File Card Cabinet

[OccupantRJ]

I acquired my third card file cabinet a few months ago, and recently got around to doing a little paint work on it for use in the shop. Since I have been using these things for storing hardware, I have been getting rid of my individual drawer style bolt cabinets.

I like being able to open a drawer and see a large selection of hardware in it at once. Anyway, it got the basic sand and foam roller paint treatment, then was put to use.

This style cabinet has dual drawers in each drawer tier. the individual drawer sections can be pulled forward when the drawer is open to access clear to the back of the drawer. Since the drawer bottoms have an open slot in them, I cut some cardboard for drawer lliners to keep small objects from falling through.

I bought the cabinet from an estate sale for $75 with it full of power tools and misc. hardware. It took two of us using the furniture cart to load it into the trailer using ramps. The small bins pictured were part of the sale. A dolly of angle iron was constructed to allow for easier moving of the cabinet. Way cheaper than Lista or Vidmar for us common folks.

 

[teamextreme]

Very nice. I picked up an identical one last year at a scrap yard for $70. My plans are also to re-paint it (after I get a long list of other projects finished first). I've been pondering how to do that though, with all the drawer handles and label holders all over the drawers. Did you mask those off or remove all of them?

 

[stage20]

buddy of mine just picked up 2 map files. i think they are 5 or 6 drawer each. he has them loaded down with tools and they open and close like they should. love the commerical stuff. most of the time the price is right too.

 

[rick carpenter]

Cool. You could slip little pieces of cardboard in the front slots and hot glue a sample of the fasteners in each drawer for a different look.

 

[67carl]

Nice. What process did you use to paint it? Roll, brush or spray?

I found an old wood card catalog and use it for hardware storage. I plan on refinishing it and staining it darker.

 

[67carl]

I use HF plastic bins, modified slightly, to hold the screws, nuts, bolts, etc...

 

[188slo50]

I use them aswell but have only been able to find one. The plastic bins fit perfectly and make nuts and bolts so easy to find.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Cool. You could slip little pieces of cardboard in the front slots and hot glue a sample of the fasteners in each drawer for a different look.

That might be difficult to do. One drawer has 52 small bins in it.

 

[7th Kahuna]

Those are great cabinets. I have one that is very similar. I almost had two but they were both headed for the trash when I got there and I could only fit one into my vehicle. There literally wasn't even time to trade out for color matched drawers. Like yours, they were both still filled with tools and stock.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Nice. What process did you use to paint it? Roll, brush or spray?

I found an old wood card catalog and use it for hardware storage. I plan on refinishing it and staining it darker.

Used Sherwin Williams modified urethane with a 4 inch foam cabinet roller. They have rounded ends to help eliminate overlap marks. Penetrol additive will help the paint level out from using the roller. Use Flotrol with latex paints.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Very nice. I picked up an identical one last year at a scrap yard for $70. My plans are also to re-paint it (after I get a long list of other projects finished first). I've been pondering how to do that though, with all the drawer handles and label holders all over the drawers. Did you mask those off or remove all of them?

I removed all the handles and index holders. Mine had one handle missing, so I went to the used office equipment place and the guy gave me one from his used hardware stock.

 

[7th Kahuna]

I removed all the handles and index holders. Mine had one handle missing, so I went to the used office equipment place and the guy gave me one from his used hardware stock.

Good idea. I'll have to remember that. Are your drawers 'fixed'? Mine slide in and out in trays and can be lifted out and taken to the workbench if I choose.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Good idea. I'll have to remember that. Are your drawers 'fixed'? Mine slide in and out in trays and can be lifted out and taken to the workbench if I choose.

Each drawer half can be extended, then lifted out for removal.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Thought I would save someone from wondering where to get the small yellow and blue parts bins like I have used in my storage cabinet. Those came with my cabinet, so I did an extensive search to find out what they are called and where to get them. They are called bin cups, and are an accessory to fit into the plastic slant front storage bins. Zoro Industrial had two sizes of the bins at a better price than others, plus they had free shipping on an order of $50. I ordered 64 of the larger QBC112 bins, which are sold individually at 56 cents, and a case of 48 of the QBC111 smaller bins, sold for $14.40. They are made by Quantum Storage, and available in red or blue. Hope this helps someone.

