Sorting a LEGO Collection

If your collection has grown to a considerable amount, it is advisable that you do some sorting. Sorting can be executed by several different categories, color, size, shape, and function, just to name a few.

Color

The Positive: Using this method will cut down on search-time greatly. If a yellow 2X4 brick is needed, it can be found in seconds rather than minutes. This method also allows the builder to apply color-schemes to an MOC's much more easily.

The Negative: Dividing a LEGO collection into colors can cause a few problems. In any collection, some colors will exist in greater quantities than others, for example, black is the most common color and will most likely make up the greatest percentage of a collection. However, orange is more rare. Even a large collection may contain as few as 20 orange pieces. Operating within a specific color may impose a piece restriction on the builder, causing them to completely forgo an idea or come up with an alternative method for accomplishing the desired effect. (Author's note: I believe that piece restriction is a very good method for improving LEGO building skills. However, a total lack of options could shut down the creative-process)

Size

The Positive: This method of sorting is a must. This allows the builder to remove the bothersome obstacles from their piece-specific searches. One could grow very tired of moving those BURPs around all the time and those wretched plates just keep falling in the way. Do not take this method too far. Establishing that everything smaller than a 10 X 6 plate is "medium-sized" is probably a good guideline.

The Negative: It may be difficult to find adequate space to keep all of your large pieces separate. Aside from space issues, this method is much more beneficial than harmful.

Shape/Function

The Positive: This is another method that can cut searching time drastically. One could sort very specifically, or very generally. An example of sorting specifically would be sorting all of a collection into 1 X 4 plates, 1 X 2 plates, 1 X 2 tiles, 2 X 2 slopes (or wedge), etc.. A general sorting might equate to sorting bricks and plates out or parceling out all slopes, regardless of dimension.

The Negative: This is a very meticulous method of sorting and requires a great deal of initial time. If a collection is substantial, this method may take weeks to complete. In addition, it is very difficult to maintain. Every time an MOC is dismantled, the builder must take special care to return all pieces to their delegated homes.

My Method (Jeremy Lego)

I use a combination of all of the methods above. First, all of my LEGOs are sorted meticulously by color. This took some time to do, but it was worth it. Next, they are sorted by size. I removed all of the castle walls/corners, plates, large wheels, and BURPs and put them into their own container (regardless of color...they're so big, that it's not hard to find a brown castle wall as opposed to a black one). I picked out all transparent pieces, regardless of color, and placed them in their own container. I then sorted out all bricks from each color. Bricks don't really differ that much in shape or functionality so having them all together is a pretty natural choice. 60% of a collection is usually made up by simple bricks. When you remove these, your sorting field is drastically narrowed. The bricks remain sorted by color and each has its own container. Finally, I did some nit-picky function sorting.

I sorted out all small special pieces (tiles, molded weapons, utensils, hinges, SNOT pieces, posts, modified plates and tiles, "glass" pieces). I used small bead-boxes for this task. I've got four of them filled to capacity. Tackle boxes work great too. (all special pieces are no longer sorted by color. Their numbers are usually few enough that color sorting is irrelevant)

When I was finished, I had a very manageable LEGO collection. It is a pain to keep up, but I have a method for that too. I keep an empty box around at all times. While working on a project, I keep all of the pieces I'm working with in this box. This way, they're all there when I can get back to the project, and all of the other LEGOs stay sorted. When I'm done with the MOC, I can sort the pieces back into their respective categories. It's not so hard if I stay on top of it.

I have a theory about sorting that I feel compelled to share. If sorting is done before a builder fully knows their pieces, it could be a detriment to their building prowess. I usually conceptualize an MOC before I even pick up a brick. I even begin to engineer how it will be built. I can do this because I know my collection very well. If an MOC is conceptualized without fully knowing one's pieces, opportunities may be missed. There is always a certain amount of magic that is found while digging through a pile of pieces. A piece is noticed that had not previously come into the equation and a whole new avenue for success is opened. First, learn your collection...then sort. Thank you for reading, Jeremy Todd


JeremyLego - June 23, 2007~ Well, to update on my organizational tactics, I've taken the "sort by piece" plunge with my entire collection. GOD did it take forever, but it's been totally worth it. However, it's very important that you have a dedicated space for this to work out well. If you're still living with your parents, they might not appreciate the number of containers this endeavor takes. I need to take more pics, but I bought four compartmentalized boxes (the kind with the clear drawers) for my collection. Two have twelve drawers that are about 3"X5"X2", and Two have thirty drawers that are 1"X5"X2". For most colors I've eschewed sorting by color all together...I've not got a drawer full of steering wheels or 2X2 cylindars...of all colors. However, I have not sorted in my bley and dark-bley yet. With my current lighting, I can't tell them from classic grey and dark grey very easily. I still have to do a side-by-side comparrison most of the time. So, now that I've sorted my collection this way, I must say that it makes building very fast. Once I learn where everything is, I can just rock and roll. Now, if I can just get air-conditioning in the Legoratory, I'll be set. I'll take some new pictures and post soon (since I have no new MOCs to publish).

BrandonE - June 23, 2008 ~ Actually, when I sort them by color, The quantities arn't a big problem to me. I pretty much memorized which pieces show up more then others, and I just get a diffrent size of that box. I have tons of blacks, so I got a huge box of them. Then purple is my least, so I got a small box just for it.