File cabinet blocks

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File cabinets, follower blocks, and keeping sane. Thread starter gernblanston Start date Feb 24, This post addresses the ubiquitous problem of finding a file cabinet that allows you to get rid of hanging-file folders and use only manila folders.

The short answer is to find a file cabinet containing the so-called "spring-loaded follower block" or "follower block" for short. So what is a follower block and why is it so difficult to find them? Before hanging files, file cabinets stored records such as folders upright in place with the mysterious follower block. To account for the change in number or thickness of records, you squeezed the handle of the follower block to slide it forward or backward and released it to lock it in place.

Nearly all file cabinets manufactured before a certain date have these follower blocks, which is why it's a great idea to pay a visit to your local used office furniture store. Go to a used office furniture store, which tend to carry file cabinets of extremely high quality that have this follower block -- at a dramatically low price. In fact, many used office furniture stores have trouble selling these types of file cabinets simply because many of them don't have the capability to store hanging-file folders.

In my case, I visited a local store that carried numerous two-drawer, four-drawer, and five-drawer models -- all with follower blocks, and all of very high quality. I went with a two-drawer Steelcase that must have been made in the 70s but still works beautifully. If the thought of buying a used file cabinet makes you shudder, the big box office supply stores still do carry file cabinets with follower blocks.

If money is no object, purchase new, high quality filing systems made by companies such as Steelcase. Some of their products still use follower blocks. I hope this helps. Regards, Michael. Another big vote for local used office supply stores - we got fantastic deals on extremely solid cabinets. Caveats: Sometimes they don't match, and make sure you try the mechanics first.

However, converting a drawer to plain file folders often results in the dreaded "files falling down" problem for drawers that don't have a movable metal plate AKA "follower block", "compression plate", "spring-loaded backstop", or "back plate". Very bad. After extensive research I kid you not , I've discovered the optimal solution at least for metal drawers is to use a magnetic 'L-shaped' bookend to hold them up Thank You Thank You!! Thank you so much for this post! Sadly, I've been stumped by how to implement the filing system without hanging folders.

Your post was a great help. If anyone has any links to cabinets with this mystical follower block, please share them. Alternatively, if anyone knows a good used furniture store in Orange County, CA, that'd be even better. Make sure that you can actually open and close the cabinets, to see what the quality is and if the cabinet actually contains a follower block. Second, it's pretty easy to find used office furniture stores with Google. Just google "used office furniture" near your area.

I'm sure there are many more. I'm glad you found the post useful. Good luck! For me, the two features I needed in a file cabinet are ball-bearing slides and a spring-loaded follower block. Cheap--Children's picture books! Hello, I'm new to the forum and I'm a children's librarian. I decided to sign up just to share this tip. I'm trying to change my files over to just manila files and no hanging files. Unfortunately, I cannot use the magnetized book ends to hold my files up because my drawer is made out of wood.

So, I came up with using a stack of children's picture books! Here's the advantage Open multiple cabinet locks with their own keys, as well as with a master key. Choose these locks if you need locks that each open with a different key. Choose these locks if you need several locks that open with the same key. Choose these cylinders if you need several cylinders that open with the same key.

Choose these cylinders if you need cylinders that each open with a different key. Choose these cylinders if you need cylinders that each open with a different key and also open with a master key. The mounting screws on these locks are concealed to prevent tampering.

A master key opens all of these locks, which also have their own unique keys. Raise the handle and it swings smoothly for easy latching and unlatching. Open these locks with both a master key and their own unique key.

Choose these locks if you need to open several with the same key. Choose these locks if you need each one to open with a different key. Latch and lock doors and cabinets these swing-handle cam locks, and unlock them with a four-number combination code. The mounting screws on these latches are concealed to prevent tampering. Use these latches with three-point locking systems, such as those on filing cabinet doors. These locking bars have hinges and swing out of the way for easy access to cabinet drawers.

Choose these locking bars if you need bars that each open with a different key. Choose these locking bars if you need several bars that open with the same key. For security, choose a combination from over 2, possible five-number combinations.

For Use On. Mounting Style. For Through Hole Diameter. For Maximum Thickness. For Use With. Opens With. Handle Style.

Key Number. Number of Keys Included. Latching Distance. Latch Bolt Projection. Cam Latch Type. Turn Direction. Cam Style. View catalog pages 8. Send Cancel. How can we improve? Deadbolt Cabinet Door and Drawer Locks. Keyed Alike Deadbolt Drawer Locks. Interchangeable-Bolt Drawer Locks. Deadbolt Drawer Locks. Pry-Resistant Deadbolt Drawer Locks. Replaceable-Cylinder Deadbolt Drawer Locks. Master Keyed Deadbolt Drawer Locks.

Open multiple cabinet locks with the same key.