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Just wondering if any of you use a lateral filing cabinet to store your 8.5x11 paper? Right now I have mine in files, inside rubbermaid file totes. They are extremely heavy with all the paper I cram in them. I'm looking at maybe getting a lateral filing cabinet (2 drawer), but before I did, I just thought I'd see if there were any pros/cons I should consider first.
I am always looking for better storage solutions, currently my paper is on shelves piled on top of each other in the colour families. It's a pain if you want to get to the colour at the bottom of the pile!!!!
I have my 8 1/2 by 11 paper in a lateral file cabinet and I love it! Especially for SU paper, I have hanging files in different colors for each family and tagged at the top. I have tried the cropper hopper verticals (too heavy to lug out - although this is where my 12x12 currently is), I have tried the wire cubes (paper got dusty and faded on edges), I have tried a mail sorter - like the ones in a mail room (took up too much room) and I have tried rolling cart with separate drawers per color family (again too much room and paper tended to get ear marked).
So far, I have not found anything better than the file drawers with hanging files, I can go to my one drawer and find exactly the color I'm looking for in seconds. I bought the hanging files with pockets on the insides and I keep the scraps with the full sheets of cardstock by color....love it!
I bought a two drawer black lateral filing cabinet (a sturdy one) on craigslist for $50. I have the paper in the top drawer and SU stamp sets in the bottom drawer. I wish I could afford to buy a 4 drawer, but will have to wait till after the holidays. HTH!
I use a lateral file for my paper. It is 4 drawers and about 3 of those drawers are full of paper. I put them in alphabetical order by color group. I love it. It is right next to where I stamp so all I have to do is lean over and open a drawer.
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What a great idea! I currently have a two-drawer file cabinet, but it's not a lateral and the paper in the back can be difficult to get to sometimes when the drawer gets full.
I'll have to look into a lateral after Christmas. Thanks for the great tip!
Okay, so the drawers don't get too heavy with all that cardstock in them? I was worried I'd pull out the top drawer, and it would make the cabinet tilt over. I guess they are made to hold a lot of paper weight though, hey?
I have mine in a 4 drawer (although the bottome drawer is used for something else). I have 1 drawer with neutrals and specialty papers and the next with Bold Brights and Earth Elements color families and the other with soft subtles and rich regals. It works well for me. Although when we move back home after DH is done in the Army and we buy a house I will have my dream craft room. It will have cabinets with file drawers built in to match the rest of the cabinetry cause I'm weird like that. But for now that lateral file cabinet works great and has for years.
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I want to get a lateral filing cabinet for my paper too. When I talked to the worker in Staples about the weight they told me they were designed to hold a lot of weight and it wouldn't be a problem. They also told me that if I was really worried I could attach it to the wall.
I'm personally more a fan of storing paper stacked flat. For those of you who store paper in hanging files, do you find the paper "curves" or "cups" if your hanging files are not totally packed solid? My 8-1/2"x11" and 12"x12" paper is all stored flat in "literature sorters".. works for me.. You can see pix here: http://pattystamps.com/pattys_stampi...mping-lof
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I'm personally more a fan of storing paper stacked flat. For those of you who store paper in hanging files, do you find the paper "curves" or "cups" if your hanging files are not totally packed solid? My 8-1/2"x11" and 12"x12" paper is all stored flat in "literature sorters".. works for me.. You can see pix here: http://pattystamps.com/pattys_stampi...mping-lof.html
I have not had my paper bend or "cup" as of yet. However, I do keep the paper in the plastic shrink wrap and only slit one end and then take out what I need that way.
I do tend to "smoosh" all the folders up to the front of the drawer and then just push them back to get to what I need and then re-smoosh LOL~ This keeps them packed rather tightly together without the folder or even the drawer having to be full, KWIM? ;)
I have not had my paper bend or "cup" as of yet. However, I do keep the paper in the plastic shrink wrap and only slit one end and then take out what I need that way.
I do tend to "smoosh" all the folders up to the front of the drawer and then just push them back to get to what I need and then re-smoosh LOL~ This keeps them packed rather tightly together without the folder or even the drawer having to be full, KWIM? ;)
Yes, I know what you mean.. I guess that's kind of what I was asking.. thanks for the info!
__________________ Patty Bennett
Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator
My Blog: www.PattyStamps.com
I have a beautiful cherry 2 drawer lateral file for my paper. I have it organized by color family with seperate files for every color. Each side of the drawer will hold two full color families. The dividing file folder with the color family name on it, holds my assorted packages. I love this system as it keeps my paper out of the light so it doesnt fade.
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I've always wanted a lateral file, but just don't have the room. I think it would be neat to have the space on top to hold things, too....tv, paper cutter, etc.
I have a large metal lateral file cabinet. There are three rows of files in each drawer. I have to be careful to keep out 12" wide paper or long borders or stencils as there isn't much room between the rows. I recommend the metal over wooden for handling the weight of paper. I have some office files in wood cabinets, and the drawers don't slide as well.
I wanted lateral files until I saw how much room they take up, then I had the 2 drawer file cabinet and that takes a lof og room too.
Rolling carts worked for a bit, but I got tired of shuffling through them.
Now, I have large black magazines holders that have my paper packages by color family. this took care of all my 8.5 x 11 paper and I have 13 x 13 paper holders for the 12 x 12. These all sit very nicely on 2 shelves in my cabinet.
__________________ Karen
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This is a great idea! I can put these in my scraproom closet and get rid of the ugly stainless steel book case I bought. Where do you get 12 x 12 File folders?
bump. As I'm starting to put my new craft room together, I'm loving these ideas. I've just had someone put ogether cubes I got on a great sale a couple weeks ago at Mikes. they seem functional and flexivle and I will start un-packing boxes today and see how they will actually work.
I just use a regular, deep filing cabinet. I have two of them for homeschooling stuff, and I have two extra drawers. One is for my cardstock, while the other stores my stickers in hanging file folders.
I love it! I just stick the paper in there without folders.
I have had mine in a lateral file cabnet for 4 years. No curving or bending. I have tabs with each su color/name. I love it.
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Love my laterals! I have a three drawer that has paper in two drawers and my current SU! sets in the bottom drawer. Then I have a four drawer that has my retired SU! sets in three drawers and various things in the fourth. I've used them for about five years and never had a problem with cupping or bending. Of course, they are pretty packed. :rolleyes:
As for being too heavy or tipping, most filing cabinets are designed that you can only open one drawer at a time so what's in the other drawers counterbalance the open drawer.
The ones I have right now I got from OT and they do not have any more...dang...I am spying the Cropper Hopper ones at JoAnn's for my next coupon grap tomorrow...They hold the 12x12 paper.
If you can see on the botton shelf are the ones for the 12 x 12 paper and above them are the over sized magazine holders for the 8.5x11....
The 12 x 12 hold about 65 sheets each and the others do not quite hold 12 full packages of SU 8.5x11 cardstock.
__________________ Karen
...My life is like a stroll on the beach...As near to the edge as I can go...Thoreau...
I don't have room in my space for a lateral file but I think it would be a great idea. I have 2 rolling file drawer thingies from the container store for nonSU! paper and 1 two drawer file cabinet dh and I bought as part of my Chanukkah gift. I find the back stuff hard to get to in the file cabinet. I don't have a problem w/ paper bending but perhaps thats because I have so much paper LOL. Andrea
Lateral File Cabinet for paper storage?
