At last: the ultimate, cost effective, minifig storage solution

 

  • At last: the ultimate, cost effective, minifig storage solution

    Posted by Huw, 23 Aug 2012 11:23. Filed under Miscellaneous.

    Minifig caseIf you're a minifig collector, you've probably hunted high and low to find a decent storage solution but have found nothing that's suitable at a price that's low enough to be able to buy sufficient units to house your entire collection.

    There have been several LEGO-branded ones around but they are big, bulky and expensive. There's also the LEGO-style transparent boxes that we reviewed a while ago that are excellent for displaying the figs but work out to be too expensive for storing hundreds in.

    So, when I saw these cases from Minifig For Life in my Facebook feed this week, I was immediately interested so I acquired one to review and evaluate.

    Minifig case They are 260 x 175 x 45 mm, made from softish translucent plastic and designed to hold 16 minifigs, which thus makes them ideal for the collectable minifig series.

    The minifigs fit comfortably into the compartments, even with large headgear and when holding accessories, as you can see from my set of Series 7, left. I don't keep mine on their stands, but they fit comfortably in there as well.

    What I particularly liked about the case is that in addition to the 16 minifig-sized compartments, there's also a double-height one which would be ideal for housing fishing rods and other long accessories that don't fit in the other holes (not needed for Series 7 though).

    Minifig caseYou are also provided with cards on which you can enter details about the figure. I'm not sure I'd use them, but it's a nice touch.

    The box I have has a Series 7 graphic on the lid which looks great. When you order the boxes, you can specify the sticker you'd like: collectable minifig series 1-7, Team GB, Star Wars, or generic.

    The best thing about these units is the price: they are just £5.75 (~$9) so buying one for each CMF series, and perhaps even your entire collection of hundreds of Star Wars figures is not out of the question, as it is with most other storage solutions.

    There's nothing not to like about these and, finally, I think I've found the answer to my minifig storage prayers.

    I do however have a suggestion for improvement to make them even better. Given you're likely to have a few of these, you're probably going to want to stack them, so a sticker on the front side of the box to match the one on the top would be useful.

    I'm not sure if they have been designed specifically for minifigs, but they are so fit-for-purpose that it's as if they have been, so I highly recommend them.

    You can order from the Minifig For Life website. The URL mentioned on the box (minifigures-storage.com) is not yet live.


    48 comments, latest one posted 9 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)
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Comments

Posted by tiberium_blue in United Kingdom, 23 Aug 2012 12:05

The other products available are more about display than storage. While nice, I don't think these are fit for that purpose.

Posted by steinman17 in United States, 23 Aug 2012 12:06

I have a bunch if these (http://www.containerstore.com/reviews/collections/display/cubesCases?productId=10022884)

They are perfect for minifig displays. I can fit about 20-24 per box, depending on setup. Maybe more, I havent really experimented too much.

Posted by Huw in United Kingdom, 23 Aug 2012 12:08

^^ You are right: but often you have more figs than space to display them.

Posted by eragon3443 in United States, 23 Aug 2012 12:15

Nice, I like this!

Posted by Tervlon in United States, 23 Aug 2012 12:18

These are great containers. They are generic craft storage containers that I have picked up from JoAnn Craft stores in the US (obviously without any LEGO styled labels). They are a very low cost option that go on sale frequently.

Posted by Nannan in United States, 23 Aug 2012 12:28

This is a nice idea, but the plain containers are available from Hobby Lobby in the US for $2.
http://shop.hobbylobby.com/products/craft-storage-box-666735/

Posted by atkinsar in United Kingdom, 23 Aug 2012 12:31

These look pretty good, right up my street with the name cards, may have to sample one.

Posted by vynsane in United States, 23 Aug 2012 12:32

It's a cute idea, but I have no need for storage of single figures. Mine are all parted out into similar, though less deep, containers (RIMAX/Workforce 14" small part organizers, found at Home Depot in The States). Currently my disassembled minifigure collection comprises three such containers - one for torsos and legs, one for accessories, and one that's being finalized, but currently has heads and oddly shaped minifigure parts like molded heads, different bottoms, etc.

