Why Buy a Lateral Wood Filing Cabinet?

One of the main reasons why lateral filing cabinets are most of the time preferred over other types of file cabinets is because they are much more accessible, and due to the fact that the "footprint" of this type works better than a regular vertical cabinet. With this model, the files go from side to side.

One of the many benefits to the model of lateral file cabinets is that they mix better with other furniture in the office. Plus the fact that they leave ample space on top where you can store office supplies or books, or place a functional hutch that can add extra space for other things.

Wood lateral filing cabinets are often preferred for their aesthetics compared to that of a standard metal file cabinet. The reasons why most choose not to purchase metal file cabinets is because of their sharp edges, and the tendency to tip forward once several drawers are opened at the same time. But in its defense, some metal file cabinet models have fail safe systems that stops you from opening multiple drawers at the same time.

Wood lateral file cabinets are much more pleasing to the eye since you can choose the color of the model so that it can match the design of your office and its furniture.

Wood cabinets are usually made from mid density, laminated fiberboard. And most models have ball-bearing slides for ease of use when it comes to closing and opening. These cabinets are normally made to handle either business size files or legal size files. They also come in designs that mimic low profile dressers, complete with decorative pulls, and sleek styles shaped indents rather than pulls or handles. When it comes to its finish, you can choose from a wide array of wood finish and specified paint finishes.

Lateral filing cabinets are very common in home offices, especially when the home office acts as a dining room, bedroom, or even a family room. They blend in easily compared to a standard metal vertical file cabinet, and can mimic ordinary home furniture.

Cheaper models entail assembly, but most of the time the lone tool needed is a simple screwdriver. High end models on the other hand come in pre-assembled most of the time.

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Wood File Cabinets - How To Select The Right One

File cabinets come in many sizes, styles and levels of quality. In addition to offering a way to organize and access your documents, file cabinets can also become flexible and useful pieces of furniture that can be used in almost any room of your home or office.

You can buy either metal or wood cabinets file. Wood, specifically solid oak, is the most attractive and durable material to look for. It will last a very long time and be an attractive addition to your home or office.

The many styles of solid wood file cabinets include Mission, Contemporary, and Traditional and come in several standard sizes, which include:

1. Letter sized file cabinets, which generally hold only 8.5" x 11" paper, but can also be used for 8.5" x 11" legal size files.
2. Legal size file cabinets, which generally hold both 8.5" x 14" and 8.5" x 11" paper.
3. Lateral file cabinets, which come with 2 or 3 drawers and generally hold 8.5 x 11" and 8.5" x 14" paper.
4. Personal file cabinets that are generally smaller and hold only 8.5 x 11" letter files

The letter or legal size file cabinet can be used the alternate way by moving the metal brackets.

Wood file cabinets are available with 2, 3, 4 or even 5 drawers. When deciding which one would work best for you, consider not only the amount of file storage needed, but also the other uses you have for the file cabinet as a piece of furniture. It could be used as an end table, a storage chest, a credenza, a DVD or video tape cabinet, a nightstand, or a place to keep your printer, fax machine, copier, or coffee machine.

If you want to place some of the above items desk height, a 2-drawer cabinet allows you a 30" high platform. If you line several up in a row you can have quite a large surface. A lateral file also offers you this advantage without a seam in the middle. For this purpose, look for file cabinets with flush sides so there won't be any gaps between the cabinets.

A 3-drawer file cabinet, which stands about 43" high, offers more storage per square foot of floor space and you can still put plants or other light items on top. A 4-drawer file cabinet, which is about 55" tall, offers a tremendous amount of storage, as does an even taller, but rare, 5-drawer file cabinet. We don't recommend putting anything other than a very light item on top.

SAFETY FIRST!

Any piece of furniture that is holding a lot of weight can be dangerous. An important safety issue with file cabinets is the danger of tipping and crushing. Large and heavy file drawers can cause the file to tip forward. Therefore, several things can be done to minimize this danger.

1. Do not fill the file on the top drawer while leaving lower drawers empty.
2. As mentioned above, do not open more than one drawer at a time.
3. Attach file cabinets to the wall to prevent tipping.
4. Where possible, put your heaviest items in bottom drawer (to act as an anchor).
5. Do not put attractive nuisances like TV's and games on top of tip prone furniture unless it is properly tethered. Children may climb up to retrieve the remote or turn on the TV with horrible consequences.



