Trying to figure out how to take drawers out of file cabinets is a common problem. The main reason to take out the file drawers is to move the filing cabinet, since they are heavy.
We’ve shown you how to take drawers out of a metal filing cabinet safely, whether you need to fix a drawer or make the cabinet lighter so you can move it.
Before carefully taking the drawer out of the filing cabinet, make sure the area around you is clear as the drawer slides out and lifts off the runners. Make sure you hold the drawer firmly so you don’t drop it.
The drawer won’t fall out of the filing cabinet because it is on side-mount runners with safety locks. With this type of runner, the drawer can come all the way out of the cabinet. This makes it easy to get to the files in the back of the drawer. Because side-mount runners on kitchen cabinets may be able to hold more weight than bottom-mount runners, safety locks are a must. To take file cabinet doors off of the cabinet, you don’t need any tools. Do something with your hands.
Take out everything, including the dividers, from the drawer. If you need to empty every drawer, start at the bottom and work your way up. To see the steel guides on both sides, pull out the drawer all the way.
Steelcase has a variety of lateral and vertical file cabinets with sliding drawers that won’t move all the way out unless they are opened by hand. Depending on the style of storage cabinet, the release lever or levers are usually on the drawer slides or on the back of the cabinet. If you want to take out more than one drawer at a time from a Steelcase cabinet, you have to turn off the safety system. Look for the mechanisms that keep a Steelcase file cabinet drawer in place in a systematic way to turn them off.
Want to know how to open the lock on a filing cabinet without a key? To open the lock on a filing cabinet, put a nail clipper file in the keyhole and move it up and down until all the pins are pushed down and the lock is turned to the unlocked position.
At times, taking out a file cabinet drawer can be a real pain. You can do it well, though, and get rid of it. All you need to know to use a lateral file cabinet is how to open the drawers.
If a drawer doesn’t have a release, it’s hard to take it out.
Grab the drawer’s front handle and pull it out. Pull the drawer all the way out until it stops. You can also grab the front bottom of the drawer if that makes it easier to pull it out. Just be careful that your fingers don’t get stuck in the tracks of the drawer.
When a drawer doesn’t have a handle at the bottom, metal slides are used.
If there are no buttons or levers, gently push the drawer out. Then, just lift it until you hear a click. Using the putty knife, remove any debris from the rail that might be blocking the slide if it is stuck or broken.
What are file cabinets made out of?
The most durable option is a metal file cabinet, which is often made of galvanized steel.
How do you take the drawers out of an Ikea Galant file cabinet?
Pull the drawer all the way out by opening it. Put your hands on the back of the sides of the drawer. On both sides, there should be metal tabs. Push the tabs in and raise the drawer to pull it out.
What kind of materials are used to make file cabinets?
Some file cabinets are made of natural wood, plastic, or a mix of the two. However, the most common materials are metal, laminate, and processed wood.
Is it possible to move a filing cabinet in its entirety?
Even though you should usually unpack your cabinets, there are times when you can leave them whole or in part: Two-drawer pieces of furniture. Standing filing cabinets with two drawers can usually be moved without any extra work.
How much does a file cabinet that is empty weigh?
How Much a File Cabinet Weighs When asked how much a typical four-drawer filing cabinet weighs when it is full, the answer “a lot” might be the best answer. When empty, a basic steel filing cabinet with four drawers can weigh up to 150 pounds.
What’s the best way to move a big filing cabinet?
The easiest file cabinets to move are the ones that stand up straight. All you or the movers you’ve hired need is a dolly and a few straps. Slowly pull the filing cabinet away from the wall with the dolly until you can reach around it.
How do you get a Bisley filing cabinet drawer out?
When you move the front of the drawer away from the parts of the suspension slide that are inside the drawer, it can stretch to its full length. To get the drawer off the suspension slides, pull it forward. Remember to support the weight of the drawer by putting one hand under the body of the drawer.
How do you take a drawer out of a side-by-side file cabinet?
Open the drawer all the way to take out the lateral file drawer. – Remove the shipping screw “A” from the left and right metal suspensions. – Pull the drawer away from the slides while squeezing the nylon release tabs “B” toward the drawer. You can replace lateral file drawers by moving the drawer slides out halfway.
How do you get the drawers out of a Steelcase lateral file cabinet?
Press down on the lock catch on each side of the drawer as needed to pull it out. Pull the file drawer on the side out until it stops. As shown, pull the drawer up and out while pressing down on the lock retainers on each side.
How do you get a Bisley filing cabinet drawer out?
When you move the front of the drawer away from the parts of the suspension slide that are inside the drawer, it can stretch to its full length. To get the drawer off the suspension slides, pull it forward. Remember to support the weight of the drawer by putting one hand under the body of the drawer.