EASY and INEXPENSIVE WAY To Sort Lego Pieces!

Key idea

Chris shares an easy, inexpensive interim system for sorting LEGO pieces using Ziploc bags and inexpensive plastic bins, designed to bridge the gap until he can justify buying more expensive drawer systems.

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Sorting options (from best-known systems)

IKEA Alex drawers

• Pros:
  • Big drawers and easy stacking
  • Can sort by part type and color (e.g., all 1x2 plates by color in one drawer)
  • Fits under tables or against walls
• Con:
  • Multiple drawers get expensive for a large collection

Sterilite drawers

• Pros:
  • Cheaper
  • Works well for sorting
• Con:
  • A large number of drawers still adds up in cost

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Chris’s budget interim method

Use Ziploc bags for specific piece types

• Bag types are usually:
  • One piece type per bag (best for speed and avoiding mix-ups)
  • Occasionally combine small/rare pieces into one bag when there’s no benefit to separating
• Notes on bagging:
  • He bags pieces he gets from Pick a Brick walls (e.g., grass stems) and other parts from sets/parts over time.
• Exceptions:
  • Very small/low quantities (like 1x8 arches and 1x2x5 clear panels) can share a bag
  • Some piece types are kept separate because mixing them causes confusion (he specifically avoids mixing two small types that look similar)

Keep “special category” pieces together

• He uses one bag/container for SNOT-related pieces (studs on multiple sides / modified studs), mixing several related SNOT/modified parts in one place.

Use fewer bags when possible

• Many piece types are one-bag categories because he doesn’t always have enough for multiple bags.
• For tiny quantities, bag together; for larger collections of one part, keep that part in its own bag.

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Storage setup

Bins from Costco

• He buys a 3-pack of bins from Costco and labels/organizes by usage frequency.
• More frequently used pieces go on top inside the bins.
• Pieces are placed into the bins by simply throwing the bagged parts in.

Separate foliage bin

• He has a smaller bin for foliage (flowers/plant pieces), kept nearby (but not necessarily pulled repeatedly since it’s close and efficient).

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Workflow while building/using pieces

• When he needs parts:
  • He opens a bin, grabs the required bag/parts quickly, and uses them.
• The bins live under the LEGO City tables next to a Pick a Brick box containing larger parts.

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Notable sources/products mentioned

• LEGO Store / Bricks and Minifigs (where purchases and pieces come from)
• Pick a Brick wall (frequent source of bulk/unique parts like plates, arches, SNOT bricks, street lamps, leaves, etc.)
• Ziploc bags (or store-brand bags)
• IKEA Alex drawers
• Sterilite drawers
• Costco 3-pack plastic bins
• Speaker/creator: Chris (the channel host)