Home Depot Flat File Cabinet

When you want something done right, gotta do it yourself!
User avatar
Spectre
Member
Member
Posts: 236
Joined: Wed Oct 18, 2017 9:51 pm
Collector: Yes
Player: Yes
Decks Owned: 3000
Location: New Mexico
Has thanked: 59 times
Been thanked: 137 times

Home Depot Flat File Cabinet

Unread post by Spectre »

My wife picked this up for me from Home Depot. Just thought I'd share.
Flat Life Cabinet 1
Flat Life Cabinet 1
Flat Life Cabinet Top
Flat Life Cabinet Top
User avatar
Spectre
Member
Member
Posts: 236
Joined: Wed Oct 18, 2017 9:51 pm
Collector: Yes
Player: Yes
Decks Owned: 3000
Location: New Mexico
Has thanked: 59 times
Been thanked: 137 times

Re: Home Depot Flat File Cabinet

Unread post by Spectre »

Flat Life Cabinet Drawer 2
Flat Life Cabinet Drawer 2
IMG_6429.jpg (365.47 KiB) Viewed 16754 times
Flat Life Cabinet Drawer 1
Flat Life Cabinet Drawer 1
IMG_6428.jpg (351.52 KiB) Viewed 16754 times
User avatar
Spectre
Member
Member
Posts: 236
Joined: Wed Oct 18, 2017 9:51 pm
Collector: Yes
Player: Yes
Decks Owned: 3000
Location: New Mexico
Has thanked: 59 times
Been thanked: 137 times

Re: Home Depot Flat File Cabinet

Unread post by Spectre »

Flat Life Cabinet Drawer 3
Flat Life Cabinet Drawer 3
IMG_6430.jpg (364.66 KiB) Viewed 16754 times
Flat Life Cabinet Drawer 4
Flat Life Cabinet Drawer 4
IMG_6431.jpg (345 KiB) Viewed 16754 times
User avatar
Spectre
Member
Member
Posts: 236
Joined: Wed Oct 18, 2017 9:51 pm
Collector: Yes
Player: Yes
Decks Owned: 3000
Location: New Mexico
Has thanked: 59 times
Been thanked: 137 times

Re: Home Depot Flat File Cabinet

Unread post by Spectre »

Flat Life Cabinet Drawer 5
Flat Life Cabinet Drawer 5
IMG_6433.jpg (312.46 KiB) Viewed 16754 times
Flat Life Cabinet Drawer 6
Flat Life Cabinet Drawer 6
IMG_6432.jpg (315.4 KiB) Viewed 16754 times
User avatar
Spectre
Member
Member
Posts: 236
Joined: Wed Oct 18, 2017 9:51 pm
Collector: Yes
Player: Yes
Decks Owned: 3000
Location: New Mexico
Has thanked: 59 times
Been thanked: 137 times

Re: Home Depot Flat File Cabinet

Unread post by Spectre »

Flat Life Cabinet Drawers 7 & 8
Flat Life Cabinet Drawers 7 & 8
IMG_6434.jpg (277.53 KiB) Viewed 16754 times
Flat Life Cabinet All Drawers
Flat Life Cabinet All Drawers
User avatar
Bruno
Member
Member
Posts: 884
Joined: Sat Jan 24, 2015 7:54 pm
Collector: Yes
Decks Owned: 0
Has thanked: 532 times
Been thanked: 199 times

Re: Home Depot Flat File Cabinet

Unread post by Bruno »

Simply Brilliant.
Your Wife too ! :D
O, I beg of you your comprehensions,
yet laugh at your contempts ....
my only competition is with myselves.

But Lèse-majesté, especially >Normans, natch.

Is jarnstill the Ars of the Hors Nebulous ?
Neigh .... the Effluxor of the Omniverse ??
Oscar53955
Member
Member
Posts: 183
Joined: Tue Dec 06, 2016 8:07 am
Collector: Yes
Player: Yes
Has thanked: 19 times
Been thanked: 41 times

Re: Home Depot Flat File Cabinet

Unread post by Oscar53955 »

Woah! :o :drool:

Incredible collection and an awesome way to store and display it. Bravo!
User avatar
shermjack
✔ VERIFIED Seller
✔ VERIFIED Seller
Posts: 1886
Joined: Mon Feb 23, 2015 7:39 pm
Collector: Yes
Has thanked: 1624 times
Been thanked: 932 times
Contact:

Re: Home Depot Flat File Cabinet

Unread post by shermjack »

Wow! :shock: Simply Amazing! Your collection, your new cabinet and your wife!

