If you are moving, renovating, or moving an old file cabinet it is imperative that its drawers be removed in order to reduce weight and ensure its safe transportation elsewhere. This can help make the unit lighter so it can be safely transported elsewhere.
Removing file cabinet drawers may seem challenging, but with these steps in place you’ll find that removing them becomes much simpler and safer. Don’t damage your filing cabinet when trying to access its contents!
Stabilizer Screws
Stabilizer screws are often found on modern file cabinet drawers, and must be manually unbolted before trying to access any drawer. Starting from the top is important in order to avoid tipping over, and exerting too much force could damage both hands and fingers.
To properly remove stabilizer screws, the first step should be locating them within the body of a drawer with the help of a screwdriver and using a Phillips-head screwdriver to unfasten them. Once located, using an appropriate Phillips-head screwdriver remove them for good.
Locate and release both catch tabs on either side of the drawer to free it from its side tracks and allow you to pull it out easily. Pull upwards on both tabs until they release their grip – this will allow the drawer to come free from its side tracks and can then be easily pulled out by hand.
Additionally, press down on the disconnect tabs found at the back of metal tracks on both sides of your drawer – they should be near where you took out stabilizer screws.
Anti-tip cables should be attached to the rear exterior of a drawer with screws for secure attachment, although screw-in type stabilizers mounted directly into PCB are generally considered superior in terms of stability due to being more secure and vibrating less than snap-in styles. Anti-tip cables attached to these stabilizers can easily be unhooked from their screws at the rear exterior, making removal much simpler.
Catch Tabs
When it comes to unlatching file cabinet drawers, there are various approaches available. While some methods require extra caution than others, there are tricks which will make this task simpler on both you and your fingers.
As your first step, take note of any anti-tip mechanisms in your drawers. Usually found inside the top portion, these mechanisms help prevent filing cabinets from tipping over during removal and can help ensure safe storage for documents and files.
To dismantle this mechanism, unscrew both of the screws that secure its block and rope assembly together. For this process to go smoothly, a Phillips-head screwdriver may come in handy so make sure to bring one along with you.
Locate two small horizontal levers at each side of the drawer where its two runners connect. Push down on these oval shaped tabs to unlatch the runners.
As you pull on the lever, you may hear a small click as the drawer disengages from its runners on the filing cabinet – an indicator that you are on your way to having an organized drawer.
If you don’t find such a mechanism, another approach might be pushing on a tiny catch on the drawer track to raise it a few inches – just be wary as doing this could lead to unwanted drops!
If none of these techniques work for you, another alternative would be using a flat-head screwdriver to break free the slide on the front of your drawer and allow for its removal all at once. While this method will likely save time and effort, be prepared for some complications along the way.
Anti-tip Cable
Some file cabinet drawers feature an anti-tip cable to prevent their drawers from tipping over, an essential feature when dealing with heavy filing cabinets that may easily tip if pulled too far out. This feature is particularly important if your drawer is being pulled out too far as this could easily break and fall over, leading to serious injuries or worse.
Modern file cabinets utilize side-mount runners with safety locks for easier removal of drawers without damaging them, making storage and organisation of files and documents even simpler than before. Such systems make modern offices an invaluable addition, with drawers that extend fully out enabling storage and organisation to become much simpler than before.
However, extracting drawers from filing cabinets can be challenging as there may not be plastic tabs to help with this task. Therefore, take an alternative approach and follow these steps:
First, locate two small horizontal levers on either side of your drawer where its runners connect, with two oval-shaped tabs you will need to push down while pulling away from your filing cabinet.
Next, place both hands on opposite sides of the drawer and pull it out as far as it will go. Feel under it to check for any lever or button that releases its slides from their runners attached to the cabinet.
Start by using a flat-head screwdriver to release the bottom slides, or gently wiggle the drawer forward until you hear a click; this should disengage its runners, enabling you to easily reinstall them back onto your filing cabinet.
There are also interlocks designed to stop more than one drawer from being opened at once. These features slack-removable cables with adjustable levels of slack that can prevent or allow another drawer from opening depending on how much of slack exists in them.
Disconnect Tabs
File cabinet drawers feature various securing mechanisms that help keep them in their proper places, including stabilizer screws and catch tabs that can be unfastened with a screwdriver.
Some filing cabinets feature disconnect tabs for easy drawer removal from their cabinet, typically found on metal lateral drawers attached at the base of the unit.
Assuming this process can be simple, it is vital that you fully comprehend how the disconnect tabs work before trying to remove them in order to prevent accidentally damaging the cabinet.
In case you pull a drawer too quickly without realizing its connection with the cabinet, it could tip over and cause extensive damage. Lubricants such as WD40 may help disengage tabs so you can more easily unlatch the drawer.
Find track levers positioned centrally within each drawer slide – these may be straight or curved depending on which model was used – to remove disconnect tabs from drawer slides.
To safely unmount them, be sure to use both hands in pressing down on each track lever simultaneously with both hands, until all four track levers have moved apart and released the drawer.
Once the drawer is out of its track, you can remove it completely from its cabinet with some skill and strength. Doing this may take some effort on your part but can be accomplished successfully if you put in the effort necessary.
Some drawers feature anti-tip cables to help prevent them from tipping over, usually attached to the rear exterior and can be removed using wrench or screwdriver.
One of the easiest ways to remove a drawer from a filing cabinet is pulling it until its slides disconnect themselves, usually around 50 pounds in load rating. There may be some resistance due to ball retainers protecting against this happening during everyday use.