File Boxes

In such modern times with the ever improving technology, we are seeing more and more electronic storage devices that can hold several volumes of information and at the same time are extremely portable. Examples include the portable USB thumb drives. So there is a move towards a paperless society. However, we are still not quite there yet and as such, we need some way of properly storing what feels to be an endless accumulation of paper.

File boxes can be extremely useful to have for this very purpose, whether they are used in the office or the home environment. As you probably can guess, there are several different kinds of file storage boxes and the choice will depend on your access requirements, storage capacity, storage location, budget and style. In this hub, I’ll show you a few variety you are likely to find and match them up against the criteria I mentioned earlier. This way, you’ll be able to better decide which file box will be more suitable.

If you’re like me, over time, you tend to have a build up of paperwork such as from university coursework, previous work material and maybe even material from some training course you attended a while ago. All this stuff are in relation to past events and are not current, so you don’t need to look at them frequently but you don’t want to throw them away either just in case you want to refer back to them on the odd occasion. Maybe you want to save it for someone else that would find it useful?

Being able to store these into the garage or a shed and creating more space around the house would be preferable. One possibility is using plastic file boxes like the one from Iris. Since they are made of plastic, they are relatively cheaper than file boxes made from other material. A plastic file box has an easy snap-on lid, protecting the paper inside from dust and dirt. Also, they are designed with grooves in the corners to allow multiple boxes to be safely stacked on top of each other. And finally, The Iris plastic storage boxes generally come with a clear surface, which gives you the ability to easily see the contents without needing to open them first.

Aside from long-term archiving of documents, there are filing boxes that are more suited for the times when you want to frequently access the information. These usually are without lids and files are hung on built-in rails so you can easily browse through each document. Also, they can generally be compact and yet accommodate for legal or letter size folders.

Also, if you want a neat way to hold catalogues, magazines, etc in a standing position, you can get magazine file boxes similar to those you find in waiting rooms at hair solons and medical clinics.

There are times when you need a file box that you can conveniently carry with you. There are a few different alternatives available. You can get a lightweight, non-rigid pop-up file tote, which is made from nylon material. It almost look like one of those reusable grocery shopping bags. When empty, it simply folds flat, making them easy to put away while not used. To help keep hanging files propped up, a pop-up file frame is included. Also, to make it easier to carry the tote around, the handles are designed to be long.

Another type of portable file box is made from rigid plastic that has a handle on the lid for easy carrying. The lid is attached to the body of the box and swings on hinges. It is locked with a snap-on buckle.

Not all kinds of documents are appropriate for storing with them laid out flat. For example, if they are quite large (A1 in size) like posters, architectural or engineering drawings, they would simply take up heaps of space unnecessarily. Instead, a better approach would be to roll them neatly and store them in a rolling file box. This particular type of file box has a number of compartments (ranging from 2.5 inches to 4 inches in width) and each of these compartments have label flaps to allow you to easily identify the documents.

It is common for people to have sensitive (and often irreplaceable) documents in their homes if storing them in a specialized storage facility or vault off-site is not a viable option. So you’ll need some reliable way of keeping them safe from prying eyes as well as from damage. Security file boxes come with locks and have insulated casing to protect against damage from fire.