File Drawers
Standard File Drawers
The most common and versatile system for hanging file folders is to cut a slot for the rails and hang them from the sides or fronts and backs of the drawer as shown below. For Standard configurations (rails run front to back), the dimension we use is 12 1/4" to the outside of the rails for Letter files and 15 1/4" for Legal files. (refer to drawing below)
Standard Letter and Legal shown above. (Min width for Letter: 14", Legal: 17")
Lateral, Letter and Legal shown above with 'L' bar for stability. (bars towards front) min depth for letter: 14 5/16 for 5/8" thick, min depth for legal 17 1/4 for 5/8" thick.
File Drawer Options
- File rail is 1/8" X 1" for spans up to 22", and 1/2" X 1" L for spans over 22"
- All Lateral Files should use "L" file rail which is less likely to bend under load
- We can provide anodized aluminum rails cut to size by lineal foot
- Standard height for file drawers is 10 1/8" -- 10 1/4"
To specify a combination of Standard and Lateral, combine two types such as: F1 / F4
- F1 ) Standard “Letter” rails run front to back - (4 slots)
- Minimum width for F1 is 14 1/16” for 1/2” sides and 14 5/16” for 5/8” sides
- F2 ) Standard “Legal” rails run front to back - (4 slots)
- Minimum width for F2 is 17 1/16” for 1/2” sides and 17 5/16” for 5/8” sides
- F3 ) Standard both “Legal” and “Letter” rails run front to back - (6 slots)
- Minimum width for F3 is 17 1/16” for 1/2” sides and 17 5/16” for 5/8” sides
- F4 ) Lateral “Letter” rails run side to side uses “L” bar - (4 slots)
- Minimum depth for F4 is 14 1/16” for 1/2” sides and 14 5/16” for 5/8” sides
- F5 ) Lateral “Legal” rails run side to side uses “L” bar - (4 slots)
- Minimum depth for F5 is 17 1/16” for 1/2” sides and 17 5/16” for 5/8” sides
- F6 ) Lateral “Legal” and “Letter” rails run side to side “L” bar- (6 slots)
- Minimum depth for F6 is 17 1/16” for 1/2” sides and 17 5/16” for 5/8” sides
- F7 ) Double Standard 2 sets of “Letter” rails run front to back - (8 slots)
- Minimum width for F7 is 27 1/16” for 1/2” sides and 27 5/16” for 5/8” sides
- F8 ) Double Standard “Legal” rails run front to back - (8 slots)
- Minimum width for F8 is 33 1/16” for 1/2” sides and 33 5/16” for 5/8” sides
- F9 ) Double Standard “Legal” and “Letter” front to back - (12 slots)
- Minimum width for F9 is 33 1/16” for 1/2” sides and 33 5/16” for 5/8” sides
- F10 ) Double Standard 1 -“Legal”, 1 - “Letter” front to back - (12 slots)
- Minimum width for F10 is 30 1/16” for 1/2” sides and 30 5/16” for 5/8” sides
- F11 ) Triple Standard “Letter” front to back - (12 slots)
- Minimum width for F11 is 30 1/16” for 1/2” sides and 30 5/16” for 5/8” sides
- F12 ) Triple Standard 2 "Legal", 1- "Letter" front to back - (12 slots)
- Minimum width for F12 is 46 1/16" for 1/2" sides and 46 5/16" for 5/8" sides
- F13 ) Triple Standard "Legal" and "Letter" front to back - (18 slots)
- Minimum width for F13 is 49 1/16" for 1/2" sides and 49 5/16" for 5/8" sides
- F14 ) Double "Lateral" side to side uses 'L' bar - (8 slots)
- Minimum depth for F14 is 27 1/16" for 1/2" sides and 27 5/16" for 5/8" sides
- F15 ) Double Lateral "Legal" side to side uses 'L' bar - (8 slots)
- Minimum depth for F15 is 33 1/16" for 1/2" sides and 33 5/16" for 5/8" sides
- More combinations are available upon request
More File Drawer Options
- EMBEDDED BLACK FIBER-TRACK RAILS
- Embedded black fiber-track rails can be used in tight spaces. They are glued into a groove during assembly.
- Minimum inside drawer height for this detail is 9 1/8" since the rails are above the drawer side.
- Letter size file Drawers must be exactly 12 15/16" for 1/2" thick and 13 3/16" for 5/8" thickness solid wood. Baltic birch file drawers should be exactly 12 7/8" for 9-ply and 13 1/8" for 11 ply since the material is thinner.
- Legal size file Drawers must be 15 15/16” for 1/2” thick and 16 3/16” for 5/8” thickness.
- RABBETED SOLID WOOD RAILS
The actual drawer side is rabbeted to hang the files. The same dimensions as embedded black fiber rails above are used with this detail. Hard Maple is recommended. Minimum inside drawer height for this detail is 9 1/2”.
- PLASTIC CLIP-ON RAILS
For 1/2" thick drawer sides with standard configuration, width is 13 1/8" for letter, or 16 1/8" for legal. Not recommended for lateral applications because the rail may interfere with the front. Clip on rails require no special machining, and can easily be added after the drawer is assembled. Minimum inside drawer height for this detail is 9 1/8".
FLUSH BOTTOM FILE DRAWERS:
If your application calls for file drawers less than 10 1/8" tall, custom heights can be produced to meet the space requirements. Drawers can be made with 9 5/8" height with flush 1/4" bottoms or 9 3/4" height with 3/8" bottoms. The bottoms are then stapled into the rabbet.
- More options available includes drop-in file racks or CompX Timberline file systems.
- Most hanging files require at least 9 3/8" between the top of the file rail and the inside of the bottom.
- A drawer with standard aluminum rails let into the sides, using a 3/8" thick bottom recessed 1/2" up from the bottom edge with 9 1/2" clear from the top of the file rail to the inside of the bottom, would have to be 10 1/4" high.
- At least 1" of clearance is recommended between the top of the file rail and the top of the drawer front to allow clearance for the file tabs.
For any file drawer configuration not shown please provide a drawing and hardware specifications