CHOOSE A HIGH-QUALITY WOOD FILE CABINET

The lowest quality wood file cabinets are generally made for self-assembly by the customer. This is usually more difficult than you expect and utilizes "cam" assembly hardware. You'll also want to stay away from file cabinets that are made of particleboard. Even though the tag might say it's made of wood, don't be fooled because that description might still be referring to particleboard, so beware. According to the Furniture Manufacturers Association, solid wood includes particleboard. What you really want to look for is SOLID wood-either solid oak, pine, or cherry.

Another thing to keep in mind is that in order to hold a lot of weight a file cabinet should have glue screws and clamps--not cam locks in particleboard.

Next, know the difference between printed grain, genuine wood veneer, and solid wood without particleboard. The easiest way to tell if a piece of furniture is made of solid wood is to look at how the grain is running. If the end grain runs the wrong direction (perpendicular to the other grain), it is most likely veneer. I'm not saying veneer doesn't have its place if properly done, however, you should not be misled and be able to purchase what you are looking for/know what you're looking at.

Wood drawers are best made with English Dovetailed joints. If a drawer is assembled with cams, it won't hold together. A drawer glued and stapled can be an acceptable assembly method if the staples are only holding the assembly together until the glue dries.

Another important element of a file cabinet is the hardware used to open the drawers. Check the runner system. Make sure it pulls out smoothly and evenly? How does the tracking system work? If the drawer pulls out less than 90%, you will loose storage space and it will be difficult to retrieve your documents from the back of the file. Euro type roller glides are unacceptable for any file cabinets. This type of roller system works with two interlocking wheels on a spindle and it can't take the heavy weight of a file drawer and will likely not last very long at all. The better glide system for file cabinets is a full ball bearing--full extension slide system with at least a 100 lb weight rating.

Also, consider whether or not you want to lock up your drawers. You can put a lock on each individual drawer. This is the easiest way to lock up any particular drawer from which you want to keep prying eyes. You can also lock up all the doors by using a key just on the top drawer and the mechanism will lock all the doors below. Interlocking systems on quality wood files can be a costly and sometimes can hang-up creating access problems.

The wise consumer will take all these pointers into consideration when selecting a wood file cabinet. If you stick to solid wood and good glides and stay away from self-assembly, you'll have good access to your files and your cabinet will last a very long time.

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File Cabinets - Avoiding Clutter Successfully

Keeping important documents in a regular space make sure that you can easily locate them whenever you want to use it. You can track your important documents and objects both at workplace and at home with the help of filing cabinets. A top quality filing system can save your valuable time and even money.

You will find filing cabinets in every workplace despite the popularity of electronic data keeping systems. You have to take into account number of factors before buying filing cabinets, as there is lot more to filing cabinets then the number drawers. There are two main kinds of filing cabinets, namely, vertical file cabinet and lateral file cabinet.

Vertical file cabinet is basically a conventional type of cabinet where you will find two to five drawers. The drawers in these cabinets are designed in such a way that they easily fit the legal sized files. The best part about vertical file cabinets is that they save plenty of space. Because of this, workplaces where rents are at a premium employ vertical file cabinet.

Lateral file cabinets, on the other hand, are much wider in design as compared to the vertical file cabinet. The files in lateral file cabinets can be stored front to back or side to side. The design of lateral file cabinets is not as deep as the vertical file cabinets so you cannot use these cabinets as a wall divider. However, these cabinets take up less wall space and give more versatility to you in terms of storage of file.

Before buying file cabinets, pay close attention to the quality of the file cabinet. In order to evaluate the quality of file cabinet you have to take a look at the suspension system of the cabinet. Good quality file cabinet normally has strong suspensions, which assist them in carrying weight and there is no affect on opening and closing of the cabinet. Majority of file cabinet features built in safety techniques that do not allow the opening of more than one drawer. Safety techniques consist of internal locking devices and counterweights.

Only opt for file cabinets that are made from thicker metals. File cabinets made from thicker metals protects the internal portion of cabinet. As you are going to store valuable items in your file cabinet, only buy fire and impact resistant file cabinet. The main advantage of fire resistant cabinets is that they can maintain inside temperatures in the range of 350 degrees.

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Wooden Lateral File Cabinets

Why are wooden lateral file cabinets a better choice for an office space than any other kind of filing system, because the lateral style filing cabinets offer two things that vertical cabinets do not. Lateral cabinets offer a larger surface space and at convenient levels which can be used for multitasking purposes. Wooden lateral file cabinets can offer a workspace similar to a desk while still having plenty of storage space for your documents.