Posted by lylesbk in United States, 23 Aug 2012 12:35

how soon will the brickset effect take effect on hobby lobby?

Posted by BJ21 in United Kingdom, 23 Aug 2012 12:49

I've used these style of boxes to store my minifigs in for a while now - I think they were from Hobbycraft, but could be elsewhere.
With a few adjustments (pretty much just taking lid off) I've got some boxes that I use to stand up and display the figures vertically. It's made it easy for me to take and display minifigs when I'm away at uni :)

Posted by Legolover9531 in United States, 23 Aug 2012 12:53

The case steinman showed will do it for me considering I'm not paying $12 for a case.

Posted by JaseTJ in United States, 23 Aug 2012 12:55

I have no need to store complete minifigures, but I found a couple of containers similar to this:

http://www.amazon.com/Stack-On-DS-39-Drawer-Storage-Cabinet/dp/B000HJBA1W/ref=sr_1_4?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1345740637&sr=1-4&keywords=craft+storage+containers

-that I use to store my minifigs. I have legs sorted out by color, taking up about three rows, torsos- not really sorted- taking up two rows, heads taking up about six slots, headgear in about twelve of them, and weapons/accessories in about eighteen or so. I use the bigger compartments for various things including animals and plants.

I do have a container like the one above, however, and use that and several similar ones to sort out my small plates, hinged pieces, etc. It's pretty efficient, imo.

Edit: If you're looking, I personally would probably prefer something with more of the smaller drawers, like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Stack-On-DS-60-Drawer-Storage-Cabinet/dp/B000KKUSYS/ref=sr_1_7?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1345740637&sr=1-7&keywords=craft+storage+containers

Posted by legoman67 in Netherlands, 23 Aug 2012 13:06

Great to see how everyone is so creative storing their Minifigures, or others try to make a business from storing Minifigures. Unfortunately mine are still sealed in the original bag, and stored in the original box, until I have figured out a solution to store and display them.

Posted by copperwonder96 in United States, 23 Aug 2012 13:17

These cases are the best I've Ever seen:

http://www.amazon.com/Schylling-KP004-Lego-Large-Minifigure/dp/B005LUJRGM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345742076&sr=8-1&keywords=lego+large+minifigure+case

They are $23 at toysrus but sometimes they promo them during Christmas sales (buy X amount get case for free, etc).
They have red, yellow, blue and now Black which is new.
I have the yellow and it look nice plus it is perfect for my series 1!

They hold 16 figs and look great! They smaller cases hold 8 figs.
Cool idea by this developer as well.

Posted by Ianreeves in United States, 23 Aug 2012 13:32

We have 6 of these plastic cases that we use to sort small elements. they are great, until the kids leave them open and flip them over, spilling all the pieces :) About $3 each at the craft stores (in the bead storage area) and an even better deal with their frequent 40% or 50% off coupons! :) I like the addition of the graphic sheets. Sure you could print those at home.

Posted by Psymon in United Kingdom, 23 Aug 2012 14:00

This is a great idea, buy the minifigures then store them in boxes. Don't display them, put them away so nobody can see them.

This is stupid.

Posted by Huw in United Kingdom, 23 Aug 2012 14:10

@copperwonder96, they are great for displaying but too bulky and expensive if you need to store hundreds.

@Nannan, thanks for the link, though I don't think I've seen them here in the UK before.

Posted by hleonffu in United States, 23 Aug 2012 14:12

You can also get these cases from Michaels arts and craft store in the US.

It is the "Darice Basic Bead Organizer with 17 compartments."
http://www.michaels.com/Darice%C2%AE-Basic-Bead-Organizer-with-17-Compartments/bd0975,default,pd.html?start=76&cgid=products-beads-storage

They have a yearly clearance were you can get these at $1.00. They are found in the bead storage section.

I use the collectible minifig pamplet as the "cover".

Posted by JamesBenjamin in United States, 23 Aug 2012 14:33

The also have them at Walmart for aout $2 each.

