Discuss Hanging file folders on IKEAFANS.com. We're Personalizing the IKEA Experience. Hanging file folders - Need help with planning your remodel? Want a kitchen planner to review your ideas? This is the happenin' spot!.
First, it stinks that Ikea does not offer a standard solution for hanging file folders in AKURUM :-(.
We've been looking at either EFFEKTIV or AKURUM for some home office cabinets and storage. Kitchen stuff is nice because the varied widths lets us fill out a back wall better. EFFEKTIV is now stuck at 34" (they discontinued their 18" units!) and very chunky looking due to the more modular, free standing nature.
I seem to have three options for hanging files in AKURUM:
1) Use 18" or 36" base cabinets without drawers/shelves and use a system like this:
These are called "Hanging File Frame Systems" by their manufacturer and there are 14 5/8" and 34 1/2" wide versions.
Am I correct that I can take away 1.5" (3/4" each side) from AKURUM exterior dimensions to arrive at interior dimensions? For 18" base cabinets I would need to build up some type of offset to get the 14 5/8" wide file slide to attach to 16.5" interior width base cabinets.
But on paper the 34 1/2" version would work perfect with a 36" cabinet. But I'm not sure about the cabinet supporting the weight.
There might be adjustable width systems. I have to Google more.
2) Insert a standard file frame into a drawer that has sufficient width and height. Use small screwable clamps to keep the frame from sliding around when the drawer is opened and closed.
For example:
Based on measurements at my Ikea, it does not look like any of the base cabinets with drawers have high enough drawers to fit a file folder let alone a hanging folder and the frame. Is this correct?
But could you buy Ikea internal drawers -- like used in the high/pantry cabinets -- and custom outfit a raw base cabinet?
There is a "pantry with drawers" that is either 15x80 or 24x80 in the 2007 catalog:
I think the 15" drawers are not wide enough. Does this come with a bunch of drawer units that you can install to semi-custom heights within the cabinet (peg holes)? I could not find this on ikea.com to get a better looksee at the inside. I think that is a hinged door and not a slide out deal.
Agreed that it stinks. I know alot of people who have wanted this very thing. Seems sure that as soon as you figure out a mod, they'll introduce something -- Murphy's Law. :X
You are correct that you need to subtract the 1 1/2" from the overall width of the cabinet to arrive at the interior width. There shouldn't be any problem with the cabinet supporting the weight of the file folders and the hardware...consider that they're designed to support alot of weight in the normal 2 deep/2 shallow drawer setup. I don't recall the exact figures at the moment, but it's definitely upwards of 100 pounds. And no, even the deep drawers are not deep enough to handle file folders -- they have rails along the top of the drawers that are only 6 or 8 inches above the bottom of the drawer.
Of course, there's always the possiblity that I haven't thought of the solution. There are alot of great minds here, and many more creative than I, so don't take my opinion as gospel.
Good luck and once again, welcome!
Susan
__________________ Shop through Amazon to Support IKEAFANS - Painless! Click through our Kitchen Planning Resources store before you shop, and we benefit! Support IKEAFANS!
The 15" drawer stack has drawers that are 11 5/8 inches inside width, and the height from the drawer bottom to to the top of the drawer front is just about 9 inches.
Yes, the inside cabinet dimension is 1 1/2 inches less than the outside dimension, due to the 3/4 inch sides.
Rockler.com has lots of custom accessories, you might find what you need there.
I'm thinking maybe the pullout would work with the files turned sideways? Like this pic at Rockler
They also have this file frame system that might work, it's adjustable.
And they carry Blum's Metafile system which might work, it seems like you can put it where you need it in the drawer?
The 15" drawer stack has drawers that are 11 5/8 inches inside width, and the height from the drawer bottom to to the top of the drawer front is just about 9 inches.
Hi evaperconti. I thought about these, but a file folder is 9 3/8" high with the tab :-(. I tried it at Ikea and it does not fit (and this is not counting the hanging file part, which adds more headroom).
I asked and the Ikea folks told me this is the highest drawer they make. I hope they were wrong ...
What if you use the base pullout with no drawers (except for the bottom), and just attach the rails to it where you need them? There would be tons of room, and no drawer sides. You'd have to make something for the back of the pullout to attach the rails to, but it shouldn't be too hard. I'm thinking something that would sit at the end of the bottom drawer and have supporting rails about halfway up along the sides. You would pull the whole unit out, and the files would be hanging between the door front and the new back piece. Is that understandable? I can see it in my mind, but I don't know if I am explaining it too well LOL
Here is another one. I actually don't like hanging folders much anyway. They fit too few folders and reorganizing is a pain. But I do use file folders on a daily basis.
If I could purchase the deep drawer internal hardware seperately, I could use these + RATIONELL dividers to create segmented file areas using an 18" base unit that has a single door. For example:
Ignore the drawer front and there would be a bottom. So I can use the dividers to keep the folder folders mostly upright and seperate them.
Make sense?
I like this because it is not a permanent hack and if I can always use the drawers for other uses, although not as easily since I have to open the exterior door first.
I just spoke with Ikea and they said they do sell everything seperate (old news to you guys I'm sure). She is calling me back as I want to know the distance from the drawer bottom to the accessory rod shown above to make sure the dividers will be high enough to support the files.
Ikea says 6" from drawer bottom to the top of the accessory rod in the deep drawers. The only hack I think I'll need to do is to affix a piece of hard plastic, stiff card stock, or rigid thin foam to the divider shown above so that it comes close to touching the bottom and keeps the folders from sliding under the divider.
Why doesn't Ikea have dividers for the deep drawer that touch the bottom of the drawer? What if you are storing odds and ends that would move around below the dividers? Am I missing something?
No, you're not missing anything. For some reason they just don't think they need to go all the way to the bottom of the drawer. And for most things, that's true...but for smaller things it is a huge pain. Things like pot lids, smaller measuring cups, etc. You know...that you might put into a DRAWER? LOL
IKEAFANS is a trusted authority on the design of IKEA kitchens. From articles to get you started to tools and links designed to ease the way and special offers just for IKEAFANS, we've thought of everything to make designing your own IKEA kitchen a snap. Check out our Kitchen Planning Guide...
Confirm
Join In!
