Lateral File Cabinets for Shop Storage?

[Fcvapor05]

Hey y'all.

I've been searching for a while now for good and cheap shop storage- not tools, but for things like welding consumables, rags, paint, parts, blah blah blah.

I came across a local craigslist ad for a bunch of lateral file cabinets, like you'd see in a doctor or lawyers office. 4 drawers with a lift-front shelf on top.

Anyone ever use these for shop storage? A 48" drawer full of paper would be pretty heavy, seems like they could stand up reasonably well.

Guy on craigslist is asking $150 each, which is a deal compared to anything else I could find.

Basically looking to see if anyone else has done this, and if there's some downside that I'm missing.

 

[Rlfd213]

I have 3 2 drawer file cabinets under my work bench. I got them for 10.00 each. I use them for storing bigger tools like saws, cans of fluid or spray cans and other odd and ends.

 

[Super Sport]

$150 each is pretty high given the used market for these. I usually run across them for under $50 each.

I tried to get a few from work when they downsized, but could only secure one 4 drawer which is in my home office storing boxes and packing supplies. I really wanted a couple in the garage and basement for power tool and consumable storage, but I'm going to have to continue to wait on them.

 

[bczygan]

I've got 4.

2 big 5 drawer ones were $33 each. Hated to pay that much but they were HD. Goy at the Restore.

Some can be had free on CL.

Regular file cabinets work too.

 

[Jo Diesel]

I got mine at MI state surplus auctions. Paid like $20 ea but they are a lot more now. I have a few.
Tried to get off my Photo Bucket but my internet here *****. Click on my barn link. I have 2 that I stacked 2 high. Keep Paint and electronics that I do not use up where I cant reach. I keep my chains tie straps all my chemicals and paint in 4 and have 2 more that have tools and my asortments in them.

 

[L5wolvesf]

I used to work for a co that had a very big storage unit just for files. When they finally decided to send the files to another place I had to deal with the cabinets. We probably would have given them away just to get the cost of the storage unit off the books.

Good idea though, I should have grabbed one myself.

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

I have 2 and love them! One is a 5 drawer I grabbed for free, and the other is a 2 drawer I paid $5 for at a yard sale. I have both of them loaded, mostly supplies, but the five drawer has cased power tools in 2 of the drawers.

 

[WarrenJ]

Have 2- of 4 drawer units. Still working on exact use.

 

[sld961]

Yes, lateral files make great garage storage. $150 seems high. See if there is a local office supply store that may have used ones.

 

[Fcvapor05]

This is a mass listing from an office supply place. They are brand new.

 

[APEowner]

That could work. Make sure you actually look at them though. Some of my lateral cabinets don't actually have any drawer bottoms. They just have rails for hanging files.

 

[stevep1954]

seems pretty high at 150.00 although it is nice to have them all the same look. shopping around leaves you with a chance of mixed styles.

 

[formanbob]

O love them, I have 3 of them. The one on the right was free from work and the other 2 I got off of CL for $10 Total. I drilled a hole and keep my chargers in the top.

 

[wkndwarrior29]

I use them to store bolts and other misc items in. If you look at local surplus auctions you can generally get the military grade ones for next to nothing - you'll just have to buy them in a lot with items you may not want like broken desks and refrigerators. You need to make sure they are heavy duty - I have one from OfficeMax that I use as a filing cabinet and there's no way I would load it with bolting.

 

[Super Sport]

This is a mass listing from an office supply place. They are brand new.

I have no doubt that $150/ea is a good deal if you want new ones. However, used office furniture is a lousy market and you can buy stuff for pennies on the dollar. Companies end up giving away a lot of stuff because it's not worth them to pay somebody to sell it (same reason most avoid buying used, it's not worth the time wasted).

 

[Fcvapor05]

Well my cabinet showed up today. Pretty happy with it.

I searched a fair bit and the magical $10 lateral file never appeared. Got this one for $100 delivered- the guy apparently had sold off a big lot and had only this one left, and was looking to dump it. He said most of his clients are larger companies that need a bunch of the exact same cabinets, so singles are hard to sell.

Not you **** territory but I'm pleased.

 

[mbshop]

Dang, I need me a few of those !

 

[lwlobo]

I love them. I have one I power tool, etc in. Fairly heavy unit, bought at Restore for $75. Would like to find one more.

 

[Steve from Socal]

I have 9 five drawer lateral files in my shop and two in my garage for storage. The ones in my garage have flip up doors on all drawers, the ones at my shop only the top drawer. They both have pluses and minuses but, I really like the flip up doors, you can see at a glance what is in the drawer. For stuff like power tools the regular drawers are fine.

Lateral files make great storage and project a neat appearance. They also provide a bit of security, out of sight out of mind. I have lateral files and modular cabinets for most of my stuff and when I go away everything gets locked. I have all my files keyed alike and bought a dozen round padlocks for the cabinets and doors.

I store nearly everything in cabinets except raw materials and oversize items. I have several cabinets dedicated to things like abrasives and grinding supplies, power tools, paint and chemicals, tooling etc. In addition keeping everything in cabinets minimizes dust and dirt accumulation. I can't say enough good about lateral files, they are the best kept secret in shop storage.

Steve

 

[Zeke]

I use low filing cabinets under my lathe. I have another 2-drawer lateral for storage of tool manuals and shop books. I have a 9-drawer vertical filing cabinet with small stsorage boxes for fasteners. You really can't go wrong with any of them as they can be modified with partitions or filled with boxes to store just about anything and at a fraction of the cost of a Lista or similar.