Posted by CapnRex101 in United Kingdom, 23 Aug 2012 14:41

I make small environments for each of my Collectable Minifigures on 6x6 plates, each one costs about £1.50-£2.00 to make and they look great. They can of course be stacked and are mounted on the wall above my desk. I have not done the ones for series 7 yet although I have the figures but I am sure I will get around to it.

Posted by clonetrooper02 in United Kingdom, 23 Aug 2012 14:49

You can get these in the UK, various sizes available from home bargains. Think there £2.50 each for the big ones.

Posted by vexorian in Bolivia, 23 Aug 2012 15:01

These are not good for display. If storage was all that was needed, a couple of small tupper wares would be enough.

Posted by nijisakana in Philippines, 23 Aug 2012 15:12

I have 6 of these to store all my minifigs. they are not really for minifigs but more like for tool kits or small things like nails etc. there's also another version with 18 boxes instead. you can fit the fishing rods diagonally. and fit about 4 minifigs with their accessories in each box. really nice =)

Posted by CamberbrickGreen in United Kingdom, 23 Aug 2012 15:27

Hobbycraft in the UK currently have 25% off all storage boxes. I got a 9L that took 3 trays and 1 lid tray all for £10.95 I think, which was great for spare brick separation.

Go for smaller sizes if you want 1 mini figure per compartment.

Posted by namekuji in New Zealand, 23 Aug 2012 15:42

There are some pretty sweet brick built solutions out there too. check this guy out. http://www.flickr.com/photos/brandongriffith/7641860264/in/photostream

Posted by TekkamanRaiden in Canada, 23 Aug 2012 16:28

My wife actually bought me some of the exact same boxes for $3 from Michaels Craft Store. I really though they were great for minfigs, I guess it really is.

Posted by Delatron in United Kingdom, 23 Aug 2012 17:34

I've bought the same boxes (without cards) from Hobbycraft in the UK. Can't recall exact cost but a few quid each.

@camberbrickgreen - I think i have two of those that you are describing - very useful. Thanks for the heads-up on the 25% off, I may have to stop in.

Posted by Jack Pepper in United States, 23 Aug 2012 17:43

If we're talking about storage, my problem with these is space. As in, these take up a lot of it. I dissasemble my figs and put them in 2"x3" craft zip bags, then in a plastic shoebox.
For display, I like what steinman17 posted.

Posted by iwantbricks in United States, 23 Aug 2012 17:54

I started doing this a long time ago. I purchased mine cases at Home Depot and it seems like it was around $6 or so. The figures fit well in there and I lay out one of the colored minifigure insert cards across the top and close the lid to use a way to display which series is in the case.

Posted by Orthobotrex in Philippines, 23 Aug 2012 18:01

Whenever I buy something similar to these, I always consider the type of locking mechanism and hinges used. Think of the series 5 gangster's violin case: it will eventually stiffen and crack/split. The best hinges for me are those that work like barrel hinges and the best locking mechanism for me are the one that slide over a tab or have a locking mechanism that slides sideways and not the snap on types.

Posted by Venunder in United Kingdom, 23 Aug 2012 18:34

For a cheap option their are these.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000KMGK20/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=103612307&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B004O2INQI&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=06XD9CDGTXRM9ZCY6B39

But I like the little record sheets and the custom stickers on the lid of the ones reviewed.

For Tougher Stackable boxes there are a range of options from DiY stores like B&Q.
I think JCB make a range of really tough boxes, but they are a little pricey.

Posted by Nightshroud99 in Canada, 23 Aug 2012 18:55

I'd have to pay $615 to get enough for all my figures, that's too much. I can see using this for the collectible minifigures, but mine are fine in a large bin with my other figures.

Posted by djanscak in Australia, 23 Aug 2012 20:41

In Australia, the same (or similar) containers are available from Bunnings. However, I put many minifigs in each compartment because mine are just used so our figs aren't left all over the floor courtesy of my son's play habits. I use deeper ones for storing bricks.

Posted by defiant.nx74205 in United States, 23 Aug 2012 20:58

Introducing... the ZipLock bag!

Posted by cjg in United States, 23 Aug 2012 22:02

I already use these containers (without the sticker and cards, of course) to store my 'figs...

