Flat Files / by Nathan Feller

Part of the printing equipment purchase included flat files. Before then, I was storing all of my paper and large prints in cardboard portfolios. It did save on space: I used to put everything behind the futon in my old apartment. But sometimes it didn’t feel convenient digging through portfolios behind a futon or having to pull one out and then flip it over because I opened it from the wrong side. 

 

One challenge that I had was to get the flat files through a residential doorway. Luckily the stand could be separated into halves to allow for this. After I removed all of the drawers, I could take out a few screws and remove the top cap and the top tier of shelves from the bottom half. The frame for the flat files has loosened over the years, so I had to do some fixing.

Once I got everything separated, I put the bottom half on its side and then on a rolling cart to move it into the closet area. It was a tight squeeze and a sharp turn to get everything in.

 

This new setup took up a lot of space than I preferred. For now, I’ll stack a few things on top of the shelves for temporary storage. I think later on I’ll build a stand to lift the flat files so that I can put the hot plate underneath for storage. Maybe then I can put my exposure unit on top. I did leave a little space to the right for storing my Ikea table tops with removable legs when not in use (every inch is valuable in a small studio). 

 

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