Strategies for sorting/rebuilding Legos?

[giant25]

Hello - I was wondering if anyone could advise on how to rebuild sets that have been dismantled and put in a large bin.

My son has quite a few lego sets - we still have most of the boxes, so in general, we know what we have, and either have the original instructions or can download pdfs of the instructions. The issue is that about half of them are in pieces in a big container, and it seems like a daunting task to sort through the pieces to rebuild the sets.

Should we sort by color first, then go through the instructions? that seems the most logical to me, but maybe there's a better way?

Greatly appreciate any advice - thx

[StClair]

I'm sure answers will vary. I keep my son's LEGO sorted by color. But I also keep a few separate containers for him sorted by parts (technic parts box, hing and moving parts box, minifigure box, minifigure accessory box). When I started my own collection I took a similar approach. I have basic bricks sorted by color. Basic plates sorted by color. Tiles somewhat sorted by color. I also have many separate containers for specialty parts. Some sorted by color and some not (depending upon how many I have of the part.

I think for you the best approach may be to sort by color. It should be fairly easy to dig through and find parts if they are sorted by color as you build. You may want to sort out some specialty parts though as you sort. Wheels, windows and such.

[Sledneck27]

It's a nightmare. I'm currently in the same process, and once rebuilt, the sets will each have their own container, or at least there will be containers for specific types; Marvel Super Heroes, DC Super Heroes, City, TMNT, Bionicle, etc.... I hope to keep them sorted by category. Right now though, sorting through three bins trying to find the pieces I need, its maddening.

[davidex]

I think that sorting by colours isn't the most important because it's easy to find appropriate one.
I divided my lego in categories (Star wars, technics, city etc.) with unique parts and I add one extra box with universal bricks. In boxes I have polybags where parts are divided by size for example 1x1, 5x2. For me it's the most useful way.