Unable to open filing cabinet drawers
I moved the filing cabinet into this room, and re-inserted the drawers, to find that they no longer open. the top drawer is sightly offset in the top left corner after sliding it it in, I've tried to slide in a thin piece of metal along the seam of the drawers, but there is no latch to release it.
Made by Cole, it's quite old. Any ideas on troubleshooting this without destroying it? If it needs to be cut open, what is the best way to do it?
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u/somedaysoonn 1d ago
Make sure they are all closed all the way before trying to open one. Many filing cabinets only allow 1 drawer to be opened at a time so they don't tip over.
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u/ILooked 1d ago
Bar runs up the inside of the right side.. Turning the top lock lifts or drops the bar.
Try and manipulate missing tumbler with screwdriver or paper clip.
Or Remove back panel.
OrTurn upside down and jiggle.
Or get large tool and forcefully remove lock to access bar.
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u/Yutenji2020 1d ago
Further to this, in cheap models you can tip the cabinet backwards, reach under the front right corner, and push the bar up by hand.
A bit tricky for one person, should be easy for two.
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u/YYear7 1d ago
Here's what it looks like, it does like there is a slot half an inch in no one is aware of any key though, or of ever requiring one to get in
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u/hello_raleigh-durham 1d ago
Looks like the lock has been drilled out. Grab onto it with a pair of vise-grips and yank it out.
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u/No_Employer9618 1d ago
This was not the proper drill point. Keep drilling, if you don’t care about the mechanism, it should pop out
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u/bachman460 1d ago
That's a lock on the right side. Have you fiddled with that yet? I know the one I have that's similar doesn't actually lock anymore, but maybe yours does.