Sorting Tips

[TWO2SEVEN]

As you can see here: http://community.brickpicker.com/topic/11134-my-vintage-lego-haul/

 

I will be going through about ten years worth of Lego over the next week or so.  Some of the containers are actual sets that I will keep together.  However, two of the larger tubs are bulk, miscellaneous pieces.  I am thinking of starting by dividing the bulk by color and putting each color into Ziploc bags.  Does anyone with more experience have any tips?

 

Thanks! 

[MartinP]

As you can see here: http://community.brickpicker.com/topic/11134-my-vintage-lego-haul/

 

I will be going through about ten years worth of Lego over the next week or so.  Some of the containers are actual sets that I will keep together.  However, two of the larger tubs are bulk, miscellaneous pieces.  I am thinking of starting by dividing the bulk by color and putting each color into Ziploc bags.  Does anyone with more experience have any tips?

 

Thanks! 

For what your sorting though, sorting by color should be fine. I have sorted by color on similar sized lots and finding pieces was relatively easy. One tip that you should do is to sort about certain pieces by color. One of my bulk lots had a lot of blac 2x2 bricks and I separated them from the beginning so they would not interfere with the other black pieces.

[knarrff]

Some time ago I would have said, start by sorting by color. Now I think it might be better to start sorting by type of brick. It is later easier to find a red brick in a pile of some-color bricks, than finding that red brick in a pile of other red stuff.

[tonysbricks]

I always sort by type using the bricklink categories as a guide. It's very easy to find a black 2x2 corner plate in a sea of similar type/size plates. It's hard to find the same piece in a sea of black.

[Guest eightbrick]

For sorting, I pre-sort into type (plate/modified plate/brick/technic etc.) then sort fully. I found trying to sort everything at once to just be way too overwhelming. Pop in your favorite movie/music and have at it.

 

On the type vs. color discussion it really depends on how you build. Most of my stuff is divided into parts, if there are a lot they are divided again into color families. The setup that is the easiest for how you create is the one you should go for: my 1xN bricks are sorted by color but my 2xN ones are just sorted by type. Why? Because 1xN bricks are usually my walls and I want to be able to build a red wall without being surrounded by a bunch of bins, but I use 2xN bricks more for support under landscapes so color is irrelevant. If you don't have that much bulk and are planning on using Ziplocs indefinitely, I suggest sort by color.

[MarleyMoose]

This helped me out. http://www.evilmadscientist.com/2008/how-to-organize-your-lego-bricks-for-efficient-building/

[Alpinemaps]

First off...I guess I'm the only one that separates by color. I just see colors, I don't see the individual bricks until I start looking. I may have to try it the other way though.

This helped me out. http://www.evilmadscientist.com/2008/how-to-organize-your-lego-bricks-for-efficient-building/

Wow. I have tons of bricks, and in really don't want to get a full blown Bricklink store going. But that method just sings to my OCD, and really makes me want to try.

[MartinP]

First off...I guess I'm the only one that separates by color. I just see colors, I don't see the individual bricks until I start looking. I may have to try it the other way though.

Wow. I have tons of bricks, and in really don't want to get a full blown Bricklink store going. But that method just sings to my OCD, and really makes me want to try.

Your not the only one. I still sort by color even though it may seem like the other ways are more efficient. I have this method mastered after a year of training. I can find pieces relatively quickly and if not, I make a note and usually find it later. The only way I can see myself not sorting just by color is by sorting by piece type and color. That might be more efficient, but it would take longer to sort them that way.

[TWO2SEVEN]

Thanks everyone! I will be posting some overview pics of my collection in the thread that I liked in the first post soon.

[Grolim]

Here's some more thoughts on this topic:

 

http://community.brickpicker.com/topic/11036-how-do-you-guys-sorts-bulk-buys/

http://community.brickpicker.com/topic/4120-pre-sorting-vs-one-big-pile/

http://community.brickpicker.com/topic/5799-sorting-advice/

http://community.brickpicker.com/topic/5054-what-is-the-best-way-to-sort-a-bulk-lot-of-sets-thrown-together/

http://community.brickpicker.com/topic/3934-sorting-used-lego/

 

http://blog.brickpicker.com/sorting-legos/

http://blog.brickpicker.com/life-times-bulk-lego-lot/

http://blog.brickpicker.com/breaking-bulk-lego-lot-maximize-profits/

http://blog.brickpicker.com/buying-bulk-lego-filthy-dirty-secret-side-lego-investing/

[TWO2SEVEN]

I REALLY appreciate all of the feedback.  Thank you all! 

 

After looking through all of my containers, it seems that most of what is in there is mixed sets and not so much just bulk brick.

 

I think I am going to use these tips to sort out the bricks and then download parts lists and bag the parts with each set.  This will make either selling or building the sets easier down the line.

 

Again, thank you all!