Thread: How to build a filing cabinet

Originally Posted by JillB

I need to build a 2 door filing cabinet in a hurry, and I would like to see some plans on how to build each sliding draw with steel sliding bars for the hanging suspension files.

Can anyone please provide me with a link or some plans?

The steel bars are not necessary because you can get hanging suspension files with plastic lined hooks on the sliding ends. I have seen a number of cabinets that just use a rebated piece of hardwood as a runner attached to the inside sides of the drawer and they work very well.

Thanks BobL. Attached is a picture of a design I found on the web which uses aluminium bar screwed to the sides of the drawer. The picture is for a lateral filing cabinet

Or you could build the carcass and use ready made steel sided file draw such as those made by Blum, then use a draw front either the same as the carcass or in a contrasting material

Thanks China, interesting approach, but fairly expensive having to buy a 2 door steel filing cabinet and then encase it

China does not mean to buy a full cabinet.
There are metal sides with runners available that you can attach to your front panels. I used a smaller version to make drawers to hold VCR cassettes
They save having to make full drawers.
Try the suppliers mentioned

Thanks Chesand, I had completley mis-understood China's proposal

I was able to find the item. I have never heard of them before.

I also found the local version here for $15 each

They make a complete draw system have a look here METABOX - Drawers, high fronted pull-outs for all applications

many thanks, China

Hi Jill,

Sorry but I do not have any plans but I do have some very basic filing cabinet drawers that might be of help. They are all melamine, 16mm.

The drawer is just a box, glued and pinned. The drawer front is added to the box. A small strip of plastic serves as the runners for the files, just put in a slot on the top of the drawer sides.

The drawer runners are full extension runners of course. Anyway this may be of use for a quick build. You could use timber or metal strip instead of the plastic file runners I would think.

Hopfully the photos are visible.

Cheers
Pops

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that is very neat, Pops, thanks for posting. Another case of a picture being worth a thousand words. I think I will do the same. I was thinking of using 12mm ply for the box, but would be happier with 16mm melamine - a fair bit stronger.

I like the two colour scheme too

Hi Jill,

Yes, just love pictures, my brain is getting too slow at processing words these days. The thing about melamine is that it is stable.

I think the ply would be strong enough but am just hinking about stability with changes in humidity. Perhaps a good sealer coat all over might prevent any possible bowing in the ply.

The runners are the star, as long as you have full extension runners that let you get right to the end of the drawer you will be happy, and these ones simply fit to the bottom of the box, less measuring. I have some more boxes but are yet to build the case for them, one day.

Best of luck Jill. Do post us some finished job photos.

Cheers
Pops

What did you use for the plastic edging that the the files sit on, please Pops? That looks very neat and tidy the way you have buried it in the box sides.

also, what did you use for the drawer fronts - MDF?

Hi Jill,

Sorry for late reply, have been away from a computer for a while. I got all the stuff from auctions, cabinet makers etc. The plastic runners are actually specially made for this type of MDF filing cabinet construction, they had half a box left over and you just cut to length.

Not sure if you could source these easily, this cabinet shop specialised in MDF cabinetry and had literally thousands of fittings in dusty boxes. I only got what I could recognise, hinges, handles etc.

I would think that any thin strip will do the same job, timber, aluminium, steel. Am sure I have seen thin, narrow aluminium strips at Bunnies.

Sorry but I don;t think I have been able to help with an easy solution for you.

Cheers
Pops

Thanks Pops, you have been most helpful. Got the Melamine and the aluminium strip from Bunnies this morning, so ready to make a start once I finish painting the new front doors that are sitting in the shed - with Sikkens HLS and Filter 7 products they recommend a 36-48 hr drying time before the next coat, so that means another 4 days of painting left, doing two sides a day on two doors.

With the filing cabinet, are the drawer fronts MDF? If so, how do they stand up to normal wear and tear and knocks - I always found MDF to be pretty soft, relatively speaking