Almost like that cabinet was made for Cards! :drool:

Thanks for sharing! :ugdance:
A deck a day helps keep the addiction at bay!

Check out my collection on Instagram @caratcasecreations
User avatar
th4mo
Member
Member
Posts: 958
Joined: Thu Jun 06, 2013 1:33 am
Collector: Yes
Player: Yes
Location: Portland, OR
Has thanked: 434 times
Been thanked: 146 times

Re: Home Depot Flat File Cabinet

Unread post by th4mo »

Wow! Super Classy! :D

$449.00 in my neck of the woods... :shock:

I'll keep my eyes peeled for a sale... :drool:
Keep it Sizzlin'!
User avatar
Thedissident001
Member
Member
Posts: 243
Joined: Sat Aug 08, 2015 12:19 am
Collector: Yes
Has thanked: 69 times
Been thanked: 59 times

Re: Home Depot Flat File Cabinet

Unread post by Thedissident001 »

That looks awesome, such a classy way to store a brilliant collection!
Trungbreezy
Member
Member
Posts: 69
Joined: Mon Oct 26, 2015 1:45 am
Collector: Yes
Decks Owned: 250
Location: California
Has thanked: 7 times
Been thanked: 9 times
Contact:

Re: Home Depot Flat File Cabinet

Unread post by Trungbreezy »

Wow it's like that cabinet was made for cards.
Instagram: @sj_cardcollector
User avatar
ecNate
Member
Member
Posts: 2099
Joined: Sat Mar 01, 2014 1:46 am
Collector: Yes
Player: Yes
Decks Owned: 400
Location: Wisconsin
Has thanked: 420 times
Been thanked: 440 times
Contact:

Re: Home Depot Flat File Cabinet

Unread post by ecNate »

I remember somebody posting them using a blueprint cabinet for cards and every once in a while I see them at surplus sales, but this is a much more elegant solution. Plus it has the critical spouse approval factor. Very nice!

I also dug up the link to see cost and finish options, to save others the searching - https://www.homedepot.com/p/Martha-Stew ... /206369180
Ace
Member
Member
Posts: 68
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2018 9:04 pm
Has thanked: 11 times
Been thanked: 9 times

Re: Home Depot Flat File Cabinet

Unread post by Ace »

I like that setup. On the upper drawers, how snug are the decks? Is there room to lift up? Same question on lower drawers
User avatar
Spectre
Member
Member
Posts: 236
Joined: Wed Oct 18, 2017 9:51 pm
Collector: Yes
Player: Yes
Decks Owned: 3000
Location: New Mexico
Has thanked: 59 times
Been thanked: 137 times

Re: Home Depot Flat File Cabinet

Unread post by Spectre »

Sorry for the late response... I guess I need to subscribe to the thread to see recent posts...

So here is an update.

Still very happy with the cabinet. I had about 1200 decks in it and it couldn't hold much more, so we got a second one and two different hutches to put on top of them. That being said, all is not perfect.
These are made with very soft wood. While the back, sides and front seem to be very sturdy and heavy, the wood that makes the drawers is probably the softest wood known to man. The bottom of the drawers are very thin and bow. The top four drawers do have support rails under them so not that big of an issue with those. But, the bottom four drawers need support. I used the wood that came with the cabinet to be used as dividers as support rails for one of the cabinets. I still need to do that to the newer one and when I get to it I will post some photos of the work.
Another issue I have is the drawer rails are very cheap. At some point I will probably replace them with something better. But for now, they do the job.

