get bigger ones, etc.

I admit, I sort in a much more detailed way than many people: I just generally find it better to sort by brick first, and then by colour underneath that if I feel it's convenient.

-John.

Sort by type then by color.
You should store your lego parts in plastic containers & drawers.
With smaller parts, you should probably put them in zip-loc bags before you store them in containers.
If you end up with a lot of containers and bags, then you'll probably want to label them to make it easier to find parts.

Sterilite makes some good affordale containers:
http://www.sterilite.com/
You can find them at Target, Wal-Mart, Dollar Stores, etc.

Its probably most affordable to buy large bins, put your parts in various size zip-loc bags, and store all the bags inside the bins. Though it might be kinda annoying having to close and re-open the bags every time you need a part. If you have the money & space, then I would recommend buying plastic containers and drawers for ALL of your parts.

If only i could have a room

Now that really sucks. Most people nowadays don't even eat in the "dining room" anymore, so maybe you can convince your girl friend to make that your new lego space? ...maybe buy her a necklace or something before you make that suggestion...lol

Jacob C. wrote:...maybe buy her a necklace or something before you make that suggestion...lol

Good call

Sorting by part, then colour is definitely the best approach, it's what most AFOLs I know do, and I do it whenever I can be bothered to sort instead of build

I mainly sort by type of peice in drawers. I then sort by colors in those drawers. Like John, I use PAB cups for 'overflow' peices.

In Christ,

Here is a page describing how I sort. Since then my collection has about doubled, but the method is still the same. Here is a picture of my current collection:



Follow the link to see descriptions of what parts are in what bin.

Bruce

I sort first by "type" - i.e. roof bricks, bricks, flat bricks, minifig accessories, single stud bricks/plate, modified ones of the above (e.g. single stud flat bricks with clips etc., angled flat bricks). I try to keep these catagories very big at the beginning, as the less sorting you have to do, the better (and makes it easier for building too). Group things logically even if they aren't similar looking bricks ("connectors" for example is quite diverse, but it makes sense to keep all those bits together)

When sub-dividing catagories (i.e. the box/bin is getting too full) I separate by colour, or by size.

Some catagories (that I knew would have a lot of pieces) I automatically had separate, like black bricks, grey bricks, black flat plates, 1-wide flat bricks, 2-wide flat bricks, flat plates. Also I do try to have bins be entirely large bits, medium bits, or small bits.

My storage is thanks to Aldi weekly specials - on a "tool week" I got component bins (like drawers but with half-open front) - €10 for a set of 8 bins with 10 mini-drawers in the middle for small bits and a large drawer at the bottom. On a "kitchen week" I got 40 1 litre tupperwares (4 for €2!)

you can see some of my sorting styles here:

http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?i=1151163

(yes those are unique piece types and color per tub)

and here:

http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=47313

thats what my army building work area used to look like

and here:

http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=47313

Wow, I love those storage drawers you got.
Do you know what brand makes them and/or where you bought them at?

their sterilite or something like that you can find them at WalMart,Home Depot K-Mart and such usually around where the tools are.

but they are pricey from about $15 - $20 or more ea.

their sterilite or something like that you can find them at WalMart,Home Depot K-Mart and such usually around where the tools are.

Oh ok, I'll have to check out the tool sections more often then.
I've never seen one with 60 drawers! That would be perfect.