Absolutely delighted with my brand new plan drawers. Finally a place to keep my printing paper safely, avoiding creased corners (from dragging the packets out from under the bed!!) and marks.
Knowing I would only be buying this item once I wanted to make sure I purchased the best option so I chose A0 size (double A1). This means that the very large Kozo sheets fit comfortably and most of the regular sheets of Stonehenge, BFK Reeves, Hahnemuhle and so on can sit side-by-side in one space.
I wanted 10 drawers and had the cabinet made in two sections for a few reasons:
- Firstly, and most importantly, if it was one unit it wouldn’t fit through any normal doorway. In two parts, the sections can be turned on their side and slid through the door opening.
- Secondly, weight of paper. Add several sheets of paper together and you start getting some serious weight. The two units have reinforced bases so they mainly only have to support the weight of 5 drawers. There is a slight recess underneath the top unit so those drawers don’t sit flat atop the base unit reducing the weight of the paper on the lower unit.
- The majority of the weight of the top unit on the base unit occurs around the edging where the cabinets ‘interlock’. This helps stability and creates excellent weight distribution.
Another option I chose was to go for metal runners instead of wooden. Cheaper cabinets automatically come with wooden dowel and groove runners. Not long-lasting, harder to pull out and less weight-bearing due to wearing as the dowel and groove rub with each movement.
Again I choose a slightly more expensive option and went for the longer 600mm runner length as opposed to the standard 500mm. As I’m storing large sheets of lightweight paper I want to get them out without having to delve inside too far.
So it’s now fully stocked and ready to go. But when sorting my paper and carefully deciding where to store them I realised that I need some drawer labeling to remind me what is where. I think some nice little metal holders with removable paper inserts will work fine. So I’m off to find some.
Tactual Textiles by Claire 
It looks great. Very nice to have your paper all organised and safely stored.
And the drawers are so easy to open, see what you have and choose the right paper without destroying the corners of the other pieces.
just beautiful.
I met a printer yesterday who managed to buy 4 plan cabinets (6 drawers in each) from a TAFE when they stopped teaching printmaking. She tells me that 3 of them are already filled with her stash of paper, all pristine and ready to work on. I was impressed – then I considered the space they must take up because each one is A0 size. That’s a big room!
A most useful and good looking piece of furniture.
Thanks Sharon. I saw a cheap and not very good plan cabinet on ebay which was being sold fairly locally. So I went to the furniture shop that was advertising it and found out that they could make much better quality pieces that won’t fall apart or wear out in 5 minutes. I was really lucky to be searching for one at the right time.
Dear Claire
Are you able to tell me where you had these beautiful plan drawers made? I would be most appreciative.
Hi Lexie,
I got them made by OH Furniture, 7 Willan Drive, Liverpool. T: 02 9826 7666. They don’t have a website but they are registered with google search. The guy deals a lot in second hand furniture and that is how he comes up in google but he also makes new. His very basic plan drawers, which aren’t the best if you want to use them frequently, are sold on ebay but he is very happy to talk better quality, local Sydney made and metal runners. I’m thrilled with mine and went for the larger size and 60cm long metal runners.
He opens Monday to Friday and Saturday morning.
If you want similar to mine then just remind him about me and I’m sure he will know all the details – I doubt he makes these every week!
Let me know how you go.
Many thanks for this information. I appreciate it very much. I am very interested in having some plan drawers made. Yours look fabulous and really well made.