TOM BUCKLEY Posted June 2, 2020 Share Posted June 2, 2020 If you're like me you are always searching for that perfect storage solution for fossils. Antique "flat files" are expensive and generally have drawers that are too thin. Modern files such as those used for architectural drawings are too expensive and have a flap that keeps the pages flat. I've settled upon using kitchen cabinets. The drawers are 3" deep and extend fully, which is important if you have any hopes of seeing what's in the back 1/3 of the drawer. The brand is SEKTION and is sold by IKEA. They come in many different colors and sizes. Putting them together is tedious but repetitive. READ AND FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS! Be sure to select the full extension drawers and the ones that are made to go behind cabinet doors. You don't utilize the doors but this insures that the drawers will have enough space between to allow you to pull them out without having to install pulls. Below are mine. 16 AVOCATIONAL PALEONTOLOGIST STROKE SURVIVOR CANCER SURVIVOR CURMUDGEON "THERE IS A VERY FINE LINE BETWEEN AVOCATIONAL PALEONTOLOGY AND MENTAL ILLNESS" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamieLynn Posted June 2, 2020 Share Posted June 2, 2020 brilliant!! www.fossil-quest.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted June 2, 2020 Share Posted June 2, 2020 An excellent and relatively inexpensive solution! Thanks for posting this, Tom! Very helpful. I'm sure, however, that many of us would like to see close ups of the contents, as well, should you get a chance. 2 Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOM BUCKLEY Posted June 2, 2020 Author Share Posted June 2, 2020 28 minutes ago, JamieLynn said: brilliant!! Thank you. I've been called a lot of things but "brilliant" isn't one of them. Tom 8 minutes ago, Fossildude19 said: An excellent and relatively inexpensive solution! Thanks for posting this, Tom! Very helpful. I'm sure, however, that many of us would like to see close ups of the contents, as well, should you get a chance. Thanks for the kind words. Tim, I'm thinking of setting up something in the "collections" section. Time is the factor as I'm still unpacking after the move. Stay tuned. Tom 1 AVOCATIONAL PALEONTOLOGIST STROKE SURVIVOR CANCER SURVIVOR CURMUDGEON "THERE IS A VERY FINE LINE BETWEEN AVOCATIONAL PALEONTOLOGY AND MENTAL ILLNESS" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FF7_Yuffie Posted June 2, 2020 Share Posted June 2, 2020 I wanna peek inside the trace drawer. I'm a fan of trace fossils Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOM BUCKLEY Posted June 2, 2020 Author Share Posted June 2, 2020 1 minute ago, FF7_Yuffie said: I wanna peek inside the trace drawer All in good time. Tom 1 AVOCATIONAL PALEONTOLOGIST STROKE SURVIVOR CANCER SURVIVOR CURMUDGEON "THERE IS A VERY FINE LINE BETWEEN AVOCATIONAL PALEONTOLOGY AND MENTAL ILLNESS" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Rico Posted June 2, 2020 Share Posted June 2, 2020 They look great . It took me years to find a good storage solution for smaller specimens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thelivingdead531 Posted June 2, 2020 Share Posted June 2, 2020 I've been looking at map cabinets for a while and they are so expensive. I like this idea! Thanks for sharing this wonderful solution! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hokietech96 Posted June 2, 2020 Share Posted June 2, 2020 Great solution! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOM BUCKLEY Posted June 2, 2020 Author Share Posted June 2, 2020 55 minutes ago, Bobby Rico said: They look great . It took me years to find a good storage solution for smaller specimens. 28 minutes ago, thelivingdead531 said: I've been looking at map cabinets for a while and they are so expensive. I like this idea! Thanks for sharing this wonderful solution! 23 minutes ago, hokietech96 said: Great solution! Thanks all. I have to admit it wasn't my idea. You see my brother-in-law is remodeling his kitchen. He knew of my search and suggested these cabinets. I owe him a beer. Tom AVOCATIONAL PALEONTOLOGIST STROKE SURVIVOR CANCER SURVIVOR CURMUDGEON "THERE IS A VERY FINE LINE BETWEEN AVOCATIONAL PALEONTOLOGY AND MENTAL ILLNESS" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Rico Posted June 2, 2020 Share Posted June 2, 2020 8 minutes ago, TOM BUCKLEY said: Thanks all. I have to admit it wasn't my idea. You see my brother-in-law is remodeling his kitchen. He knew of my search and suggested these cabinets. I owe him a beer. Tom I have a couple of vintage metal filling cabinets, our house is many old vintage secondhand furniture so they look fitting . One I found in the street a couple months ago It was not easy carrying it home while walking the dog but I was not leaving it behind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilNerd Posted June 2, 2020 Share Posted June 2, 2020 1 hour ago, TOM BUCKLEY said: I owe him a beer. You might owe him two! Great idea! The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. -Neil deGrasse Tyson Everyone you will ever meet knows something you don't. -Bill Nye (The Science Guy) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erose Posted June 2, 2020 Share Posted June 2, 2020 Those are nice. I have been a making use of IKEA furniture for years. If