Posted: 8/7/2024 9:36:47 PM EDT
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Well, I'm finally converting everything to a local media server. I want to hang on to the physical discs as a backup, but the storage solutions.... Suck. It's going to be hard to lose the case and inserts and booklets but I can't deny the space savings. Giving up some of the steel cases, collection cases and special edition things will be a point of stress. What solutions have you come up with for disc storage? I've considered making stackable crates out of plywood to hold 100 or so of the "hanging file" type of single disc holder each, and also considered the slim line disc holders. I guess alphabetical with some tab labels would be the most efficient. At current, everything is being ripped to MKV, isn't being converted, and it's being accessed locally via Plex on a decent NAS. |
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Well, ask the Youtubes and the algorithm will provide.. sometimes. https://www.t3lshop.com/shop/dvd-sleeves-for-dvd-storage-503p.html Found these. Retain the wrapper and booklet, lose most of the bulk. Might still make a series of plywood stacking boxes for secured long term storage. I think I'll give them a try. |
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Well, the re-packaging has begun. A big pile of empty cases on one side, a much smaller box of movies on the other. The new case come in different sizes for DVD vs BR, and capacities. I bought enough to gauge whether it's going to work for what I want and it's looking good so far. Once some more are wrapped up I'll take measurements and try to figure out what size crates to build. The hanging file style certainly would have been faster and easier, and take up less space without the covers, but that was something I was having a really hard time parting from, especially for the discs without logos. The Warner Brothers cardboard cases are going to be a challenge, and probably a trip to the cutting mat, to fit properly. |
I was working on a similar project last night. I had two totes full of DVDs and Blu-rays, and wanted to save space, so I ordered a couple of those zippered cases. I got about 3/4 of them done, and I'm still trying to decide what to do about the last 25%. Those are the boxed sets and stuff like that, and I haven't talked myself into breaking those down yet. This is most of the cases that I just emptied. 
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Alright, finally made some progress on this. After a couple months of nights and weekends work, all the discs I have are ripped to MKV. I decided against an .iso because, while I sometimes (rarely) enjoy the special features, in reality it's because I finished watching the movie, got bored, and poke around on the menu options. For the most part, I'm in it for the movies. MKVs are hosted on a new multimedia NAS and shared across a GB hardwire network. Movies are summoned via Plex at the main smart TV. Eventually a dedicated raspberry pi as the media selector will be built, but it's undergoing some testing. The pouches I bought are really simple for the standard (plastic) DVD and BR/4K cases. The Warner Brothers and Sony cardboard cases were crappy and needed some work (because the pouches did not fit the front, spine and rear - not wide enough). Here's what I did:  Cut along the seams. Toss the spine.  Disc into a pouch for protection. Front and back in the pouch.  A really bad picture of the width difference. It was significant.  Filled up a couple of these.  Then just finished making the long term storage cases. These are each 13 inches deep, and more than enough to fit almost 900 movies. Steel cases and some special editions are kept in their original boxes. The pouches are nice and seem well suited for a storage solution where you occasionally update everything. They advertise them as space-saving for regular use, but it doesn't seem like a good fit. The discs are grouped by DVD and BR/4K and then sorted alphabetically. If I bought a binder it would probably result in more compact storage, but if I needed to move a bunch of discs just to add one more alphabetically in the middle it would drive me nuts. |