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A cabinet is box-shaped furniture; either
attached to the wall or stand alone as a piece. Typically, a cabinet
was made from wood. However, now-a-days, cabinets are constructed with
various synthetic materials. It is used for storage of varied items and
has one or more doors on the front. The doors are mounted with door
hardware and sometimes, even secured with a lock. A cabinet may contain
drawers or shelves. Short cabinets have a finished top surface, which
is often used as a working surface. A chest, on the other hand is the
oldest form of furniture with rectangular structure, four walls, and a
liftable lid. It may have an interior that is sub-divided for organized
storage.
Features and Working of a cabinet/chest
Cabinets and chests built especially for
tools are constructed with hard material such as steel. With continuous
beam construction, it reduces racking and overall weight of the
cabinet; thus, increasing the life. The edges of the cabinet or the
chests are hemmed to strengthen drawers and eliminate rough and sharp
edges. A chest with recessed handle allows the user to use the
furniture in a tight space. It is important to select a cabinet/chest
with external lock for security.
Drawers with ball bearing provide better
performance and can hold heavier tools. Often the brackets on which the
shelves rest can be adjusted according to the height that is required.
A cabinet or a chest should have a good sturdy body with each shelf or
drawer being able to hold tools that are heavy in weight.
They may have 4 to 6 casters for convenient
maneuvering. If the cabinet does not have casters then it is better to
have the cabinet with floor leveler for uneven floors.
These cabinets/chests have a bulk storage compartment, where large tools can be stored
Some
of the cabinets have stackable and interchangeable components. Other
features of cabinets/chests include hooks for hanging the tool and
shelf lining.
The opening and the closing of the chest lid is assisted by industrial quality gas struts.
The powder coat offers prevention from rusting and increases the durability of the cabinet.
What to look for in a cabinet/chest
While purchasing a cabinet/chest one should
consider its material of construction, the strength, adjustability and
durability of drawers or shelves, the movement, internal organization,
struts or hinges for the door or the lid, and the finishing of the
furniture.
While selecting a cabinet it is important to
consider the gauge of the stainless steel body. The construction and
the welding of the cabinet/chest should be of an industrial quality. It
is important to check the overall load capacity of the furniture and
also individual self or drawer’s load capacity. For safety purpose,
also look for the cabinet that does not have sharp edges.
The drawers should be smooth, fully extended,
and should have ball bearings. However, they should remain closed while
the furniture is moved. Therefore, it is quiet important to select a
cabinet that has non-slip drawers. One should consider the measurement
of all the tools that needs to be stored in the cabinet. Accordingly,
the height or the distance between each drawer and the depth of the
chest/cabinet should be selected. Moreover, the user should consider
the number of drawers or shelves that the cabinet should have. Some of
the chests/ cabinets come with drawer liners that allow the user to
suspend tools off drawer bottom.
A cabinet/chest with casters is preferable as
it can be moved around more easily. The casters of the cabinet/chest
should be strong and sufficient to take the weight of heavy tools and
should be easy for maneuvering. The chest with a clam shell lid
provides better visibility and access. It is better to have a powder
coated cabinet/chest which makes them durable and rust free.
Some
reputed manufacturers of cabinet/chest include Water Loo, SteelHead,
International Tool Boxes, Stack-On, and Remline.
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