How To Remove File Cabinet Drawers
Removing the drawers makes moving, repairing, and renovating a filing cabinet easier. How to remove file cabinet drawers depends on the specific mechanism of your cabinet's slides and release buttons. This can be tricky because there are so many different kinds of filing cabinets. We have created step-by-step guides for removing the drawers of all five filing systems.
The drawer removal process is important for repairing, repainting, and renovating a filing cabinet. The most common method to remove a file cabinet drawer is to shake it. The drawer is pulled out all the way, and then it's pulled again to get the wheels out. As you increase the pressure, the wheels on the back of the drawers also come out. This method is only applicable to steel filing cabinets with drawers that are equipped with wheels. It can't work on drawers that have ball bearings.
In this article, we will show you how to remove the drawers from a file cabinet, so that repairs, renovations, and organization are easier. Haywood Office Services has a wide range of file cabinets for commercial and home offices.
How To Remove File Cabinet Drawers
Here's how to remove file cabinet drawers
How To Remove Drawers From a Side Mounted File Cabinet
Modern filing cabinets often use side-mount runners that have safety locks. This prevents the drawers from falling if they are pulled too far. It is designed to let the drawers fully extend to help with storage and organization.
Pull the drawers out of a side mount filing cabinet until they stop, then place your hands on both sides. Look for a horizontal lever that is located where the runners are attached.
Two oval tabs should be on the lever. To disengage the runners, push them down as you pull the drawer away. By pushing the tab at the back of the side-mount file cabinet, you can easily install drawers.
Remove Drawers From a Lateral File Cabinet
The lateral file cabinet is a great way to store a lot of stuff in a limited space. Due to their size you will need to remove everything from the drawers. Remove the handles and hangrail bars too.
Keep an eye on the block and rope assembly. Remove the two screws from the drawer with a screwdriver. This will release the rope that is attached to the block. The rope is part of the anti-tip mechanism in the filing cabinet that prevents it from falling.
After removing this, you can easily remove any drawer that you want from the cabinet. Find two plastic tabs either side of the drawer and pull it out. The drawer can be removed from the slide assembly by pressing these tabs, lifting it upward and pulling it out.
Remove Self-Closing Drawers From a Filing Cabinet
Self-closing systems are often found in high-end filing cabinets. They work differently than normal systems. You must open the drawer until all of its guides have been extended to remove a self closing drawer. You can find a locking clip or lever at the drawer guides. Push it up or down to release the drawer. You will then need to tilt the drawer downwards at the back in order to release it from the rails.
Remove Wooden Drawer Slides From a Filing Cabinet
The wooden drawers have a more traditional design that is not often seen in modern furniture. To remove a wooden drawer, start at the top of the drawer and work your way down. This prevents top-heavy furnishings from falling.
Then, pull out the drawer as hard as possible. This extra force will be enough to move the drawer towards you. You will need to exert a little extra force if your wooden filing cabinets have a central wooden track.
Remove Drawers From a Filing Cabinet With Stabilizer Screws
Modern file cabinets often have stabilizing screws. Before you can remove a drawer, you will have to manually remove the screws. To avoid the cabinet falling over, do the same as you would with wooden drawers. Start at the top of the cabinet and work down.
Once you have removed the stabilizing screws, slide the drawer out by putting your hands on each side. You'll then need to locate the stabilizer screws that are fitted inside the drawer. You will need a screwdriver to remove them.
After removing the screws, locate the tabs that are on each side of the drawer. Pull them upwards to release them. You should now be able slide the drawer from the cabinet.
Conclusion
In this article, we will describe how to remove file cabinet drawers, as well as various prerequisites for removing drawers. There are many different filing cabinets with drawers that operate on different principles. Some drawers are easily removed by simply pulling the drawer out, while others require a set of movements to release the slides. It is therefore important to know the differences between each type of drawer so you can remove them with ease.