 

[188slo50]

You can also get them from HF for like $6 with coupon for a 10 pack for the small ones. I think 8 will fit in most file card cabinet drawers.

 

[OccupantRJ]

I received the larger of the two bin sizes I ordered today and tried them in the drawer. As I had hoped, the smaller bins will also fit alongside them. This eliminates wasted space in the drawers. This will allow me to revamp my entire storage system. Heads up to the guys local to me. I will be turning loose several sets of drawer type bolt bins in the future.

 

[nine4gmc]

Awesome job!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[OccupantRJ]

I recently acquired two more file card cabinets for $50 apiece, so I am back to sanding one of them in preparation for painting. These were stored outside, so painting was a requirement, although I normally paint them to match anyway. I am using a variety of abrasives from flap wheels to 40 grit discs on a Dewalt 5" orbital sander to bring them down to bare metal.

 

[JonnyMac]

I recently acquired two more file card cabinets for $50 apiece, so I am back to sanding one of them in preparation for painting. These were stored outside, so painting was a requirement, although I normally paint them to match anyway. I am using a variety of abrasives from flap wheels to 40 grit discs on a Dewalt 5" orbital sander to bring them down to bare metal.

Thought I was the only one who knew how good card filing cabinets were!!

 

[406Rich]

I had bought two of those cabinets in 1976, they actually became my tool chest at first, then slowly became the hardware storage..nice to be able to pull the drawers out separately. They were $20 each back then should have bought more...

 

[OccupantRJ]

I had bought two of those cabinets in 1976, they actually became my tool chest at first, then slowly became the hardware storage..nice to be able to pull the drawers out separately. They were $20 each back then should have bought more...

A cabinet in good condition with good paint sells for around $90 in this area when you can beat others to them.

 

[stage20]

back from the dead. still a good thread. ive since got a nice equipto storage bin. 3ft wide and probably 18" tall with various size drawers and bins. its super. ill have to get a pic.

 

[OccupantRJ]

I recently acquired two more card file cabinets that I also plan to use for hardware storage. The cabinets need a paint job so I disassembled the first one and started the paint stripping process.

On the main body of the cabinet I used a DeWalt dual orbit 5" sander with a 40 grit abrasive, along with a 3" lollipop style flap wheel in a drill to initially remove the paint.

On the drawers, all hardware was removed, then the drawer fronts were blasted with alox (aluminum oxide) grit to remove the paint. After blasting, the sander was once again used to dress off the drawer face to match the pattern on the cabinet.

For anyone interested, the drawer fronts took 6 minutes each, cabinet door opening to door opening on the blast cabinet, using a pressure of 100 psi.

I should be painting the cabinet this weekend with a foam roller using modified urethane paint. Pics are of cabinet after stripping, and drawers with original paint and after blasting. More to come.

 

[nine4gmc]

Awesome!

 

[dfiler2]

Thought I would save someone from wondering where to get the small yellow and blue parts bins like I have used in my storage cabinet. Those came with my cabinet, so I did an extensive search to find out what they are called and where to get them. They are called bin cups, and are an accessory to fit into the plastic slant front storage bins. Zoro Industrial had two sizes of the bins at a better price than others, plus they had free shipping on an order of $50. I ordered 64 of the larger QBC112 bins, which are sold individually at 56 cents, and a case of 48 of the QBC111 smaller bins, sold for $14.40. They are made by Quantum Storage, and available in red or blue. Hope this helps someone.

Thanks, I was going to ask that question, then thought I should read the rest of the thread just in case. I have one just like it but I've been unable to find those small containers.