Other than that, like I said, I'm happy. I've looked everywhere for a economical way to display/store my collection. Most of the things I find cost more than what I'm willing to pay, (Mostly because I want to spend the money on more cards). This fits the bill for me.
Most recent setup
Most recent setup
Large Hutch
Large Hutch
Small Hutch
Small Hutch
User avatar
Spectre
Member
Member
Posts: 236
Joined: Wed Oct 18, 2017 9:51 pm
Collector: Yes
Player: Yes
Decks Owned: 3000
Location: New Mexico
Has thanked: 59 times
Been thanked: 137 times

Re: Home Depot Flat File Cabinet

Unread post by Spectre »

As for Ace's questions about the drawer sizes:

The four top drawers hold 14 decks across perfectly. Not too tight and not too loose. It holds 6 decks back but there is a gap. The gap size is the size of a deck of cards turned 90 degrees. Which make for a seventh row that holds 10 decks across. Again, not too tight and not too loose. In total, each drawer can hold 94 decks. Or 376 decks in the top four drawers. (These are standard size decks)
Top Drawers
Top Drawers




The middle drawers are what I use for my duplicates or decks owned but don't wish to display or can't because of limits.... The drawer size is tall enough to stand the decks up on end. As such, it will hold 34 decks without being too tight in 6 columns. There is a small gap about two decks wide. In this configuration each middle drawer will hold at least 204 decks. Or 408 total.

You should be able to get an idea from the photos in the original posts.


As for the bottom two drawers, I use them for extra bricks and other boxes. Each drawer can hold 12 bricks pretty easily, which would be 144 decks or 288 for both drawers. Or you could use the drawers in a similar manner as the middle drawers (the bottom drawers are a bit deeper though) that would result in 408 decks.
Bottom Drawers
Bottom Drawers
Now here is the rub.. I have a few decks that I like to keep in carat cases. Carat Cases and odd shaped decks mess up everything. Standard size carat cases, fit 11 across, with a big gap at the end, and 5 deep that leaves a gap of almost one more carat case but not quite. Argh...
With Carat Cases
With Carat Cases
User avatar
Spectre
Member
Member
Posts: 236
Joined: Wed Oct 18, 2017 9:51 pm
Collector: Yes
Player: Yes
Decks Owned: 3000
Location: New Mexico
Has thanked: 59 times
Been thanked: 137 times

Re: Home Depot Flat File Cabinet

Unread post by Spectre »

I finally got around to bracing the shelves on the second cabinet. Took a could of photos to show the bowing and how I choose to fix it.
Bow
Bow
In this photo you can see how the weight of a drawer full of decks bows the bottom of the drawer. The cabinet comes with a bunch of wood to make dividers for the top four drawers. I don't need the dividers but I do need extra bottom support for the bottom four drawers. So I used the extra wood to make these supports.

I first planed to thickness. The strips of wood are very close to the correct thickness as it is, but I wanted them to be just slightly recessed once they get screwed in.
Plane.jpg
User avatar
Spectre
Member
Member
Posts: 236
Joined: Wed Oct 18, 2017 9:51 pm
Collector: Yes
Player: Yes
Decks Owned: 3000
Location: New Mexico
Has thanked: 59 times
Been thanked: 137 times

Re: Home Depot Flat File Cabinet

Unread post by Spectre »

Next, I cut to width.
Chop.jpg
Then drilled pilot holes. Because the wood is so soft, this step is a must.
Drill.jpg
User avatar
Spectre
Member
Member
Posts: 236
Joined: Wed Oct 18, 2017 9:51 pm
Collector: Yes
Player: Yes
Decks Owned: 3000
Location: New Mexico
Has thanked: 59 times
Been thanked: 137 times

Re: Home Depot Flat File Cabinet

Unread post by Spectre »

Then I used #6, 1 inch dry wall screws to fasten the supports to the bottom of the drawer. I used drywall screws because the threads are pretty course and have a lot of bite. I think they grab the soft wood better.
Screw.jpg
Once both sides are screwed in place, this is the final outcome. No Bow!
Fixed.jpg

Next up, gluing velvet to the bottom of the top four drawers. Coming soon.....
User avatar
Bradius
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 5541
Joined: Thu Sep 07, 2017 9:56 am
Collector: Yes
Player: Yes
White Whale: I do not hunt whales
Decks Owned: 4129
Location: Texas
Has thanked: 2969 times
Been thanked: 3079 times

Re: Home Depot Flat File Cabinet

Unread post by Bradius »

Thanks for the information on how you are fixing/upgrading this cabinet. It actually is an inexpensive storage solution given the number of decks stored. Compared with other flat file drawers, it is very reasonable, and looks a lot nicer. I hadn’t thought though that the playing card weight would pose a problem. Since though it has been an issue, I have also found issues with the drawer slides. Is that causing you any problems? I am considering getting this cabinet at some point if I can find the space in the house. It may have to wait a few years though.