Wooden Lateral File Cabinet Benefits
Not only are wooden lateral file cabinets more functional than their vertical versions but they also have a few additional benefits when they are made of wood rather than metal. First of all a wooden filing cabinets simply look classier than a metal cabinet. They look more expensive and they look more design oriented.

This is important for those people who run businesses which need to make a good first impression on clientele. If you have high end clients in your workspace often then you will no doubt see the need in keeping fine cabinetry in your office space. Wooden filing cabinets can be designed with solid hardwoods and with enough decorative style to wow most any client. Of course this assumes the rest of the office is decorated nicely as well.

Buying Wooden File Cabinets
If you have decided that buying wooden filing cabinets is right for your business or home office then you will probably be wondering where to buy them. Sure you can buy wooden cabinets at just about any furniture or office superstore but if you are going for that high end feel to wow clients then you will probably want to upgrade to custom designed file cabinets. Custom designed wooden files off you the ability to match perfectly the stylization of your cabinetry with the design of your room.

If you want your filing systems to double as a desk extension then buying a wooden lateral file that is flush with your desk and a natural extension of it is imperative. A custom lateral filing system offers the ability to both look good and to match perfectly with surroundings for both beauty and functionality. These high end wooden lateral file cabinets may be found in typical stores but quite often they are made by custom cabinet makers and can be found online and in specific neighborhoods.

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Tips in Choosing a Lateral File Cabinet

A lateral file cabinet can help you organize and manage your office files. It is made using different materials like wood or metal and is available in special styles and sizes. With the varying filing cabinets being sold, you are probably finding it confusing how to pick the best one.


Here are simple tips to help you choose the right lateral file cabinet you are looking for.

· Determine the size of the cabinet you are looking for. You would not want an over sized cabinet being bought and consuming too much space in your workplace or home.


· What material do you prefer? Cabinets are available in metal and wood. Steel and metal cabinets are more durable but have the tendency to rust over time. Wooden cabinets are more stylish and can be remodeled as you please.


· Decide where you want to go shopping for a filing cabinet. You can find a lot of choices in home and office depots, office supply stores, discount retailers and even online.


· Think of the color that you want for the cabinet. It must be something that suits your taste and the shade of your home or office. There are stores that offer custom-made cabinets if you cannot find the one that suit your taste.


· If you are meticulous about safety and security then you can pick a more secured cabinet. Cabinets that have locks and are fire proof are certainly pricey. So when you opt for one, make sure that it must suit your budget.


In the end, the sturdiness, dependability and the functionality of the lateral file cabinet is most important.

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Are Lateral File Cabinets Better?

Lateral file cabinets are almost like utility cabinets, with horizontal drawers resembling those of a dresser. Hanging files are usually hung side to side instead of front to back, as with vertical cabinets. You'll find that some lateral cabinets are available with dynamic inserts that can be utilized either way.

There are many reasons to go for lateral file cabinets. For one, the drawers of a lateral cabinet make it a breeze to quickly browse through a big number of files. Unlike a vertical file cabinet, a lateral cabinet drawer doesn't have to be pulled out so far to reach files. This is quite essential where there are many users in one small area who will use the cabinet.



Numerous models of lateral cabinets come with drawers that are adjustable or counterbalanced. The ''counterbalancing'' feature prevents the furniture from wobbling or falling over when a drawer is completely extended. Other features include steel ball bearings on the roller device and suspension features that enhance the movement and ease of use of the drawers.



Lateral file cabinets are usually constructed out of steel or wood. Some are made with a storage cabinet or supply pantry. These cabinets are generally more expensive because of their heavy duty construction. They can cost anywhere from $100 to $800, but can endure many years to come. As you can see lateral cabinets provide you with more options and are a wise investment. However, you should base your purchase mainly on your specific requirements. This way you are able to get the best value for your money.

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2 Drawer Lateral File Cabinet at a Closer Look

No matter where you go around the world, you are bound to come across lateral file cabinets which are all the rage in corporate circles. There are also so many people who prefer such cabinets at home too due to the fact that these represent a world of convenience in terms of document and file storage. Whether it is an office, a school, a business institution or a government agency, nowadays you will find so many of these filing cabinets of every size, shape and contours. Of these the lateral file cabinets are those where the drawers can be pulled from the long side of the cabinet. This is why these cabinets are able to carry a lot of load and also carry a number of files as well as other materials with ease. One of the most common as well as popular types of these filing cabinets happen to be the 2 drawer lateral file cabinet.

