Box to store non-files in filing cabinet drawer

Question

I recently acquired a vertical 4-drawer Letter-Sized hanging file cabinet. I thought it would free up so much space, seeing as I had so many bankers' boxes of files. It didn't work out that way. With file vetting, I ended up using two of the four drawers, and only partially. One advantage to my previous use of multiple individual bankers' boxes was that I could stack them differently to optimize my use of space, balancing that off with the amount of surface space that I want from the boxes, on which to put stuff.

I can probably somewhat compensate for the now-suboptimal storage by using the remaining drawers for non-files. I would need a box that can fit inside the drawers, as the their bottoms are not flat, and has openings. I thought that exploiting file drawers for non-files would be quite standard, and that there would be ready-made bins specifically for this. However, most boxes that are close to the Letter-Sized width are for storing file themselves, whereas the solution I seek is slightly less wide so that it can fit inside drawers designed for Letter-Sized files.

I'm somewhat limited in the actual hacking that can be done, since I live in a 1-bedroom apartment in a highrise. I don't have the tools and surfaces to cobble up a solution that requires woodwork, such as can be found on youtube. I've created my own custom size boxes in the past by cutting up cardboard into a pattern for folding, but a box that's big enough to make good use of a file drawer would require quite a large piece of stiff cardboard that isn't interrupted by cut-outs at the corners and edges. My past experience with this approach has been that the tape holding the box together disintegrates over time, and flakes, making a bit of a mess.

Would anyone be able to point me in the right direction toward a solution? Maybe with luck, there is a source of boxes that are meant to fit inside file drawers. As I said, I would have thought that many people would want to use excess file drawer space like this.

Answer 1

I'd be making the boxes out of corflute (lightweight plastic sheet in two layers), and then taping the edges with a strong wide tape like a gaffer tape, and then glueing a layer a cheap fabric over the whole lot, inside and out.

Light durable and easy to work with. Strong. Cheap. No flaking. Once you make one of these, use it as a template.

All you need is a tape measure, a good blade, a strong straight edge to cut against lie a long steel ruler, and a surface you won't damage to work on.

Not sure what glue you would use to glue the fabric on: I suspect craft glue would work, but you would have to read some labels to find the one the works with plastic and fabric and is not messy, dries quickly, and lasts.

Answer 2

After doing some research, I see a pattern in the available office storage furniture and supplies. You are the "victim" of normal workflow. Your need is counter to the requirements of the general office furniture requirements.

There are myriad of accessories and supplies to convert general purpose filing cabinets from flat folders (and dividers) to hanging files. The bulk of filing cabinets that use hanging files have high sides, rails, or bars for supporting each side of the "hanging" file folder pocket. Alternately, low-sided drawers can be fitted with accessory rail kits.

As plain filing cabinets are more versatile, various kits are plentiful that can convert them for using hanging files. None that I could find go in the reverse direction—getting a special-purpose hanging file cabinet and trying to "dismantle and remove" the specific feature it was designed to accommodate.

What to do depends on what you want to store. You never said. Without modification, for example, you could probably put twenty or thirty collapsible music stands in one drawer. A number of different drawer organizers are available made from different materials from plastic, metal, cloth over a metal frame, fibreglass, or even baskets. They are all available in different sizes in hardware stores, apartment decor, or housewares specialty stores such as Ikea or StrucTube. There are organizers for art supplies which come in a variety of shapes and sizes that are chemically resistant. Last, but not least, office supply stores have containers suitable for vertical or horizontal storage of stuff. You can mix-n-match.

Do be aware that stationery and office supplies have their own "standard" sizes and formats. You, by going your own way trying to repurpose existing equipment, are "violating" an established standard for another which usually involves a hassle. You're discovering that.

There are components such as corners and sides that can be cut from thin wood and "clipped" together to form containers and other things for housing instruments, too, such as Playwood Connectors from places like "Lee Valley" for wood workers among others. (I don't know your budget limitations.) As well, most any shipping company can make or provide a container to fit your exact size requirements.

It's entirely possible there's an exact size to meet your needs under a different category from office filing system. You never mentioned the size you need or the number of containers. Be sure that when you do specify that metric as a "Do not exceed" measurement.

Answer 3

I wonder if you could keep clothing, bedding, and towels in the remaining drawers? Since the drawers are quite tall, you might find it helpful to use vertical cardboard separators. There are two approaches to making separators:

1. For each separator, cut a big piece of cardboard according to the length and height, but with about four inches extra on the height. The extra should be split every four to six inches, to create flaps that alternate pointing to the left or the right. You can get precise folds by marking and pre-scoring with a straight edge.

   If you're not comfortable using cardboard, you could use thin plastic, for example large cutting boards that are made of thin plastic. These are available in large box stores in a package of three and are quite affordable. They can be cut to size. But these would have to be floating separators, since I'm not aware of any way of making a folded flap.

2. Assemble a grid by making slits from the bottom to the center on all the horizontal pieces, and from the top to the center on all the vertical pieces.

Answer 4

These types of open top file boxes come in plastic or cardboard and are made to go into file drawers, you get them in various sizes. In South Africa, they are sold under brandnames Optiplan, Storafile, etc.

Answer 5

From your question, and update, it seems as if you have discovered that your filing cabinet solution to your storage space problem was not as necessary or as effective as you originally thought. We get mixed results.

This often happens in life and love. We have to admit defeat, and move on.

All you had to do originally was to down-size your files. That's Done.

Now that you've trimmed the volume of the materials you want to keep, put your materials back into (fewer) of your storage boxes.

Get rid of the bulky filing cabinet which is unsuitable for your purposes. You don't need it and it's too much time and trouble to repurpose unused and unsuitable drawer space. Maybe "trade it in" for a two-drawer filing cabinet?

Good NEWS, you already have the storage boxes (that have flat bottoms I assume).

No lifehack is needed here. No cobbling necessary.