Feelin' Blue: Flat File / Map File

The background of the first picture shows you why I built this. I have a lot of wide flat articles to store and that need some protection from shop elements.

I first thought of buying what is called a flat file or map file. These are storage files that are used often by artists, framers, and engineers to store art and plans that they don’t want to fold up. These units costs anywhere from $400 to several thousand dollars.

Whenever you see one advertised from Amazon or google for less, it is always just the base or cap or some accessory to the file.

You can get used ones for less sometimes, but finally I found some plans online to build them.

This project cost my about $220…but that included buying way too much paint…did you know how far a gallon can go? I also bought a Kreg jig Jr. & a craig clamp which worked well made much of the work a breeze.

Also, I gave the top a Roman Ogee profile & some weird profile with the ogee bit on the two front legs.

All this thing needs is a polyacrylic finish for the top.

So thank you Ry Turner at The Design Confidential for your plans.

You can see what happened when I wasn’t dead on about the squareness and dimensions on my forum about drawer slide instalation. Also, if you use these plans, be prepared to add one more small drawer false front than shown in the cut list.

Great project and first foray into a paint finish. I like the color which I tried to match with the plan. Did I get close?

-- I came, I was conquered, I was born again. ἵνα ὦσιν ἓν