File cabinet drawer parts

[Fordriver6]

I'm working on disassembling a 5 drawer vertical file cabinet to clean it up and paint it. I broke the little thumb latch that releases the drawer. It's a small piece of aluminum and has a hole in the back of it for the spring. Anybody know where I could possibly get one?




Here is what it's supposed to look like.


Here it is in two pieces.


Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

 

[OccupantRJ]

Yes, find a place that sells used office furniture. The one near me has a filing cabinet drawer full of odd parts from times past. They have to replace small parts also.

 

[Fordriver6]

Yes, find a place that sells used office furniture. The one near me has a filing cabinet drawer full of odd parts from times past. They have to replace small parts also.

I'll look around and see if there is a place like that near me in Central Virginia. Went to Staples to see if they could order individual parts but they can't. Went to an old mom and pop hardware store but they didn't have anything for file cabinets either (did walk out with a Columbian 604 vise).

Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

 

[sgs236]

Those cabinets get scrapped all the time. If you have a scrap yard or recycling center close by, you could get your parts for cheap off a scrapped unit.

 

[toplessHO]

drill and tap the broken one and put a small machine screw in where the tab was
wrap the spring around it and crimp loop to fit tight

 

[Fordriver6]

Appreciate the suggestions. I'll try tapping it and putting a small screw in it and see how that goes, else I'll check the local junkyard.

Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

 

[PelicanPines]

Looks like a part that can be made... From bar stock.

 

[zkling]

I'd weld it up, file the sides square and redrill the hole, nothing super critical here. Finding a 100% matching one could prove difficult and making one from bar stock, while not too complicated, will take some tedious hand work to get it looking right on the front side.