Good heavy-duty file cabinet?

January 6, 2006 9:17 AM

I ordered a HON filing cabinet (four drawer, vertical) and was assured that all HON file cabinets are heavy-duty. However, when it showed up the drawers were all squeaky and flimsy, and one doesn't close properly without being slammed. My question - where can I get a dependably good, heavy-duty file cabinet that rolls drawers in and out smoothly, can take some weight, isn't flimsy, and generally will work well for a long time? I'd prefer four drawer vertical, beige color, standard office metal variety.
posted by mark7570 to work & money (15 comments total)

Check office overstock and recycler-type places. They buy equipment from businesses that are closing or moving or whatever, and resell it. I got a VERY HEAVY DUTY 4-drawer vertical legal-size filing cabinet for about $100, and it was full of hanging folders. You know, the ones you'd have to buy for $1 each if you were trying to stock a new, empty cabinet.
posted by spacewrench at 9:23 AM on January 6, 2006

Also consider looking at government, university, and large corporation surplus shops. Up in Seattle, Boeing Surplus, or University of Washington Surplus are the places to go for this kind of thing.
posted by b1tr0t at 9:30 AM on January 6, 2006

Yeah, unless you want to pay a fortune you need to look for a surplus/used furniture place in your local area. I got what I consider a sturdy "old school" style file cabinet from a place here in Berkeley called Urban Ore. I think it's a local thing but I'm sure there are similar outlets all over the place. Failing that the yellow pages ought to have listings for used office furniture. You could also check the classified or craigslist for firms that are closing/going out of business/trying to recover from bankruptcy.
posted by Rhomboid at 9:56 AM on January 6, 2006

I bought a Staples brand 4-drawer cabinet a year ago for about $115 on sale. It seems very sturdy, and the drawers work smoothly. The only thing I have noticed is that because I have the upper drawers fully loaded, and the bottom drawer mostly empty, I can't open more than one drawer, or it tips forward.

A dollar apeice for hanging folders? Are they gold-plated or something?
posted by Kirth Gerson at 10:16 AM on January 6, 2006

Agree with everyone who's suggesting used stuff. In Seattle, Ducky's is a good place to go; they have all kinds of used and surplus office equipment. Some of it's a bit beat up, but it's usually perfectly functional.
posted by kindall at 10:22 AM on January 6, 2006

Kirth, I've had the same experience with that HON from Staples it's pretty annoying when it happens (as close as I get get to experiencing an earthquake here on the east cost!) - other than that though it's relatively sturdy and easy to open and close.

I think I paid $1 a piece for hanging file folders because they had that 1 inch expansion in the bottom - which does make them kickass for storing bulky items.
posted by any major dude at 10:32 AM on January 6, 2006

Annoying? I guess you didn't have the table lamp and cup of coffee on top. Downright exciting, it was.

I begin to see how hanging folders can cost a buck.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 10:44 AM on January 6, 2006

Sorry, I overestimated hanging folder prices. At staples.com, it looks like you can get 'em for between 20 cents and a buck (for recycled-paper ones). I just remembered looking into buying things separately, and filling a cabinet with folders can cost as much as the cabinet itself.
posted by spacewrench at 11:50 AM on January 6, 2006

Anything rated for fire-duty will be built like a brick outhouse.
posted by Triode at 12:21 PM on January 6, 2006

I have a Steelcase in my office at work and it has that institutional solidness you seem to want. Unfortunately their website is not so solid and seems to be down right now. I don't know if they will fit in your budget, but they should be easy to find used. We throw away perfectly good office furniture all the time.
posted by TedW at 12:54 PM on January 6, 2006

In the Austin area, check out T.O.P.S. (Texas Office Products and Supply). Their main business is resale of office equipment and furniture bought at liquidation sales and auctions.

I bought a *lot* of stuff from them (desks, filing cabinets, etc) for the house during the eight years I lived in Austin. Mike Hudkins (the guy who runs things) is a great guy, and he's willing to haggle.

I've been in Houston for a year, and I *still* miss Saturday afternoon browsing at TOPS.

I'd normally get huge Steelcase desks and decent chairs for $30-55 each, and he never charged me more than $20 for delivery.
posted by mrbill at 1:05 PM on January 6, 2006

A second getting one used. That said, I got a good 2-drawer from Costco for a price that seemed "reasonable."
posted by Good Brain at 1:16 PM on January 6, 2006

I second / third the used Steelcase suggestion. Built like a Mac truck.

HON makes a dumbed-down el-cheapo version of their standard office file cabinet for big box stores. Their honest-to-god stuff is not bad.
posted by Corky at 2:52 PM on January 6, 2006

National listing of surplus stores by state [via cool tools].
posted by MLIS at 3:15 PM on January 6, 2006

I bought a HON at Office Depot that is just great, I couldn't ask for better. It was about $140. I don't remember for sure but it seems like they carried more than one grade of HON and the cheap one was not so hot.
posted by phewbertie at 1:26 AM on January 7, 2006