How do you store your 'leftover' bits ?

[Eberk]

Title says it all...

I am collecting more and more leftover bits (Ork, Grey Knights, Chaos Marines, Dark Eldar, also some WFB) but I just keep them in their original boxes because I haven't found a good way to store/sort them.

I tried 1 big "bitz box" but it is hopeless to find something in there when you need something and I also tried (for my Orks) to put all the leftover parts of the different boxes in small containers but that is not helpfull when trying to swap items between the different boxes...


So how do you guys store your leftover bits ?

[The AKH]

Most of the bitz I have that aren't used yet are still on sprue - these live in a large cardboard box in my closet. Bitz that have been clipped already are sorted into plastic tubs and canisters (approx. 2"-4" diameter) and those are stored in another box. I also keep "project boxes" handy for when I'm doing conversion work for a specific army/unit.

[Mr Mystery]

Due to storage issues, I tend to just ditch mine. I used to have a bitzbox, but I sold it wholesale as I no longer had the room!

[Wolf Brother Hellstrom]

i found that a good way to keep bitz organized are sealable freezer bags and or baby food jars. i use the baby food jars for smaller bits like heads, arms torsos, and accesories. for bigger pieces like from vehicles i use the freezer bags. they are thick enough so that tha sharper bits dont poke thru and rip the bag then grab a sharpy marker and label it. whola organized bits!

[Iyandagar]

I tend to use the forge world bags I seem to accumulate, (clearly I have a bit of a problem). Basically I use a bag for body parts of a particular army/race and a separate bag for vehicle bits and weapon type parts. Works fine enough for me as I know which bag to raid depending on which modelling project I am in the middle of.

[The Madman]

I have two small drawers, one for big bits like tanks, MCs and other large bitz and the other for infantry sized bits. if the sprue still has a load of bits on it i keep them on and put it in a big trunk i have under my desk.

[KrewL RaiN]

I use craft storage bins. They are tiny little plastic boxes. Some have moveable dividers. I got a lot of them from the dollar store.

[Absolon]

this is what I do

http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc337/deathstrike01/bins.jpghttp://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc337/deathstrike01/wrack.jpg

[Ssyrie]

I've got a couple of parts cabinets like this:

http://www.best-b2b.com/userimg/896/898-1/25drawer-parts-cabinet-650.jpg

One like that one, the second is taller and has some larger drawers for bigger bits.

[lobster-overlord]

http://www.belamny.com/images/Roly_Kit-263x251.jpg

I found one of these at a thrift shop a while back. Everything else is still on sprue.

[SotonShades]

I've got a big pile of boxes at the end of my bed. Included in them is a big box of terrainy type bits, with most of the unused AoBR sprues, a few with mostly mechanical stylee bits that were once going to go into some heavilly converted Deffkoptas before I realised how easilly and cheaply I could get them else where, and a few that are other; mostly heads, arms and weapons but also with a pleathora of more esoteric bits. While they are broadly divided by these terms, there is a good amount of overlap and mis-sorted bits. One of my mechanical boxes has most of a miscast zoanthrope in it for example.

For the most part, these boxes are large vehicle kit boxes; a few Land Raider varient boxes and some Valkyrie boxesfor example. There are also some other boxes, such as the short print run cities of death box that had the expansion book, a load of barricades and four buildings in and the AoBR box. Mostly these are supposed to live in the green Plasma Canister storage box GW gave away a few years ago. UNfortunately, some are in it, some are on it, a few are in use so on my desk and at least one has migrated to my set of draws (though that one mostly contains more or less finished models rather than bits)

[Wolfshade]

Mine are like Absolon, I keep all parts of one type together, so heads together, legs, close combat weapons, guns, a little pot for each

[Emerald Rose Widow]

I just toss all bits for one army in a box, I take them off the sprues so they take up less space

[fuzzbuket]

some boxes but im guilty of just having lie all over the desk :P

IM NOT A TIDY PERSON (like i sometimes forget the desk exists and i just have a big pile o bits :P)

[chromedog]

Little compartmentalised boxes.
This one has marine bits.
This one has eldar bits.
This one has xxxxx bits.

Stacked into a larger storage box. Sprues take up too much room.

[Wolfshade]

This one has xxxxx bits.

I'm not sure I want to know what xxxxx bits are :eek:

[SotonShades]

I'm not sure I want to know what xxxxx bits are :eek:

they are like xxx bits, but even more so. Must be over 25 to view, not just 18!

[Absolon]

Those must be the special unreleased Dark Eldar meet Slanesh army bits.

[MarneusCalgar]

Here in Spain we have on the big stores some sort of metal bits stores... Like boxes.

I have 3 of them

[Emerald Rose Widow]

Those must be the special unreleased Dark Eldar meet Slanesh army bits.

mmm, kinky

[Eberk]

Thanks guys. These are some good suggestions. I'll look out for small boxes, trays, cabinets...

[greendestiny]

I use these littel bead craft boxes form Hobby Lobby. They are about $2.00 US each. They work great.

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x277/greendestiny_bucket/imag0006-1.jpg

Also please don't throw away bits. If you don't want them offer them on here and just have someone pay post for shipping. I about cried when I heard all those conversion opportunities going out with the trash.

[Lord Anubis]

I agree with most folks that sprues take up too much room. The only thing I keep on the sprue are those elements that have to work together (these two arms, this arm with that weapon, etc.)

Other than that, I go with small jars from spices, pet treats, and the occasional peanut butter jar. I divide them by army, and sometimes use little ziplocs to keep certain elements together. They're free, they stack well, and they're transparent so I can look for things without having to dump stuff all over the table.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Gec7NtYlI_4/TGb52O96G0I/AAAAAAAAAbk/3CsuUfr3PjQ/s1600/Jars.jpg

And I second greendestiny's "please don't throw bits away." At the very least, see if your FLGS does trade-ins for their own bitz bin.

[Skeith154]

i have a smaller 3 drawer storage cabinet. i just throw it all in there. till i get an idea for convertions in which i rummage.

[olberon]

i use various pots sealbags and stuff like that to store my bits.
(which reminds me ... i still need t ocut up a few sprues)

project bitz are kept in a sealbag on my desk