You know you’re a pro puzzler when you use jigsaw puzzle sorting trays, but is it necessary to spend money on a fancy puzzle sorter? Can you make your own with items you already have instead?
A puzzle sorter is a system of trays that you use to segment off your puzzle pieces. Say you want to keep all the border pieces together, or you want to organize your pieces by their shape or color, you can do that quickly with a puzzle sorter.
Without a puzzle sorter of some kind, most puzzlers organize their pieces in piles on the table, which gets messy and frustrating. In this guide, we’re going to give you our best DIY puzzle sorter tips, and we’ll break down the pros and cons of making a homemade puzzle sorter vs buying one.
You probably have items in your home that you could use for puzzle sorting. Paper plates and bowls make great options, as well as Tupperware containers. You can even repurpose small cardboard boxes.
If you don’t have anything on hand but still want to save money, you can find inexpensive plastic trays at Walmart or Target.
A DIY puzzle sorting system definitely comes in handy when you’re traveling. Most hotels and bed and breakfasts offer puzzles you can borrow, and a vacation is a perfect time to get the whole family puzzling together. Instead of packing your own puzzle sorter, you can pick up paper plates once you get to your destination and get going.
Another pro to using DIY puzzle sorting trays is that it’s cheaper. It’s also a great way to be eco-friendly if you reuse something you already had.
Store-bought puzzle sorters are popular for a reason. They are durable and specifically designed for puzzling, so they come with some conveniences that you don’t get when you use a homemade option.
For example, store-bought puzzle sorters are stackable. They don’t take up too much space, and they’re easy to stack up and put away when you aren’t working on your puzzle.
DIY puzzle sorters are usually oversized. This may seem like a good thing since they can hold more pieces, but in reality, they can take up a lot of space on your table. Regular puzzle sorters are designed more efficiently so they don’t get in your way.
They’re also more durable. If you use flimsy paper plates or old cardboard boxes, they could fall apart and ruin your whole system. Lastly, if you use Tupperware, you may find some tiny food pieces in your puzzle. Make sure to wash them out thoroughly before using them as DIY jigsaw puzzle sorting trays!
Whether you buy a brand new puzzle sorter or make your own, you will love having your puzzle pieces organized. We love durable and stackable puzzle sorters around here, but DIY jigsaw puzzle sorting trays are great in a pinch.
For more puzzle resources you can check out our other blogs, or get started with your puzzle subscription here today.