Posted by Austinniya in Australia, 23 Aug 2012 22:31

Don't waste your extra Dollars on these so called "Minifigs Case's" just because of the pretty picture on the front, someone is making a gimmick out of what is usually much cheaper from Craft shops and is ripping-off the naive customers blind X( You can get them from Craft shops (1001 Craft utility box), The Warehouse (1001 use utility box), cheap variety shops (1001 use utility box) and Auto Super Cheap (useful for nuts'n'bold'n'screws), all for as low as only $2 from each shop. Oh and from Fishing supplies shops (1001 use Tackle Box) also just $2.

Posted by vpustote in United States, 24 Aug 2012 00:27

I find that the way I have been displaying mine is the cheapest way. I buy one small little race car display case and put two series into one.

The cases stack neatly and save space. Plus they still look amazing.

Take a look here:
https://crux.baker.edu/~lvanic02/lego/minis.jpg

Posted by xarquar in United States, 24 Aug 2012 00:37

I use the basic version of this container for my figures and put all of the handheld items in a separate, similar container. Depending on what the figures are wearing you can fit 4-5 in each spot. JoAnn's runs coupons from time to time that allow you to add a discount on top of already on sale items. Last time these were on sale I used the coupon to get ten of them at $0.90 a piece.

Posted by coyotelily in United Kingdom, 24 Aug 2012 02:46

Yes, these have been available in the Uk at home bargains, this size was £1.49, a friend of mine collects star wars figures which were easily accommodated in the larger ones at £2.49. I dd buy a bulk of these when I spotted them but they appear to have sold out at many home bargains stores now.

Posted by velcrodave in United States, 24 Aug 2012 10:35

Hi there - long time reader, first time poster. To store my minifigs, I cover a 32 by 32 base plate with minifig stands. If you allow the front row and rear row of stands to hang off the baseplate by a couple studs, the baseplate can accommodate six sets of 16 minifigs (96 minfigs total - 12 rows by 8 columns). The loaded baseplate fits nicely into this container:

http://www.containerstore.com/shop/collections/scrapbookingStorage?productId=10009754

(the product picture shows paper stored in the container)

This isn't practical for people that want a separate container for each series, but it sure saves space.

Posted by Huw in United Kingdom, 24 Aug 2012 11:03

^ That's a great idea (and welcome... :-) )

Posted by kasmca in Canada, 24 Aug 2012 11:07

I use these display cases: http://www.custom-wall-displays.com/ledica.html

Holds 96 minifigs for only $25. Minimal look, dust protection, easy access and cost effective. The larger one comes with 4 rows. Each row comfortably fits a series with stands.

Here is my display: http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5156/7181520430_e56f79f95f_c.jpg

Like other posts, these are more for display vs storage.

Posted by yys4u in United States, 24 Aug 2012 12:03

The $2 ones from hobby lobby don't appear to be the same size. Huws measurements don't translate to the exact same measurements listed on their site... I wonder if they're the same but just with rough dimension.

I'd like to order the cheap ones but the ones from minifigure storage seem to fit them perfectly and the hobby lobby ones could be bigger and give the figures some wiggle room.

Posted by madforLEGO in United States, 24 Aug 2012 12:18

Way too much to display figures.. especially for cheapo cases like this where you can get them for much cheaper..
Basically it appears they are charging you an extra 5 bucks for stickers.
Like others have said, do not waste your money.

Posted by MorkMan in United States, 24 Aug 2012 16:49

I'd like to applaud this company for finding a niche and doing something to make a buck off it. Maybe it's not for everyone (clearly, by reading the comments, it isn't), but in this economy, it's nice to see someone taking charge. Hope they do well!

Posted by Namanbricks in United States, 25 Aug 2012 12:56

I have something like this I keep my star wars minifigs in it.

Posted by Maniac4Legos in United States, 25 Aug 2012 14:10

I love this! I might keep it for other themes as well :D only means I'll have to buy a bunch haha

Posted by jack_bricks in Austria, 28 Aug 2012 08:05

Hi, does anybody know if you can get them in Germany as well? Because I don't want to spend 8 EUR on such a cheap box, just because there is a fancy sticker on it.

Commenting has ended on this article.