Answers.Body: <p>For physical manuals, I personally like to use clear presentation sheet protectors similar to the ones that @BradC mentioned. Regarding organization, I place the ones that I refer to frequently in some binders, sorted by theme, while sets that I don't use as much go into a set of hanging file folders.</p>
  
  <p>If you don't mind electronic storage, you could download all of your manuals, either from Lego's <a href="http://us.service.lego.com/en-US/BuildingInstructions/default.aspx">site</a> (for sets since 2002), or from other fan sites as noted in this Squidoo <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/legoinstructions">page</a>:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>Still no joy? Let's try another site. Go to <a href="http://www.worldbricks.com/">Worldbricks</a>, choose
    Instructions Number and pick a number range from the dropdown list at
    the top of the screen, or Instructions Theme and pick a starting
    letter from the dropdown list.</p>
    
    <p>Without knowing the number or name, you can still find the set.
    Several sites provide databases of lego sets which you can search by
    theme, or using a single word you remember from the set name, or even
    just something related. Try <a href="http://guide.lugnet.com/">LUGNET</a> or <a href="http://www.peeron.com/scans/">Peeron</a>, which will link you to
    instructions once you find the set.</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>Electronic viewing keeps my manuals in pretty good condition - I minimize touching and only pull them out when I build now, while if I just want to browse, I can fire up my computer.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-11-07T17:51:06.610Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2011-11-07T17:51:06.610Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: JW8
Answers.Body: <p>What about <a href="http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/B000GRBAGA" rel="nofollow noreferrer">clear sheet protectors like these</a> inside a 3-ring binder? I imagine most are designed to hold a single page, and not an entire booklet, but these heavy-duty acid-free ones could be up to the task:</p>
  
  <p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/HssU6.jpg" alt="Avery Heavyweight Sheet Protectors"></p>
  
  <p>You could have separate binders for different product lines, and sort by set number or name, and the cover of each would be visible as you browse through. Anyone ever try something like this?</p>
  
  <p>(I'm imagining sliding the entire booklet into a single protector, not slicing it up into individual pages. Would these <a href="http://www.bagsunlimited.com/p-1525-comic-3-ring-binder-page.aspx" rel="nofollow noreferrer">comic book inserts</a> work better, with a fold over top, or is 7-1/4 x 10-3/8" too small for the larger instructions?)</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-11-07T17:09:11.170Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2011-11-07T17:09:11.170Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: BradC
Answers.Body: <p>My wife found some <a href="http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/B003Z684MC" rel="nofollow noreferrer">magazine holders</a> to keep her magazines organized in a 3 ring binder.  Those might be helpful for some of the larger manuals.</p>
  
  <p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/LGEw9.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></p>
  
  <p>Storing them in order by set number or alphabetically by set name and including an index sheet could help you find the sets easier.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-11-07T16:50:44.920Z
Answers.Text: I've tried this for my collection of 37 or so instruction booklets and it doesn't work for me. About 30 instruction booklets make up the size and weight of a phone book. This leads to the pouches sagging.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Ambo100
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-11-07T16:05:21.033Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2011-11-07T16:05:21.033Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Friend Of George
Answers.Body: <p>If I could motivate myself, I'd be tempted to use scanned PDFs and would put the paper originals in a box, in plastic bags, like precious comic books. I'd use the model numbers to refer to them, plus collection folder names (both for physical and digital documents)</p>
  
  <p>My kids are currently in the process of shredding my 20-30 years old instructions manuals (which admittedly, don`t really need any help for falling apart).</p>
  
  <p>Side note, I'm generally against late ideas I'm hearing about providing instruction via computer support only.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-11-07T15:15:24.623Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2011-11-07T15:15:24.623Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: jfyelle
Body: <p>Currently I store LEGO set manuals and instructions in hanging file folders in a file box, grouped by set type. This makes it hard to dig through and find the one I need, and manuals tend to get tangled up and damaged.</p>
  
  <p>Is there any storage method that protects the instructions better and makes them easier to find the one I need?</p>
  
Tags: <instructions><storage>
Title: Best way to store instruction manuals?
UserDisplayName: BradC
ThreadText: # Best way to store instruction manuals?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2011-11-07)
  
  Currently I store LEGO set manuals and instructions in hanging file folders in a file box, grouped by set type. This makes it hard to dig through and find the one I need, and manuals tend to get tangled up and damaged.
  
  Is there any storage method that protects the instructions better and makes them easier to find the one I need?
  
  **Tags:** instructions, storage
  
  ---
  
  ## 4 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2011-11-07. Score: 10
  
  For physical manuals, I personally like to use clear presentation sheet protectors similar to the ones that @BradC mentioned. Regarding organization, I place the ones that I refer to frequently in some binders, sorted by theme, while sets that I don't use as much go into a set of hanging file folders.
  
  If you don't mind electronic storage, you could download all of your manuals, either from Lego's [site](http://us.service.lego.com/en-US/BuildingInstructions/default.aspx) (for sets since 2002), or from other fan sites as noted in this Squidoo [page](http://www.squidoo.com/legoinstructions):
  
  > Still no joy? Let's try another site. Go to [Worldbricks](http://www.worldbricks.com/), choose
  > Instructions Number and pick a number range from the dropdown list at
  > the top of the screen, or Instructions Theme and pick a starting
  > letter from the dropdown list.
  >
  > Without knowing the number or name, you can still find the set.
  > Several sites provide databases of lego sets which you can search by
  > theme, or using a single word you remember from the set name, or even
  > just something related. Try [LUGNET](http://guide.lugnet.com/) or [Peeron](http://www.peeron.com/scans/), which will link you to
  > instructions once you find the set.
  
  Electronic viewing keeps my manuals in pretty good condition - I minimize touching and only pull them out when I build now, while if I just want to browse, I can fire up my computer.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_0 on 2011-11-07. Score: 4
  
  What about [clear sheet protectors like these](http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/B000GRBAGA) inside a 3-ring binder? I imagine most are designed to hold a single page, and not an entire booklet, but these heavy-duty acid-free ones could be up to the task:
  
  ![Avery Heavyweight Sheet Protectors](https://i.sstatic.net/HssU6.jpg)
  
  You could have separate binders for different product lines, and sort by set number or name, and the cover of each would be visible as you browse through. Anyone ever try something like this?
  
  (I'm imagining sliding the entire booklet into a single protector, not slicing it up into individual pages. Would these [comic book inserts](http://www.bagsunlimited.com/p-1525-comic-3-ring-binder-page.aspx) work better, with a fold over top, or is 7-1/4 x 10-3/8" too small for the larger instructions?)
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2011-11-07. Score: 3
  
  My wife found some [magazine holders](http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/B003Z684MC) to keep her magazines organized in a 3 ring binder. Those might be helpful for some of the larger manuals.
  
  ![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/LGEw9.jpg)
  
  Storing them in order by set number or alphabetically by set name and including an index sheet could help you find the sets easier.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_3**: I've tried this for my collection of 37 or so instruction booklets and it doesn't work for me. About 30 instruction booklets make up the size and weight of a phone book. This leads to the pouches sagging.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_4 on 2011-11-07. Score: 2
  
  If I could motivate myself, I'd be tempted to use scanned PDFs and would put the paper originals in a box, in plastic bags, like precious comic books. I'd use the model numbers to refer to them, plus collection folder names (both for physical and digital documents)
  
  My kids are currently in the process of shredding my 20-30 years old instructions manuals (which admittedly, don`t really need any help for falling apart).
  
  Side note, I'm generally against late ideas I'm hearing about providing instruction via computer support only.
  
  
  ---
  
  