Most 2 drawer lateral file cabinet types are fashioned out of metal or perhaps wood too. This is purely a question of personal choice and preference and has a lot to do with the kind of decor that some people want. If you have an office where all of the furniture is made of wood, you may like material coordinated wooden file cabinets that would go so well with the kind of look and feel of your office. After all, it is necessary to ensure that you not only get functionality but also looks and aesthetics. At the same time, it is also possible to have metal cabinets that are better from the point of view of durability as well as safety a sit is not so easy to break into metal cabinets.

There are many 2 drawer lateral file cabinet styles and these usually include modern, traditional and many more. Most of the retail stores as well as offices have a large number of these drawers which play a major part in providing the convenience of storing files and documents. Many banks also use these kind of drawers, which are most of the times modified or cost more than usual. You can easily pull the shelf and push it into place once the job is done. Sometimes, when the work is done, it is possible to use the surface of the cabinet for other purposes.

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Hon Lateral Filing Cabinet - Using the Best File Cabinets For Your Office

Running an office is not an easy job because there are a lot of things that you must keep your eyes on in order to ensure smooth working. But at the same time you must also ensure that your staff is working in a good environment. Making a business deal or shipping goods to your clients no matter where you look at there is work for you and in order to ensure effective working, you must ensure that there is proper record keeping as well.

Records of any business mean a lot to the people who are working in your office and without the proper record keeping you cannot ensure the proper working. Therefore, no matter where you work in an office or if it is your own office you must ensure proper record keeping. The records of any office determine how successful the business will be or can be and that is why every office tries its best to make sure that there is proper record keeping, when we talk about record keeping there are many things that go around in our minds and one of the things is that the more you keep record the more files there will be in the office.

Most offices have a yearly record roster and according to which at the start of every financial year they change their files and move the older records in a separate storage. This is a good way to ensure proper record keeping because this way you can easily find the project file based on the year it was started in or worked on. But keeping the old or the new record safe and secure is one of the most common problems because when there are files you do need file racks or cabinets to keep your files in because you cannot stack them on the floor.

So if you are looking for something that is safe to keep your record in then you must choose the Hon lateral filing cabinet. The Hon lateral filing cabinet is the best to keep old or new records especially the sensitive or important documents which you want to keep out of the reach of everyone else. The Hon lateral filing cabinet also has a lock and you can easily lock your files inside the Hon lateral filing cabinet with the help of key. Hon lateral filing cabinet is the best choice for your office to keep your office record safe and ready to use whenever you want to. Therefore, only choose the Hon lateral filing cabinet when you want to ensure proper record keeping.

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When to Buy a Lateral File Cabinet

The vertical filing cabinet is a common preference, but you might also want to consider a lateral file cabinet for various reasons. Constructed with durability, style and volume taken into consideration, a lateral filing cabinet can cater to a lot of paperwork without taking up a lot of room in your home or office. While a vertical filing cabinet has its own many advantages, you may benefit even more from a lateral cabinet, depending on your particular needs and preferences.


A lateral file cabinet is generally a better choice compared to stacking many vertical file cabinets. This type of filing cabinet is almost like a utility cabinet, with horizontal drawers that resemble those of a dresser. If files are placed side to side, the wide drawers of the lateral filing cabinet make it easier to find your files faster. You simply make one, short pull of a drawer and you have all your files in one view. This is unlike the vertical file cabinet, where you have to pull really far out to search for paperwork that are arranged far in the back.


Because lateral file cabinets allow one to quickly browse through files, it is beneficial in offices or other places of work where the space is limited or many employees are working closely together and using files from the same cabinets. In addition, a lateral file cabinet can have more than 2 drawers and cabinets can be positioned side-by-side as necessary. Because of all these aspects, lateral file cabinets are often ideal in hospitals, doctor's offices, schools, law enforcement agencies and other places that call for regular access to files.

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Lateral Filing Cabinets - Function and Style

Although the most frequent type of filing cabinet found in the office or at home is the vertical filing cabinet, a lateral file cabinet has numerous appealing perks. Built with strength, volume and style in mind, a lateral file cabinet can hold huge amounts of paperwork with less floor space. It is also more effective compared to stacking several units' vertical file cabinets.

A lateral cabinet mimics a regular utility cabinet, with horizontal drawers resembling that of a standard dresser. Files are stored side-to-side instead of front-to-back, as as that of a vertical cabinet. Several models of lateral file cabinets come with flexible functioning inserts that can be operated either way.

