Cardboard LEGO storage cases

[shiftaltcmd]

My serie of Lego-storage made with corrugated cardboard

I like working with corrugated cardboard, cheap, strong, light-weight, easy to work with, recycable. I used a special one with a white and brown side. Putting the storage together you can choose which side will be the outside. No glue or staples. The storage is lasercut to a perfect shape and snap together by itself. (But with the laser you will have a burnt smell for a couple of days.)

Minifig and landscape storage

Four versions of minifig storage. Could also work for low landscape modules. The storage has a perfect fit for a 32 x 32 baseplate. During transport there is nothing inside the storage that can move. Strong enough to stack them on top of each other. I have had 5 boxes full with minifigs stored on top of each other.

It's possible to choose between front and top opening. A high version that will fit a mounted knight or a cave troll, and low version that fit a minifig with a spear (not halberd). If you want to see what's inside the box it's possible to make a cut-out and put in a plastic-window.

Vehicles

I have made two versions so far, both versions fit two vehicles. 6-wide or 8-wide. The height and length is enough to house large trains.

The same principle as above. Corrugated cardboard with a tight fit. During transportation the content should not be able to move inside the storage.

Building instructions

Once again, an exact fit. It's better for most instructions to lay down instead of standing. The corrugated cardboard is strong enough so you can put boxes on top of each other.

CC and Moc storage

An exact fit, no movement during transportation.

You slide your build on to the bottom half, no need for lifting.

Close the front.

Put the top in position.

The top half can be cut to almost any height.

It is possible to put the storage on top of each other. But then the bottom one has to contain something that gives a little bit of side-support, or put storage in a corner. A CC-house is ideal (not like the Monster house below, which is 32 x 24), the walls of the house will support the storage so it doesn't skew. The Town Hall was really impressive to put inside the storage.

The storage can be unfolded to save space if it's not in use.

I'm also trying out a larger version that can house 48 x 48 baseplates. It will need a thicker and stronger corrugated cardboard to support the extra area/volume/weight.

[tomdobs55]

I like that idea a lot do you cut everything yourself? How do you store loose elements?

[shiftaltcmd]

Loose elements I store mostly in plastic trays.

These ones are for storing and transporting sets and mocs. Getting an overview of minifigs etc. Great for armybuilders, put the army on a baseplate instead of ziplock bags.

Edited October 3, 2013 by shiftaltcmd

[PenPlays]

I have to ask, where do you get these excellent boxes?

[shiftaltcmd]

I have to ask, where do you get these excellent boxes?

I made them myself

[PenPlays]

Very, very nice. You should look into making a small side business out of those things.

[shiftaltcmd]

Very, very nice. You should look into making a small side business out of those things.

Thank you.

Depends on the interest. I don't want to cut them all manually. With a machine doing the cutting a minimum series is about 200-300 of the same box.

Edited October 4, 2013 by shiftaltcmd

[CisFran]

So the laser-cutting machine you are using is an industrial-type?

I sometimes made this kind of box out of recycled boxes just to fit some things for shipping and it's really PITA to make it straight and have exact measurement

[shiftaltcmd]

So the laser-cutting machine you are using is an industrial-type?

I sometimes made this kind of box out of recycled boxes just to fit some things for shipping and it's really PITA to make it straight and have exact measurement

A medium-sized one. 3 x 2 feet, 90 x 60 cm.

[kermit]

That is a nice idea you have using the card board boxes, but how sturdy is the base? If you have to move the box I assume at some point you will have to hold it by its sides and by doing so wont you touch and break a few pieces off the set? Where can one get those boxes? and how many can you stack on top of each other without causing weakness in its strength?

[shiftaltcmd]

They can handle a lot of abuse. The smaller ones can handle almost anything.

I have put five on top of each other, I could stack them higher, but then I need some side-support. I don't want them to fall down because someone/something bumped into them.

The big one for storing cc-buildings or mocs on baseplates is quite sturdy. The one that I have for the Monster house I put a 30 pound / 15 kg computer on top of that. No problem. I wouldn't hesitate to put one on top of another. But not more than so, it will be to high.

Forces from the top is no problem. It's forces from the side, a push or a bad road. Put the storage next to a corner or a wall to give it some support from the side. And it can handle a lot of abuse.

There are no places to buy them at the moment. If there is interest I will look into the possibilities of (mass)producing.

Or I could publish the drawings and anyone can make their own.