Also, on the problem with the carat cases fitting well, have you tried some carat cases and some regular decks across to find a better fit?
User avatar
Spectre
Member
Member
Posts: 236
Joined: Wed Oct 18, 2017 9:51 pm
Collector: Yes
Player: Yes
Decks Owned: 3000
Location: New Mexico
Has thanked: 59 times
Been thanked: 137 times

Re: Home Depot Flat File Cabinet

Unread post by Spectre »

Thanks Bradius for the interest. I searched for a long time for a vintage flat file cabinet. Most of the new ones are made from sheet metal today. They look like they belong in an office, not a home. The older wood versions can be found on eBay pretty easy, but rarely are they shipped and listed as local pick-up only. This poses a big problem for me being in the middle of nowhere. Plus at the end of the day, they're pretty expensive and I would much rather spend more money on more decks. This does offer a somewhat more elegant & cheaper solution. For the most part it's as close to perfect as can be in my situation.

The drawer slides are pretty cheaply made and I think in the future I will replace them, but for now they do hold up ok to the weight of the drawer full of decks. On the newer of the two cabinets, a few of the rails got a little crushed in the shipping. Not difficult to repair, just used some needle nose pliers to straighten out the areas that needed straighten.

As for my Carat Case issues, I have done (or should say am doing) as you mentioned. I found a couple of solutions that I like. See photos below.
Top Left Drawer.jpg
In this photo, there is a mix of Shermjack's XSC and X1 Carat Cases. In the first row, I have found the 10 XSC cases and 1 X1 case fit perfect. In rows 2-4, 10 X1 cases with an uncased deck on each side works well, but there is a slight gap. The 5th row, is waiting on a new cases that Sherman tells me might be coming this summer. They should house the thicker Grotesk decks. The 6th row, and not very well depicted here, will be a row of uncased decks. (Obviously I still have some holes to fill as I'm waiting on a few Lotrek decks.)
Top Right Drawer.jpg
In this photo, for row 1-3, I will be using 2 each X4 Carat Cases and a X3 in the middle , with and uncased deck on each side. Rows 4 and 5 are the same as above, 10 X1 Carat Cases with an uncased deck on each side. Waiting on my latest order from Sherman which will include the 4 missing X4 cases and Alex's latest offering to complete.
User avatar
Spectre
Member
Member
Posts: 236
Joined: Wed Oct 18, 2017 9:51 pm
Collector: Yes
Player: Yes
Decks Owned: 3000
Location: New Mexico
Has thanked: 59 times
Been thanked: 137 times

Re: Home Depot Flat File Cabinet

Unread post by Spectre »

I have not updated here in a while so I thought I would add a photo that I took for Alex's Apothecary Collection Giveaway #seasonsplayingcards. Posted this on Instagram yesterday.
Seasons Collection
Seasons Collection
More photos in a couple of weeks as I'm waiting on a couple of items that I want included in the photos.
User avatar
ahsantahir716
Lurker
Lurker
Posts: 1
Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2023 7:39 am
Been thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Re: Home Depot Flat File Cabinet

Unread post by ahsantahir716 »

I love how these cards stored in this filing cabinet. Simply amazing.
User avatar
Bradius
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 5541
Joined: Thu Sep 07, 2017 9:56 am
Collector: Yes
Player: Yes
White Whale: I do not hunt whales
Decks Owned: 4129
Location: Texas
Has thanked: 2969 times
Been thanked: 3079 times

Re: Home Depot Flat File Cabinet

Unread post by Bradius »

I was thinking some of you may have missed this amazing collection that Spectre amassed. He has since moved on, but his collection was exceptional, and his set up and display is breathtaking.
The Crazy Squirrel Deck Hunter - Hunt decks to extinction
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 17 guests