By storing files side-to-side, the spacious drawers of a lateral filing cabinet makes it easy for its users to go through large numbers of files with ease. This feature becomes more useful in limited spaces where users are presented with limited work space. Because of its flexibility of holding more files, this office furniture is most of the time found schools, law enforcement offices, hospitals, doctors' offices, and other spaces that needs continuous retrieval of files or paperwork. Depending on the model, this office furniture can have two or more drawers, which can be placed side-by-side if preferred.

Several models of this type include drawers that are adjustable or counterbalanced. This helps the cabinet from becoming unstable or top heavy when all drawers are opened. More units that are taller are normally made with a mechanism that allows only one drawer to open at any given time. A double-walled or reinforced lateral file cabinet will guarantee that the furniture will retain its shape for years on end. With steel ball bearings for rollers, suspension and other design features makes a huge change with the ease of operation of the furniture.

The common components of lateral filing cabinets are wood and steal. Most designs employ a storage cabinet or office supply pantry above, and a few additional filing drawers at the bottom. For aesthetic purposes, a wood made, two-drawer lateral file cabinet can act as a functional printer, fax, or telephone stand. There are also several lateral file cabinets that can be mounted on walls.

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HON Lateral Filing Cabinets Make Office Organization A Breeze

Working in an office can be a disorganized mess or a breeze depending upon the type of filing system you are using. There is a wide range of high quality lateral filing systems available online, along with many other office storage options including vertical files, office desks and chairs and storage cabinets. You should make sure furniture pieces are always shipped fully assembled in order to ensure that they are ready for use immediately following arrival.

We have reviewed some of the most popular lateral filing cabinets that are available online. They come in four different finishes: putty, black, light grey and charcoal.

The HON 600 series Lateral Filing Cabinets: The HON 600 series of lateral filing cabinets offers files which are 30", 36" and 42" in width and 19-1/4" in depth. These filing cabinets were created in order to accommodate both letter and legal size filing, and leveling glides are adjustable. There is a three-part slide suspension which telescopes and is operated on a suspension with steel ball bearings. Whether you need a two-drawer lateral filing cabinet system, or a five drawer, HON's 600 series has exactly the filing cabinet to suit your needs.

The HON 700 series Lateral Filing Cabinets: The HON 700 series of lateral filing cabinets offers filing systems in 36" and 42" wide, with files which are 19-1/4" deep. All file drawers in the HON 700 series have drawer pulls which are full-width. The 700 series shares the same three-part, telescoping slide suspension which operates on ball bearings made of steel. The 700 series cabinets also have counterweight in filing systems with two or three drawers. The lateral filing cabinets in the 700 series are available with as few as two drawers, and as many as five.

The HON 400 Series Lateral Filing Cabinets: The HON 400 series of lateral filing cabinet solutions offers filing systems that are 30" wide, with files which are 19-1/4" deep in both two and four drawer styles. These lateral filing cabinets offer "one key" interchangeable core removable locks, and have a mechanical interlock in order to prevent tipping by allowing only one drawer open at a time.

The HON 500 Series Lateral Filing Cabinets: The HON 500 series of lateral filing cabinets offers cabinets which are 30" and 36" in width with file drawers which are 19-1/4" deep. These filing cabinets feature a flush case and monochromatic drawer pulls in addition to drawer-front stiffeners in order to provide an extra level of sturdiness to the cabinets. These cabinets are available with as few as two cabinet drawers and as many as five cabinet drawers.

The HON 800 Series Lateral Filing Cabinets: The HON 800 series of lateral filing cabinets offers cabinets which are 36" and 42" in width with 19-1/4" deep cabinet drawers. These cabinets are available in four and five-drawer styles with a shelf that rolls out and a receding door. Units with five drawers are also available with a posting shelf which is full-width and rolls out as well. These filing cabinets are available with as few as two drawers and as many as five, along with the option for up to two roll-out shelves.

The Hon 10700 Waterfall Edge Series Lateral Filing Cabinets: The HON 10700 series of lateral filing cabinets are high pressure laminate accented to be both stain and abrasion resistant. Rounded corners and a waterfall edge allow for a contemporary look, and the cabinet systems are available in three different finishes: Henna cherry, medium oak and Mahogany. HON's Waterfall Edge lateral filing cabinets feature HON's "One key" core removable lock, and come with a HON limited lifetime warranty. These cabinets are available in two or four drawer versions only.

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