Replies

1. 
   Dave45 | May 28, 2006 04:38pm | #1

   The trick to designing a file cabinet is to start with the file drawer(s) and work your way out.  I usually do it this way.

   1. File folder size?  (Letter, Legal, Tabloid, Other)
   2. Folder hanging? (Wire frame in drawer box, Folder hooks on drawer sides)
   3. Lateral or "straight" drawers?
   4. Drawer glide hardware? (Side or bottom mount, Load capacity, Full extension, Glide length)
   5. Number of file drawers?

   After I've determined these parameters, I can design my drawer boxes - including the clearances between the boxes and the cabinet.  The rest of the design can be in whatever style you want.  If you have "plans" for a shaker piece that you like, it should be pretty easy to scale them around whatever drawer size(s) you need.

1. 
   bww_maryland | May 28, 2006 07:20pm | #3

   Dave45, thanks for the guidance.  I consider myself a newbee and the designs i've done myself have been terribly porportioned.  I like your idea of starting w/ drawer size and then i can build a mock up for porportion/scale.

    

   Thanks, Brad

1. 
   Dave45 | May 29, 2006 02:10am | #4

   Anytime, Brad.  I've been doing my own designs for years and can't remember the last time I used a "canned" design.  I've found that - unless you're designing a pure piece of art - design has to start with the functional requirements.  In your case, it's about file drawers so the drawer size, shape, orientation, and hardware have to be decided on before you can get into anything else.

   You'll probably hear a lot of advice about proportion and most of it actually works pretty well.  Sometimes, however, you just have to go with your gut and make it just "look good" - lol.

2. 
   joinerswork | May 28, 2006 05:21pm | #2

   bww,

   I keep my files in a drawer, next to the rasps. Having a cabinet all their own would be a bit extravagant, I think.

   Heh, heh.

   Ray Pine