you know what to look for you can weed out the truly cheap stuff. Their furniture can be hit or a miss... I have also taken IKEA furniture and upgraded it a bit for better durability. I even used one of their couches in a children's museum exhibit bu just adding some plywood reinforcing and replacing wood screws with bolts. For what it matters, I would have added handles and tightened up the spacing to keep dust out. But I also live in a dusty part of the world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOM BUCKLEY Posted June 2, 2020 Author Share Posted June 2, 2020 20 minutes ago, erose said: Those are nice. I have been a making use of IKEA furniture for years. If you know what to look for you can weed out the truly cheap stuff. Their furniture can be hit or a miss... I have also taken IKEA furniture and upgraded it a bit for better durability. I even used one of their couches in a children's museum exhibit bu just adding some plywood reinforcing and replacing wood screws with bolts. For what it matters, I would have added handles and tightened up the spacing to keep dust out. But I also live in a dusty part of the world. You're right in that there is good and bad at IKEA. These are an excellent quality. Very sturdy. As for dust.......hasn't been a problem. Besides, the cabinet is in a closet whose doors will, for the most part, be closed. I'm really glad that I didn't have to go through the hassle of installing drawer pulls. Tom 1 AVOCATIONAL PALEONTOLOGIST STROKE SURVIVOR CANCER SURVIVOR CURMUDGEON "THERE IS A VERY FINE LINE BETWEEN AVOCATIONAL PALEONTOLOGY AND MENTAL ILLNESS" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJB Posted June 2, 2020 Share Posted June 2, 2020 With that many drawers in one cabinet its amazing how many fossils one can put in one small area! and very orginized too! RB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilsAnonymous Posted June 2, 2020 Share Posted June 2, 2020 I have drawers from IKEA too, although not this type. They’ve worked amazingly so far! 1 On The Hunt For The Trophy Otodus! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Rico Posted June 2, 2020 Share Posted June 2, 2020 Just now, FossilsAnonymous said: I have drawers from IKEA too, although not this type. They’ve worked amazingly so far! Have you got any photos. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilsAnonymous Posted June 2, 2020 Share Posted June 2, 2020 Yes sir, let me find a couple. It’s a small drawer, but with some great space in it. On The Hunt For The Trophy Otodus! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilsAnonymous Posted June 2, 2020 Share Posted June 2, 2020 @Bobby Rico Note from Caldigger 2 On The Hunt For The Trophy Otodus! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilsAnonymous Posted June 2, 2020 Share Posted June 2, 2020 The lighting in here is awful.../ 2 On The Hunt For The Trophy Otodus! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Praefectus Posted June 2, 2020 Share Posted June 2, 2020 Nice cabinets! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOM BUCKLEY Posted June 2, 2020 Author Share Posted June 2, 2020 1 hour ago, RJB said: With that many drawers in one cabinet its amazing how many fossils one can put in one small area! and very orginized too! RB Yes, it is amazing. I'm even able to double up and stack the fossils in each drawer. Still not enough room. I will be adding the wall-style of those cabinets and just have them sit on top of those cabinets. I have over 1000 specimens cataloged. In my previous house I had a very large custom cabinet but it didn't make the trip to Florida. Tom 2 AVOCATIONAL PALEONTOLOGIST STROKE SURVIVOR CANCER SURVIVOR CURMUDGEON "THERE IS A VERY FINE LINE BETWEEN AVOCATIONAL PALEONTOLOGY AND MENTAL ILLNESS" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOM BUCKLEY Posted June 2, 2020 Author Share Posted June 2, 2020 46 minutes ago, FossilsAnonymous said: 47 minutes ago, FossilsAnonymous said: @Bobby Rico That looks like the Alex cabinet from IKEA. I was looking at those also but the lack of full extension drawers was a deal killer. Tom 4 AVOCATIONAL PALEONTOLOGIST STROKE SURVIVOR CANCER SURVIVOR CURMUDGEON "THERE IS A VERY FINE LINE BETWEEN AVOCATIONAL PALEONTOLOGY AND MENTAL ILLNESS" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Rico Posted June 2, 2020 Share Posted June 2, 2020 @FossilsAnonymous nice cabinet indeed and good deep drawers too. This thread has added some good ideas for the collector. I also read a note from Doren today so sad but in my opinion it is good to read the notes when you come across them in your collection , a friend like Doren should never be forgotten. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilsAnonymous Posted June 2, 2020 Share Posted June 2, 2020 13 minutes ago, Bobby Rico said: @FossilsAnonymous nice cabinet indeed and good deep drawers too. This thread has added some good ideas for the collector. I also read a note from Doren today so sad but in my opinion it is good to read the notes when you come across them in your collection , a friend like Doren should never be forgotten. Very true. I have multiple notes from him and it’s very sad to look through them. 1 On The Hunt For The Trophy Otodus! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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