 

[kbs2244]

Those are "IBM Card" cabinets.
The drawers are designed to be removed and taken over the old "IBM Tab" machines for use.
I spent a few years using them daily on the job.
I now have 2.
One for tools and one for fasteners.
They are getting pretty rare.
Most have been in secondary use for some time since IBM cards haven't been used for over 30 years.
Around here I only see them in gov auctions.

 

[OccupantRJ]

The later 2 cabinets I am working on have a normal style drawer in them. The cabinet I earlier refurbished are the type of which you speak. I guess I will get to see which style I like using the best.

 

[406Rich]

Picked this one up today, at a estate sale today, sand and prime tomorrow, miss out on the bench top drill press...bummer..

 

[OccupantRJ]

Made it back into the shop late this afternoon and applied a bit of color to the cabinet and drawers so they can dry while I do other things. The paint is the same urethane modified enamel used on the previous cabinet and was applied using a foam cabinet paint roller.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Picked this one up today, at a estate sale today, sand and prime tomorrow, miss out on the bench top drill press...bummer..

Good hustle! I don't even bother to prime, just sand to raw metal, wipe down with naptha, and roll the paint on. I have found over time that I get the same results when roller painting general cabinets and equipment that will remain indoors in a workshop environment. It works fine as long as you are not after a shiny candy look.

 

[stage20]

Picked this one up today, at a estate sale today, sand and prime tomorrow, miss out on the bench top drill press...bummer..

thats a score! most of those style dont have backs to the drawers and little things always sneak past the dividers

 

[406Rich]

Made it back into the shop late this afternoon and applied a bit of color to the cabinet and drawers so they can dry while I do other things. The paint is the same urethane modified enamel used on the previous cabinet and was applied using a foam cabinet paint roller.

RJ, how are you removing the card file label holders and thumb latch knob, these on mine are not accessible, unless I`m missing something...?

 

[OccupantRJ]

Mine had one nut to remove from one end of the handle, then that allowed removal of a close fitting inner panel to access the rest of the hardware. The inner panel had to be removed (snatched out) by using a bent screwdriver as a hook tool at the inner lower edge of the drawer front. When I go back out I will post a pic for you.

 

[kbs2244]

Try a magnet to get that inner panel out.

 

[Jim_No_Garage]

Picked this one up today, at a estate sale today, sand and prime tomorrow, miss out on the bench top drill press...bummer..

Nice - I picked up it's shorter cousin a while ago.

Look closely at the hardware. My pulls, thumb latches and index holders were stainless steel that had been painted poorly by the prior owner. A soak in DNA, and a quick touch with a fine wire wheel on the drill press and beautiful.

Cheers

Jim

 

[OccupantRJ]

Try a magnet to get that inner panel out.

Would not work on mine. The panel has to come out in an arc and the threads on the handle stud passing through the hole make it difficult even with the hook. I will be slightly elongating the holes in the panel before reassembly to make things easier.

 

[Farrier]

I've searched for years trying to find these for a decent price. Still looking

 

[OccupantRJ]

I've searched for years trying to find these for a decent price. Still looking

Have you looked on CL? I see them fairly often in the $90 up range. A guy in a town near to mine advertises his at $250, but they are ready to go in an office. I have been buying cheaper ones and painting them my color choice. A friend had about 8 or so when I bought the latest two from him. They were stored on concrete outdoors. You can see the old paint condition in my pics.

Here is the seller's ad in the next town.

https://eastnc.craigslist.org/fuo/6168817991.html

 

[406Rich]

Mine had one nut to remove from one end of the handle, then that allowed removal of a close fitting inner panel to access the rest of the hardware. The inner panel had to be removed (snatched out) by using a bent screwdriver as a hook tool at the inner lower edge of the drawer front. When I go back out I will post a pic for you.

Great got it figured out, remove the handle, pull the inner back plate out reveals the rest of the hardware...

 

[dfiler2]

Glad you got it figured out Rich, I made a tool out of a sawzall blade by cutting a notch in it then putting a slight twist in the end. I could slide it along side the plate then pull the bottom out. The one I found had copper hardware (or some alloy that looks like copper).