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currently, all my bitz (left overs from assembling about 1500 pts of space marines plus a few extra odds and ends I picked up) are in a metal candy tin. a few are separated into plastic baggies within said tin, but for the most part it's just a big pile of plastic, metal and resin. this "system" obviously does not scale, as the tin is already nearly full and I've got 1500 pts of chaos marines awaiting assembly. plus, I have to dump the whole thing out each time I want to find something. so, I'm looking for alternative storage suggestions. my priorities are (highest to lowest):

1. space (as in, I don't have very much of it so I don't want something that's huge)
2. organization (as in, being able to find that bit I KNOW I have, but can't seem to locate)
3. flexibility (needs to be able to handle small bitz like purity seals, bolt pistols, etc. and large bitz like vehicle weapons, banners, maybe chunks of stuff still on sprue, etc.)
4. expandability (would be nice to be able to easily find another "container" of the same sort when I eventually fill this one up; stackability could be a plus)
5. appearance
6. price

how do you guys manage your bitz?

(I can't believe I just asked that...)

I use a box designed to store thread. It has a bunch of compartments each the size of a spool of thread and the dividers come out to make larger spaces. I found it at walmart for like 4 bucks and they stack if you get more than one.

It looks a lot like those clear plastic boxes for storing magic cards and the like.

I use Acro-Mils Storage Cases - usually the large ones. Quite literally, I have hundreds of these for minis, terrain, bitz, etc. They're nice because they have removable dividers, they're clear and they stack. Plus they're durable.

Tupperware container for now, I haven't accumulated enough bitz to organize it yet.

I use the same as Rented Tritium.

Plano divided boxes such as this one (random google image result) : http://www.canalbaitandtackle.com/plano-2-3730-prolatch-deep-stowaway-box/

They are readily available at hardward stores and walmart and are quite cheap. Usually the compartment dividers are removable so you can have whatever size compartments you need.

You can also get the larger tackle box size as well if you REALLY need a lot of space that you can stow away when you're done.

I use an old ammo container, used to be my grandfather's back when he was in the army. It seemed most fitting considering it holds 40k.

I got that guy at a Home Depot near my house and I think I paid about $18 for it. There were smaller ones available, but I bought the largest of this style they had. Each of the little drawers is about 6" long and 1-1/2" deep and can hold a staggering amount of bits with the bottom drawers being even larger. I went from a small snap-shut container like a previous poster mention after I upgraded my fishing tackle box, but I didn't care for it much. I would highly recommend something like this; cheap with lots of storage with the added plus of being easier to label with a label maker than some other options.

Shoe box. Cause I'm pro like that.

I picked up some "Craft Organizers" from Hobby Lobby for $2 a pop. They're large enough for most all of my bits aside from vehicle hulls and similarly large bits.

I used to use a tackle box with adjustable compartments, but I found that after a while the little plastic separators would come loose and small bits would migrate to other compartments.

How I planned to store my bitz;


How I really store my bitz;

@AduroT: lol, yeah... that's the scenario I'm hoping to avoid

I don't know if I could live without my clear plastic parts containers. I've got about half a dozen of them, at this point, in varying sizes and styles. I've seen plenty offered at exorbitant prices and I can't possibly imagine the difference in quality to scale at the same rate, so I'll likely be sticking to the $2 medium containers from Michaels (bead storage boxes - the ones in the jewelry section, not the craft storage section) or the slightly larger ones from Harbor Freight, if they go on sale and I want the space for larger parts.

They're pretty much all rectangular and come in roughly standardized sizes, so they're dead easy to stack on an existing shelf, no extra room required. The real benefit is the organization. Sure, you could buy a sack of little plastic baggies and divvy the parts up, as you started to do, but even that method lacks the consistent order and ease of access that the parts container offers. I only bag as a stop-gap measure until I get a new container.

I have large containers full of sprues and then small plasric drawers of off the sprue bits or random models.

 oadie wrote:
Sure, you could buy a sack of little plastic baggies and divvy the parts up, as you started to do, but even that method lacks the consistent order and ease of access that the parts container offers. I only bag as a stop-gap measure until I get a new container.

I have one of the tackle boxes, essentially. A plastic container with a handle and snap-lid and dividers inside. Within those, I put the bitz from each pack I buy into seperate small ziplock bags and write what they are on the top. Then I put them into "most likely to be used", "terrain" and "stuff hanging about" sections within the container. I also have several bags stuffed full of bases of various kinds. I always have the right base for a model if I need a new one . One of the fringe benefits of playing Daemons, first as Fantasy and then as 40k.

I use the little tupperware-like baby food containers for my bitz, with each of the containers labeled with a piece of tape telling the type of bitz. The stack really nicely, and take up very little space. Also, in the event of an apocalypse, baby food (depending on the variety) keeps pretty well over time.

right now tupperware one for each army 2 of which are almost full (damn DE sails and prows)

I would reccomend (what I'm getting for myself) is going to a hardware store and finding one of the screw/nail storage boxes. they are usually then and stackable with enough room and differnet drawers for many bits. then just label and organize and you're golden.

Rorschach9 wrote:
Plano divided boxes such as this one (random google image result) : http://www.canalbaitandtackle.com/plano-2-3730-prolatch-deep-stowaway-box/

They are readily available at hardward stores and walmart and are quite cheap. Usually the compartment dividers are removable so you can have whatever size compartments you need.

You can also get the larger tackle box size as well if you REALLY need a lot of space that you can stow away when you're done.

Hell yeah. I've got 2 of these, and 2 of this:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Plano-Medium-Double-Sided-Organizer/16351085

Hell to the Yeah...

Plano or any other tackle boxes work great. Just check to see if the dividers meet the lid or the won't stay organized.