My Lego Storage

The majority of my collection (around 30,000 elements) is housed in clear-drawer storage
units made by Popular Mechanics. They can be picked up at Wal-Mart for around $10.
They come in a variety of configurations, with drawers varying in size. They include the ability
to place dividers in most of the drawers to further compartmentalize each one.

Any overflow elements are stored in plastic Lego buckets, or plastic tubs also purchased at
Wal-Mart for around $3.

(This part is fairly dull and similar to every other AFOL's storage system)

The area I use for building/storage is a built-in computer desk with shelves above.
My storage drawers sit on the desk area (and are stacked beneath as well) and I use
the shelves for display of models and my favorite boxes.
Yes, that *is* a LEGO sign you see. It was "donated" by the local Shell station, that's
all I'm saying. It's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Elements are grouped into types (Plates, Bricks, Beams, etc) and then they are
grouped by size. So horizontally across a set of drawers the elemets increase in size, this
makes is easy to locate 1x2's, 1x3's,1x4's etc. since they are grouped consecutively.

(Now *THIS* is where is gets interesting!)

Each drawer is labelled with a custom-label that I created in Corel Draw! 9.
The labels are printed using an HP Deskjet 870 on Avery Full-Sheet (8.5"x11")
label stock (Avery #5165). These sheet labels come in a box of 50 and can be
purchased at any office supply store (Office Depot, OfficeMax etc). The labels are
printed and then cut out using a metal straight-edge and X-Acto knife.

Each drawer label contains an image of the element, so they can be found quickly.
The type and dimensions of the element are included as well.
Each label also has a color bar across the bottom, showing which colors of the element
are contained in the drawer. The "rainbow" means all colors are in one drawer.
Last is the LDraw part number of the element. This comes in handy when creating LCad
versions of my creations.

You can download each of the label files in Corel Draw! (.CDR) format.

(These pages represent what was fitting to my particular drawers, the elements I own, the colors I have and
how I wanted them grouped. To truly customize this system to your own needs, you'll need to get the Corel Draw!
versions so that you can edit them)
 

...And for all the LDraw users...

Another important tool integrated into my building/storage area are a pair of dimension guides.
I used Corel Draw! to create two 8.5"x14" pages that are laminated and affixed to the desktop.
These pages have 1:1 scale depictions of common elements. This comes in handy when you
grab a long beam or *especially* an axle. You look at it and ask yourself "Is this beam 12 or 14
studs long?" or "Is this axle 8 or 10 studs in length?". Just lay it down on the desktop next to the
"Stud Scale" and see instantly. It really comes in handy when sorting elements.

This first page has a simple stud-length guide for bricks and axles in the lower left.
It also has some great tools for LCad use, giving the angles of common slopes,
plates and technic connectors. This makes life easier when you're laying out CAD projects
and need to know the exact angle of a particular portion of an element.
You can download a high-quality .JPG of just this page here.

You can download the Corel Draw! version of the document here. (this contains both pages)
 

 The second page is filled with a grid that can be used to gauge the size of most
plates, bricks, beams, axles, etc. It's nice to have this beneath you when you're working
just to keep a constant indicator of the dimensions of your project.
You can download a high-quality .JPG of just this page here. 

A slightly older version of the Dimension Guides is shown here, on my building desk, with
a plate laid out to check its length.

CONTACT:
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me: onyx@malagraphixia.com

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©2000-2002 ONYX (J Boen) This page and all items pertaining to Lego
are in no way related to or endorsed by The Lego Group.