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I'm trying to get my bits organized.. Hving played miniature games for about 23 years, I've gotten a huge collection, and it's getting harder and harder to manage.. So i was wondering, what are you guys doing to keep it in order? Would love some pics for inspiration

Fishing tackle boxes for stuff clipped from sprues. Little ziploc bags to either keep matched parts together, or separate things (like helmet vs not helmeted heads)

For things still on sprues, I either keep them grouped in boxes by army, or in a big box sorted out in manila file folders, labeled as to what they are (phobos, eldar, 30k, etc)

sure

 Nevelon wrote:


Fishing tackle boxes for stuff clipped from sprues. Little ziploc bags to either keep matched parts together, or separate things (like helmet vs not helmeted heads)

For things still on sprues, I either keep them grouped in boxes by army, or in a big box sorted out in manila file folders, labeled as to what they are (phobos, eldar, 30k, etc)

Recently expanded my bits boxes a bit with donations from club members and after some reorganization now we have a club Bits Library that all members are free to utilize. I use little tray organizers with lids on hinges similar to those above (which were my former organizational method), but smaller. The smaller trays that will fit side by side in a standard "letter" style file box and are shallow enough that parts don't obscure each other too much. Makes for more organizers by easier to sort through and access.

As seen below I've got two file boxes filled top to bottom with these organizers, mostly organized by faction. A third organizer is a RollyKit filled with vehicle parts. A couple larger style trays and the sacks along the side of the trays are filled with basic bases.

@Eilif: a communal bitzbox sounds amazing. I’m assuming your members are trustworthy enough that they give as much as they take or is there some kind of rules/guidelines?

 tauist wrote:
sure

I put 4 similar ones together for mine but recently I got so much Ork stuff I had to give those bitz their own special boxes

 Gulgog TufToof wrote:
@Eilif: a communal bitzbox sounds amazing. I’m assuming your members are trustworthy enough that they give as much as they take or is there some kind of rules/guidelines?

Yeah, I trust them all to only take what they need, but that's the only guidelines. I'm not imposing any sort of giving requirement. I'll probably suggest from time to time that folks may want to contribute, but there's so much in there that we'll never use it all up. I just want the stuff to get used as much as possible.

Plus I do have a tray outside the library for my personal favorite bits stash that I'm not sharing...

 Nevelon wrote:


Fishing tackle boxes for stuff clipped from sprues. Little ziploc bags to either keep matched parts together, or separate things (like helmet vs not helmeted heads)

For things still on sprues, I either keep them grouped in boxes by army, or in a big box sorted out in manila file folders, labeled as to what they are (phobos, eldar, 30k, etc)

Yeah, those plastic compartment boxes are a lifesaver. I've got a dozen or more of them, generally looking a lot like yours.

 Vulcan wrote:
Yeah, those plastic compartment boxes are a lifesaver. I've got a dozen or more of them, generally looking a lot like yours.

You calling them "plastic compartment boxes” made me think. I think of them as used for fishing lures/tackle etc, as that’s what they were branded for when I picked them up. But that was the day before a lot of other craft hobbies took off and went more mainstream. You might get more hits looking for containers for sorting beads/scrapbooking/etc these days. It’s been forever since I hit the fishing section of a sporting goods store, but I see a lot of options for sorting bits when I head into my local big box craft store.

We are not alone in the desire to hold and sort random small bits. Besides crafting and fishing, mechanics need to sort nuts/bolts/washer/screws/etc. Probably other groups I’d need more than one cup of coffee to think about. Take a look at how they sort their stuff. Some are already in this thread.

Okay I acknowledge this is completely useless in inspiring any kind of organisation, but... that's me. Top drawer of the makeup box, modern bits, bottom draw, ancient bits, middle drawer, a few small sprues that still have most of their inhabitants' parts on them (I don't know why that's what I put in that drawer, it's just to keep them out of the way really). I often don't have a specific conversion in mind so much as just wanting to do something to a mini, so I go trawling through the mess until some part gives me an idea.

 Nevelon wrote:


Fishing tackle boxes for stuff clipped from sprues. Little ziploc bags to either keep matched parts together, or separate things (like helmet vs not helmeted heads)

For things still on sprues, I either keep them grouped in boxes by army, or in a big box sorted out in manila file folders, labeled as to what they are (phobos, eldar, 30k, etc)

I wish I was that orderly, I do have bits boxes but only seperate based on -faction/army-. -_-
Its a mess, I'll see if I can remember to make a photo of it when I get home.

I'm hoping I could get something like a wall with sorting shelves when I get a new apartment.. Currently my bits take up 4-5 80L bedrollers hehe

daemons bane wrote:
I'm hoping I could get something like a wall with sorting shelves when I get a new apartment.. Currently my bits take up 4-5 80L bedrollers hehe

Clipping from sprue frees up a ton of space. But if you’ve already done that and still have that volume… wow.

 Nevelon wrote:

daemons bane wrote:
I'm hoping I could get something like a wall with sorting shelves when I get a new apartment.. Currently my bits take up 4-5 80L bedrollers hehe

Clipping from sprue frees up a ton of space. But if you’ve already done that and still have that volume… wow.

Some of it are clipped up.. But quite a lot of it are still on sprues, to make it easier to find For example, I bought a box of chaos knights, just for a few shields.. So the rest of the parts are on sprue so I can easily locate it.. My dream is to have a box for everything, but atm it would take up way too much space

I regularly save the little re-sealable plastic wallets that models and general stuff comes in. I then use those to put parts into and organise them casually - eg mostly I stick to what kit they came from all going into the same bag, but my Tyranids are done by part type. Mostly because they were once in a single jumbled up box so it was easier to do it by part type because by kit would have taken ages.


