My newly discovered bottle storage unit...

[-TH-]

is a legal size filing cabinet. It fits 10 6-packs per drawer perfectly for a grand total of 240 bottles per cabinet. This one is an old Steelcase of good quality so it handles the weight of full bottles quite well. I love the fact I can store so many bottles in such a small footprint but also have good access to any of my batches.

EDIT 1-12-10:

Just picked up this 3-drawer 42" wide lateral file at the Herman Miller factory outlet store for a STEAL at $40. Works awesome!

Of course my boy Frankie just had to get in the pictures...

 

[Gonefishing]

Cool idea!

 

[jonp9576]

wow, perfect. i am mad i had the chance for a free one and didnt take it

 

[IrregularPulse]

Wow, That is tits! One more thing to keep an eye for in junk piles! is it capable of holding 22ozers height wise?

 

[Anthony_Lopez]

If I did something like that and was working from home, I could only imagine the look on my customer's face when I opened up a file cabinet only to produce bottles and bottles of homebrew...

 

[Brew-Happy]

Great idea!

Question: Did you attach it to the wall behind the cabinet? I have had cabinets that get tippy when the top drawer is heavy and opened to the full extent. I think many cabinets have mounting holes in the back that can be accessed when the top drawer is opened or removed.

It was really suck to have it tip over full o' bottle (empty or full).

 

[EvilTOJ]

Plus if you have bottle bombs it's already in it's easy-to-clean bomb containment system.

 

[-TH-]

Great idea!

Question: Did you attach it to the wall behind the cabinet? I have had cabinets that get tippy when the top drawer is heavy and opened to the full extent. I think many cabinets have mounting holes in the back that can be accessed when the top drawer is opened or removed.

It was really suck to have it tip over full o' bottle (empty or full).

No I didn't but thats a good idea. My thought was to make sure that atleast two drawers have full bottles in them at all times - just one more reason to keep the pipeline full! :rockin:

IrregularP, I'll check the interior drawer height tonight. How tall is a 22oz'er?

Evil, "Bomb Shelter" - I like it!

 

[Damonic]

Ooooh... good idea! Let us know about the 22's.

 

[Revvy]

Wow....Amazing....

I too will have to keep my eyes open...

 

[truckmann]

Very nice. I see a shortage of used file cabinets in the future.

 

[Boerderij_Kabouter]

Awesome.... these are a dime a dozen on CL. Great inside the box thinking!

 

[BierMuncher]

Cool. But you've rendered your pencil sharpener useless.

 

[A4J]

genius!!!!!

[10 chars]

 

[-TH-]

Cool. But you've rendered your pencil sharpener useless.

Yes! I have to move the filing cabinet over to the Brewery side of the room! It was in here because it got booted from the other room (new fridge) so I was going to use it for tools/home supplies. I never put anything in it, I even had some batches of beer on top in boxes until one day I decided to see how they would fit in the drawers - HELLO!

When looking for one, keep in mind this is a LEGAL size cabinet, not letter size like most of them are. They might work too but I don't know how many the bottles will fit.

I will measure the drawers tonight, I actually have 6 legal filing cabinets total of various mfr's so I will measure them all and report back.

 

[-TH-]

Here are the INSIDE drawer measurements of my Steelcase:

15-3/8"W x 26-1/2"D x 10-5/8"H

I don't have any 22 oz bottles but I'm guessing that would not be tall enough.

The other 5 legal filing cab's that I have (HON, Shaw Walker, another Steelcase, and 2 unknown) all measure approx. the same, except the HON was only 15" wide and I would say 15-1/4 is the minimum needed to hold 2 six packs side by side the long way.

 

[iamjonsharp]

Mmmmazing.

 

[Brewsmith]

Now if Yuri can figure out how to make the thing refrigerate too...

 

[ajf]

Brilliant.

Now I wonder where I can put all my files.

-a.

 

[TulsaStageHand]

Mine was headed out the door, already had the drawers primed for the garbage. Thank god garbage day is Monday. Codoes! :rockin::rockin:

 

[DUCCCC]

Oh yeah! That's great. The UNC campus near me has a monthly surplus sale and I'm sure I can pick up one of these cheap! That would totally clear up my reloading bench again.

 

[RC0032]

best idea ever!

 

[balto charlie]

It's amazing how perfectly the sixers fit. Coincidence....I think not. It was meant to be.

 

[Orangevango]

And they lock, perfect for those of us with roommates and/or children that might want to get their hands on a few brews.

 

[AnonyBrew]

Pretty soon someone will be lining it with styrofoam & piping in some chilled air. I can see it now "DIY file cabinet fridge"

 

[-TH-]

Pretty soon someone will be lining it with styrofoam & piping in some chilled air. I can see it now "DIY file cabinet fridge"

No doubt. I wonder if maybe a fire safe would work well for this - probably wouldn't need additional insulation.

 

[Brew-Happy]

Pretty soon someone will be lining it with styrofoam & piping in some chilled air. I can see it now "DIY file cabinet fridge"

Cabela's -- 02 Cool Box™ Portable/Rechargeable Air Conditioner

Or maybe another tent air conditioner. Silly but could work for something like this. Unfortunately, this one requires ice, but I am sure there is a normal ac unit this size somewhere.

Great idea.

 

[TerapinChef]

Very nice. I see "Office Themed Microbrewpubs" in the future...people sitting at tables that look like desks, servers in sexy officewear, beer in refrigerated file cabinets...

 

[STAD]

Okay, let's get some confirmation on that 22 oz.

 

[IrregularPulse]

Very nice. I see "Office Themed Microbrewpubs" in the future...people sitting at tables that look like desks, servers in sexy officewear, beer in refrigerated file cabinets...

Or just the kegerator in the cubicle that the boss doesn't know about!