I think the big thing with something like this is starting, getting a system in place and then chipping away at it bit by bit whilst also keeping it going for new stuff. That way you'll eat into the mountain of things quicker than you think and it won't be as draining as doing it all at once.



I do agree though, clipping parts off the sprue saves a LOT of space. Otherwise you're storing up huge amounts of plastic you don't really need at all. Not to mention also lots of air space. The only sprue I store are models still fully on the sprue or part way through construction; otherwise once a model is finished any spare parts go in a little plastic wallet.

 Nevelon wrote:

 Vulcan wrote:
Yeah, those plastic compartment boxes are a lifesaver. I've got a dozen or more of them, generally looking a lot like yours.

You calling them "plastic compartment boxes” made me think. I think of them as used for fishing lures/tackle etc, as that’s what they were branded for when I picked them up. But that was the day before a lot of other craft hobbies took off and went more mainstream. You might get more hits looking for containers for sorting beads/scrapbooking/etc these days. It’s been forever since I hit the fishing section of a sporting goods store, but I see a lot of options for sorting bits when I head into my local big box craft store.

We are not alone in the desire to hold and sort random small bits. Besides crafting and fishing, mechanics need to sort nuts/bolts/washer/screws/etc. Probably other groups I’d need more than one cup of coffee to think about. Take a look at how they sort their stuff. Some are already in this thread.

Mine are a mix of tackle boxes, hardware boxes, and 'craft' boxes. Depends on what's on sale when I need one, or if I need some bit of this or that and it comes with a reusable box. Some are big enough to hold large bitz, or even completed but unpainted individual models. Other are quite small and can be used to sort very small bitz and bobs. And some are even big enough to sort a number of the smaller ones.

You just look around and keep your eyes open for what's out there and on discount.

For those in the US wanting to reorganize on a budget, Dollar Tree has these.
https://www.dollartree.com/tool-bench-hardware-storage-cases-with-compartments-9x6-in/308119
I prefer smaller organizers like this, divided by faction or unit, and you can get a whole bunch of these for not much money.

 Vulcan wrote:

 Nevelon wrote:

 Vulcan wrote:
Yeah, those plastic compartment boxes are a lifesaver. I've got a dozen or more of them, generally looking a lot like yours.

You calling them "plastic compartment boxes” made me think. I think of them as used for fishing lures/tackle etc, as that’s what they were branded for when I picked them up. But that was the day before a lot of other craft hobbies took off and went more mainstream. You might get more hits looking for containers for sorting beads/scrapbooking/etc these days. It’s been forever since I hit the fishing section of a sporting goods store, but I see a lot of options for sorting bits when I head into my local big box craft store.

We are not alone in the desire to hold and sort random small bits. Besides crafting and fishing, mechanics need to sort nuts/bolts/washer/screws/etc. Probably other groups I’d need more than one cup of coffee to think about. Take a look at how they sort their stuff. Some are already in this thread.

Mine are a mix of tackle boxes, hardware boxes, and 'craft' boxes. Depends on what's on sale when I need one, or if I need some bit of this or that and it comes with a reusable box. Some are big enough to hold large bitz, or even completed but unpainted individual models. Other are quite small and can be used to sort very small bitz and bobs. And some are even big enough to sort a number of the smaller ones.

You just look around and keep your eyes open for what's out there and on discount.

I could not do that too messy for my OCD.. They need to "match", so for example I would pick a brand from the hardware store and keep to that

I currently use a not optimal but "good enough for me" system. I have a plastic box filled with ziplock bags. Each bag contains one type of bits. Sometimes all from one model type (like all Skitarii ranger bits etc.) sometimes thematic like in the pic "IG sized special weapons" and "HWT sized heavy weapons".

Those boxes shown here are definitly better but for my current ammount of bits it is a spare efficient solution

daemons bane wrote:

 Vulcan wrote:

 Nevelon wrote:

 Vulcan wrote:
Yeah, those plastic compartment boxes are a lifesaver. I've got a dozen or more of them, generally looking a lot like yours.

You calling them "plastic compartment boxes” made me think. I think of them as used for fishing lures/tackle etc, as that’s what they were branded for when I picked them up. But that was the day before a lot of other craft hobbies took off and went more mainstream. You might get more hits looking for containers for sorting beads/scrapbooking/etc these days. It’s been forever since I hit the fishing section of a sporting goods store, but I see a lot of options for sorting bits when I head into my local big box craft store.

We are not alone in the desire to hold and sort random small bits. Besides crafting and fishing, mechanics need to sort nuts/bolts/washer/screws/etc. Probably other groups I’d need more than one cup of coffee to think about. Take a look at how they sort their stuff. Some are already in this thread.

Mine are a mix of tackle boxes, hardware boxes, and 'craft' boxes. Depends on what's on sale when I need one, or if I need some bit of this or that and it comes with a reusable box. Some are big enough to hold large bitz, or even completed but unpainted individual models. Other are quite small and can be used to sort very small bitz and bobs. And some are even big enough to sort a number of the smaller ones.

You just look around and keep your eyes open for what's out there and on discount.

I could not do that too messy for my OCD.. They need to "match", so for example I would pick a brand from the hardware store and keep to that

Fair enough. Sometimes stacking my mishmash of various boxes does prove.... interesting... to stack neatly.